The most controversial and successful film made by the British film
production company Gainsborough Pictures, The Wicked Lady is the cinematic
equivalent of the oft-derided sub-genre of historical fiction known as
the bodice ripper. It
was an incredibly daring film for its day, with more female cleavage
and overt references to sex than had beeen encountered in virtually any
other British film to this point. Today, it feels somewhat tacky
thanks to some hammy performances, wafer thin characterisation and some
toe-curlingly bad dialogue. Margaret Lockwood and James
Mason look like they're appearing in pantomime, both failing to make
their characters remotely convincing. Yet, despite all its
manifest failings, The Wicked Lady
is immense fun to watch, and it's a pity that director Leslie Arliss
didn't go the extra mile and make this a totally unbridled
comedy. It is infintely better than Michael Winner's absolutely
dire 1983 remake.
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Film Synopsis
17th Century England. Barbara Worth isn't content with stealing
her best friend's fiancé and marrying him solely for his
wealth. As Lady Skelton, she embarks on a career of highway
robbery, striking up an alliance with the notorious highway man Jerry
Jackson. Barbara has no qualms over betraying her partner in
crime, but she is surprised when he makes an unexpected return from the
gallows...
Script: Magdalen King-Hall (novel),
Leslie Arliss,
Gordon Glennon (dialogue),
Aimée Stuart (dialogue)
Cinematographer: Jack E. Cox
Music: Hans May
Cast:Margaret Lockwood (Barbara Worth),
James Mason (Capt. Jerry Jackson),
Patricia Roc (Caroline),
Griffith Jones (Sir Ralph Skelton),
Michael Rennie (Kit Locksby),
Felix Aylmer (Hogarth),
Enid Stamp-Taylor (Lady Henrietta Kingsclere),
Francis Lister (Lord Kingsclere),
Beatrice Varley (Aunt Moll),
Amy Dalby (Aunt Doll),
Martita Hunt (Cousin Agatha),
David Horne (Martin Worth),
Emrys Jones (Ned Cotterill),
Helen Goss (Mistress Betsy),
Muriel Aked (Mrs. Munce),
Aubrey Mallalieu (Doctor),
Ivor Barnard (Clergyman at Hanging),
Peter Madden (Hawker),
Jean Kent (Jackson's Doxy),
Hilda Campbell-Russell (Highway Victim)
Country: UK
Language: English
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 104 min
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