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I love this film in spite of its alleged inaccuracies in dress, accent and history. It was after all based on a novel not a history. It is certainly better than the Disney version with Peter Finch. I love the memorable set pieces such as the fight between Alan and David and the duel between Duncansby and David who 'doesn't know the back end of a sword from its front' and who won't 'play at the cards' with Freddie Jones, due to his promise to his father. The locations were good with little studio work like the Disney version. The over the top Donald Pleasance and Freddie Jones are wonderful but so are all the rest. I especially liked the nervous dithering lawyer played by Gordon Jackson. Micheal Caine was at his peak so must have been a coup for the producers who were hardly likely to make him a minor character. As previously stated, Lawrence Douglas was suitably downtrodden and dowdy. My only question is why he responded to Duncansby's insult so swiftly and violently. As he is portrayed as thoughtful and principled I would have at least thought he would have tried to elicit an apology by reason rather that demanding immediate satisfaction in the knowledge of certain death. I think the only better version was the serialised version with David McCallum as Alan Breck but as a serial had much greater time to give an in depth portrayal.
score 8/10
colfromkirk 29 September 2010
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2317303/ |
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18-3-2021 00:07:14