STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
Sometimes,a lot of the higher quality square screened entertainment cannot be found at the cinema or on video,but comes from the vaults of that fine production team working behind a BBC drama.Truly any newcoming RADA trained actor can express their talents in a minimally commercialised way in this low budget but genuinely satisfying way.Gentleman Thief is a fine example of this working,a campy,slightly flawed but nonetheless involving and highly entertaining costume drama set around about the Victorian era.There are fine performances to be enjoyed from all concerned,especially Nigel Havers and Michael French,whose chemistry works best at the end during the prison intrusion sequence,and Justin Hardy's direction guides it along with impressive timing.At times ,certain plot elements don't quite glue together the way they should,and in a way that doesn't hold your attention,but if you let it demand your attention enough,it shows you needn't trek out to find something to watch,and which will only add to the bill of your TV license.***
