Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageRoyal Flash (1975)
Director: Richard Lester
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Lester long cherished an ambition to make a film out of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman books, but once the swashbuckling gets under way, it begins to seem far too much like The Four Musketeers Part III. The director's visual style is as strong and witty as ever, and he does score one bull's-eye with Oliver Reed's Bismarck. But after an opening which promises some kind of riotous comic strip of Victorian England, and a particularly good scene involving a boxing-match, the plot begins to parody itself too overtly and too loosely, finally overreaching itself completely with an endless and unimaginative duel between Bates and McDowell. The film might perhaps get by on its superb visuals and the occasional good gag, but the casting sinks it: whatever Lester's intentions, McDowell and Bolkan are no match for Michael York and Faye Dunaway at this kind of thing.Author: DP
User reviews of this film
-
- Sue Ferguson said...
- Posted on Nov 26 2008 22:19 A brilliant, funny film. Malcolm McDowell is wonderful as cowardly, cheating Flashy. Have seen this over 20 times!
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Richard Lester
Producer: David V Picker, Denis O'Dell
Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Alan Bates, Florinda Bolkan, Britt Ekland, Oliver Reed, Lionel Jeffries, Tom Bell, Christopher Cazenove, Joss Ackland, Alastair Sim, Michael Hordern, Roy Kinnear full cast
Genre(s): Period/Swashbucklers
Duration: 118 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now