Main Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Alan Bates, Florinda Bolkan, Oliver Reed, Britt Ekland
Release Year: 1975
Country: UK
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Novelist George MacDonald Fraser penned the script for this swashbuckling, picaresque adventure tale. The story is based on one of the books in his "Harry Flashman" series, loose sequels to "Tom Brown's Schooldays" that followed that story's central bully character through his checkered post-graduate military career. Malcolm McDowell plays Captain Harry Flashman, a cowardly, lascivious poseur who desperately seeks entry into high European society. Recognizing an opportunity to advance their own sinister political agendas, scheming Otto Von Bismarck (Oliver Reed) and Rudi Von Sternberg (Alan Bates) convince Flashman to masquerade as a Prussian noble and marry a beautiful duchess (Britt Ekland), a flawed plan to which Flashman agrees. Inevitably, the transparent ruse is discovered, and Flashman is forced to try to escape across 19th century Europe, narrowly missing one disaster after another and experiencing first-hand some of history's most momentous events. Director Richard Lester and Fraser used similar baroque settings, tongue-in-cheek characterizations, elaborate stunts and breakneck pacing for The Three Musketeers (1973) and its sequel, The Four Musketeers (1974) with similar efficacy. Fraser would try again with analogous material three years later with Crossed Swords (1978), a lavish version of The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Review
Although something of a missed opportunity, Royal Flash is a moderately entertaining comedy-adventure. Those who are unfamiliar with the George MacDonald Fraser series of comic novels will be more likely to enjoy Flash than devotees of the books, for the tone of the movie Flash is quite alien to that of the novels. This is chiefly due to director Richard Lester, whose trademark frenetic slapstick style is far too over-the-top for the material. Lester's style and pacing are so insistent, however, that they can't help but create a number of sequences that are quite funny, and several more that at least are of such visual interest that they make one forget that the film as a whole isn't holding together the way it should. And then there's Oliver Reed, who gives a wonderful performance as Otto Von Bismarck, practically stealing the show. The problem is that, as good as he is in this role, he would have been even better in the leading role of Flashman. Instead, that role goes to Malcolm McDowell, who physically is all wrong and who doesn't really "get" the character. This is a problem for which the rest of the cast, including an okay Britt Ekland, a very good Alan Bates and a delicious Alastair Sim (in what is almost a cameo role), cannot make up. Despite its flaws, Flash is worth seeing, especially for those who liked the director's not-terribly-dissimilar Three and Four Musketeers. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Alan Tomkins - Art Director, Alan Barrett - Costume Designer, Vincent Winter - First Assistant Director, Richard Lester - Director, John Victor Smith - Editor, Ken Thorne - Composer (Music Score), Paul Rabiger - Makeup, Terence Marsh - Production Designer, Geoffrey Unsworth - Cinematographer, David V. Picker - Producer, Denis O'Dell - Producer, Peter Howitt - Set Designer, John Richardson - Special Effects, Simon Kaye - Sound/Sound Designer, Gerry Humphreys - Sound/Sound Designer, George MacDonald Fraser - Screenwriter, George MacDonald Fraser - Book Author
The film begins with Flashman making a patriotic speech to the boys of Rugby School framed by a giant Union Flag, in a scene which appears to be a parody of the opening sequence in the 1970 film Patton.
The film then follows the plot of the book, which itself largely derives from The Prisoner of Zenda. Flashman is forced by Otto von Bismarck to impersonate a Danishprince, who is about to marry a German princess. Bismarck exacts this retribution partly in revenge for Bismarck's humiliation at the hands of Flashman in London; Flashman stole Bismarck's mistress Lola Montez, then manoeuvred him into boxing against a professional boxer, John Gully (played by Henry Cooper), at a house party. Bismarck does not wish the Princess to marry a Dane, since this may tilt the balance on the Schleswig-Holstein Question and interfere with his plans for a united Germany.
Release
The film has not yet been released on DVD in the United Kingdom, although a North American (Region 1) version is available.
