Nell Gwyn

With King Charles II putting into practice his promise to restore the country 'to its old good nature, its old good manners and its old good humour' by leading a rollicking chorus in a 17th century musical hall, it is difficult not to warm to Wilcox's very democratic brand of royalism. Neagle is rather too hoydenish to be truly sexy, but she has a zest and brazenness breathtaking in its disregard for the conventions of polite society, and Hardwicke's king almost convinces one that there was a time when royalty wasn't synonymous with lily-livered mediocrity. Despite a script which is rather too hesitant at improving upon history, this is a worthy example of disreputable costume drama, a genre British cinema occasionally excelled in.