The Highwayman

I dont know why I watched this to the end. I think I was hoping it would get better

It had absolutely nothing to do with the story of Dick Turpin. If you didn't know anything about Dick Turpin before watching this film you'll still have absolutely no idea by the end.

The whole film is totally predictable and you know what's going to happen from the beginning.

It is supposed to be romantic there is absolutely no sexual tension between the leads.

The female lead was absolutely terrible seen better amateur dramatics. Over acting and the gasp and hand to the mouth is hilarious.

Honestly don't even bother that's an hour and half of my life I'm not getting back.

I like this genre of movie, tight action, swashbuckling high links, horse chases, heroic endeavours... Oh wait, there is none of that in this movie. Okay, what you do get is a lame horse, so to speak. I'm not sure if it is the cast or the bad writing, but this movie doesn't feel authentic. The story is so so, if not a little predictable and has a villain that seems to be from another movie altogether.

Sure, I understand low budget constraints so 5/5 for that, but 4/10 is my score.

One thing I noted was the British actors playing the roles in a British story, glad it was not completely ruined by, shall we say, other actors from across the pond. 😃

Conclusion: Not bad and not good; mediocre.

Anyone remember "Carry On Dick" (1974)? Well it's probably got more going for it than this lacklustre drivel. It's Morgan Rees-Davies who takes up the mantle of England's legendary highwayman who finds himself in hot water after he inadvertently kidnaps the daughter of the Earl of Pembroke (Steven Dolton). Now we're not quite sure who has got the worst of this captivity, for "Elizabeth" (Mollie Hindle) is no shrinking violet. Indeed she rather relishes the freedom and excitement of a life devoid of corsets and curtsies. Meantime, her duplicitous fiancé "Winthroppe" (Tom Hendryk) is out to fleece her rather penniless and clueless father so he can take over their house under which might be some lucrative mines, and, well... Most of the swash and buckle here is left to the Aiden Turner-esque Ciaron Davies in the role of "O'Reilly" and to be fair to him, his is really the only thing remotely close to engaging here. It might have looked good on paper after a few yards of ale, but on screen this is a poorly conceived concept that doesn't really deliver on any level. The acting skills are basic, delivering some dialogue that rather optimistically tries it's hand at the odd bit of black humour before an ending that would have made Sid James look like an Oscar winner. Good story, strong theme and plenty of opportunity - instead we get a weak and listless drama that struggles to make it to ninety minutes.

Writer and director Steve Lawson produces a rare light-hearted film from his growing stable. Known for slim-budget, mainly studio-bound, dialogue-heavy productions, there is more location work and physical stuff going on here. As with most of his output, I found this very enjoyable.

Morgan Rees-Davies plays Turpin, here revealed as a scoundrel and trouble-maker, and not a very successful highwayman. The books about him, he admits happily, are heavily exaggerated. The hapless Elizabeth (Mollie Hindle) finds this out to her cost, her initial dislike of him inevitably melting as the film goes on.

This is a nicely paced adventure, not quite the bawdy romp it might have been, although lines like "I'm looking for Dick," and "Yes, I'll bet you are," ensure we're never encouraged to take things too seriously. My score is 7 out of 10.

The fun starts in the opening scene. The Highwayman hero, brandishing a flintlock pistol, stands in the road as a coach approaches. As the coach comes into view, the highwayman fires his pistol into the air (a warning shot, no doubt) then he points the pistol at the coach and demands, "Your money or your life!" He has already spent his load! 18th century flintlocks were not repeating firearms. What kind of highwayman threatens a victim with an empty gun? THIS kind of nonsensically written, low-budget, poorly acted highwayman is the kind of hero that almost entertains in this shoddy piece of almost funny escapism.

The film makers try hard but just do not achieve Ed Wood standards of humor. The sets are a bit too tidy, and the actors lack that sense of devotion to the material despite the odds that could have made this a true gem, like say, Beretta's Island. Rather, it just muddles along, content with its own mediocrity, failing to rise to the genuine entertainment of a truly bad movie.