This is a romance-comedy-drama with adventures , thrills , emotion , feats , a long love story , twisted plot and incredible ending . It's an entertaining film and regency romance fans will appreciate the attention to period detail , being based on the book "The Life of David Haggart¨ and script by James R. Webb . It deals with the hilarious adventures of the famous Scottish highwayman and thief Davey Haggart (John Hurt's first leading role) during the 1820s in Britain , along with his colleague MacNab (Ronald Fraser) . Growing up in humble means and attempting to go on his father's career as a thief who was unhappily executed . Davey is able to live by means of his liking , and in taking over the ownerships of some incautious people . His thunderous life is full of fabulous feats , including as a body-snatcher, holding up the stagecoach , escaping from Stirling prison and robbing to aristocracy at the mansion of the Duke of Argyll (Robert Morley) , among others . But he is pursued by a constable : Richardson (Nigel Davenport) , detained , subsequently judged , accused and condemned for penalty death . Fortunately , he is really helped by the fact that his childhood playmate Annie (Pamela Franklin) goes after to save him from jail and gallows . It may be more attributed to Davey being unable to adapt to any of the lives into which he is thrust to truly reach his goal of being a highwayman . Down with virtue! Down with the law! Up With Davey! The Seven Deadly Sins have never been so lively! . Grave-robbing, Maid-snatching, Jail-breaking, Jewel-thieving, Smuggling, Piracy and Wife-stealing . Leave it to Davey to invent No. 8!
This amusing , humorous film packs fun performance , thrilling scenes , noisy action , swashbuckling , twists , turns , final surprise and consideration to period detail . Nothing too inspired here but seems to be amusing . This is a costume/comedy/drama that never quite goes anywhere , though results to be entertaining and fun . As funny scenes , entertainment , lively style and its tense filmmaking make this a crackerjack amusement . This is a family film made by John Huston , as it was partially filmed on John Huston's own estate in Ireland and played by Huston's friends as well as his daughter . Highlights of the movie turn out to be spectacular production design , luxurious scenarios and the fox chase scenes under an enjoyable soundtrack by Ken Thorne . Sir John Hurt gives a nice acting as a roguish thief determined to emulate his father , a notorious rogue and highwayman . While Pamela Franklin , ex-girl prodigy , is the passionate young girl falling for the outlaw and also determined to track him down and save his soul . Very good support cast , in addition Ronald Fraser, none of the players are actual Scots , as their accents usually demonstrate . The magnificent secondary cast is plenty of prestigious Brit actors , such as Nigel Davenport , Ronald Fraser , Maxine Audley , Robert Morley , Donal McCann , Eddie Byrne , Niall MacGinnis , Allan Cuthbertson, Noel Purcell and brief intervention from future stars : Fionnula Flanagan , Brenda Flicker and Angelica Huston . Evocative as well as brilliant cinematography in gorgeous colour by director of photography Edward Scaife and Freddie Young. Rousing and lively musical score by Ken Thorne .
The motion picture competently produced by Walter Mirisch was well made by the great John Huston , who also produced , though it was a commercial flop . As John Huston declared great bitterness about the way this movie had been changed against his wit , and named it as one of the three movies of his that he most regretted shooting , he other two were The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958) and Roots of Heaven (1958). The picture was made in a good time of the 60s , 70s and 80s when Huston resurged as a director of quality films with Fat City, (1972), The man who would be king (1975) , Wise blood (1979) , Honor of Prizzi (1985) and in which Huston providing classic scenes and agreeable dialogs . He ended his career on a high note with Under volcano (1984), the afore-mentioned Honor of Prizzi (1985) and Dublineses (1987). Rating : Acceptable and passable , nothing too original , although regency romance buffs will value the attention to historical background . This is one of John Huston's unknown movie , definitely a must see if you are aficionado to Huston films . Rating : 6 , decent , as action and emotion are entertaining enough on its own . Well worth watching .
