From there, it's a freewheeling ride of Robin Hood-inspired philanthropy, duplicitous cousins, and some uncomfortably fetishistic shots of the rituals and instruments of execution, although everybody is rescued in time for the romantic soft-focus finale. Full of splendidly self-indulgent performances from the likes of Claire Bloom, John Mills, and Michael York, The Lady and the Highwayman is a feast of thespian ham. Somehow, the cast triumph over the banality of the basic material. --Piers Ford

The story is a romance set back in the days of King Charles II of England. Hugh Grant was, of course, the hero of the story. The heroine of the story, I cannot remember her real name, played Panthea Vine, the damsel in distress, who is saved by the highwayman (Hugh Grant). He takes her back to her home after killing the man who forced her to marry him. He knew the way to her home without her telling him. She later realizes this must be her cousin Lucias who is suspected of being the legendary "Silver Blade".

This movie has its group of meanies, too. Emma Samms is a spoiled, egotistical, but beautiful woman who wants Lucias. He turns her down right away, which really ticks her off. Another meanie is Oliver Reed who plays Cromwell, a well known buzzard back in that time in history.

My brother thought he wasn't going to like this movie, but when he got into it he couldn't leave it. He jumped right up out of his seat when he thought the jailers were going to chop of Panthea's head with an ax.

This is a great movie and everyone who loves romance should get it. By the way, did I tell you it is based on a Barbara Cartland novel? The same Barbara Cartland who has written over 600 romance novels.


Great swashbuckler film with a great cast!   January 17, 2000
 14 out of 17 found this review helpful

A great movie adapted from the novel by Barbara Cartland starring Hugh Grant, Lysette Anthony, Emma Samms, Claire Bloom, Oliver Reed, Michael York... the list goes on. The story of a highwayman (Grant) who saves a damsel in distress (Anthony) in 17th century England. Lavish costumes, good sword play, and an intriguing story. One of my favorites, even if it is from the 80s. This is one of Grant's earlier films, before coming to Hollywood.


Leave this Lady on the Highway   February 1, 2000
 14 out of 14 found this review helpful

This movie was one huge disappointment from beginning to end.

Firstly, I bought the DVD. Big mistake. The transfer was by far the worst I've ever seen and I've watched hundreds of DVDs. It actually looked worse than what I can get when taping something off of regular network television using the EP setting on my VCR. Not only was the whole thing blurry beyond belief, several scenes shake like crazy and through the middle of many of the scenes there were video tracking lines like you'd see on a over used low grade VHS tape. Which is what this transfer was probably taken from. The low list price might have prepared me for the lack of quality of the menu, but for it to be of a better image quality than the movie itself was a bit of a surprise.

Secondly, the movie itself was awful. I love a good period piece movie and I really wanted to like this one despite my misgivings as to where it got it's plot line (although I like an occasional historical romance book, I'm not a fan of Cartland). But there was just nothing to like here. The story was ridiculous, the dialog was atrocious and the acting was just plain bad. Something that I'm at a loss to explain with all the known talent that was in this movie. I'm sure I can't imagine what the director must have been doing to get such a lousy end product.

At first I wanted to give this movie/DVD zero stars, but since I could only go as low as one star I did manage to find one good thing to justify that star. The costumes were wonderful.

Fair warning: If you're thinking about seeing this movie solely because you're a fan of Hugh Grant, you can forget it. He barely strings 10 words together in two scenes and two words together in 10 other scenes. He's just not the major character in this movie that he's made out to be by the cover of the DVD.


"Keep your eyes to the front you lecherous little dwarf!"   November 9, 2004
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

This wonderful '80's cheesfest features Emma Samms, Lysette Anthony, and Hugh Grant, speaking in a very weird, strangled manner that is apparently meant to be sexy.

Based on a novel by the immortal Barbara Cartland, the story follows the insipid adventures of the equally insipid Panthea Vine, orphaned heiress and milk sop extraordinaire. We watch as she endures a VERY quick marriage to an evil tax collector (about half hour before he is fortuitously disposed of), meets the hunky, Robin Hood-esque Silver Blade ("Thank you, thank you, Silver Blade!"), prances around the court of King Charles II, makes a powerful enemy (Samms, paying the rent), solves a family mystery and finally winds up fending for her life while being tried for treason.

It's all very silly, and highly entertaining if you're in the proper frame of mind. Other reviewers mention the hammy acting and ridiculous dialogue, but for me that's part of the fun. Rent it if you like costume romances, enjoy laughing at bad movies, or want to feel superior to the bunch of hapless Hollywood stars forced to say things like "My lord Chancellor is like all you men, simply a big belly surrounded by self-esteem!"

If you do see it, watch for the moment when Silver Blade challenges Panthea's husband to a duel. "But he's one of best swordsmen in England!" she cries. "I know that," he replies after a decidedly uncomfortable pause. Priceless.
GRADE: C+/B-


not even worth buy from the discount bin   September 26, 2002
 12 out of 16 found this review helpful

...Alas, the print quality is terribly bad. It looks like it was made from a video tape that's been copied over and over and over - dark, fuzzy, flattened colors. So, I couldn't even appreciate the lovely costumes and settings.

The story is so badly predictable and corny, the dialog is stilted, and the editing is terribly choppy. It's silly. It's boring. Not even a terrific cast (Hugh Grant, Oliver Reed, Michael York to name a few) could lift this one out of the doldrums.

Pass on this one.