Author George MacDonald Fraser’s series of novels featuring a grown-up Harry Flashman, the bully from Tom Brown’s Schooldays, were fun, but the character didn’t survive the transition to film.
The conniving 19th-century military officer – Hero of Afghanistan and Defender of Piper’s Fort – is forced to impersonate a European noble as part of a plot to seize control of the country. However, once the ruse is uncovered, he must flee for his life across the Continent.
Flashman is aided by a few of his friends whose morals are as questionable as his own. Like Lola Montez (Florinda Bolkan), a brazen adventuress and sultry tigress who has no difficulty in luring male victims – both suspecting and unsuspecting – to her boudoir. And like Rudi Von Starnberg (Alan Bates), a man after Flashman’s own heart – that is to say, an out-and-out villain with the morals of a goat and the ethics of a stoat.
Then there’s Otto Von Bismarck (Oliver Reed), destined for greatness and the recipient of high honours in his native Prussia, but as yet a young man trying out his Machiavellian ploys in diplomatic circles.
And not to forget the prim, proper and straightlaced Irma, Duchess of Strkenz (Britt Ekland), who has the unenviable reputation of “dancing like a dead nun”. But that’s before Flashman brings his talents to bear on Her Grace, which considerably enhances her ballroom accomplishments.
As congenital coward Captain Harry Flashman of the 11th Hussars, Malcolm McDowell lacks the necessary public school veneer and, despite effective support from the likes of Bates (who would have been better cast in the lead role) and Reed (ditto), it’s really hard to care what happens to him in this Prisoner of Zenda retread.
Still, the women are fun, the pace is relentless, and the period is re-created with gusto; it just feels so disjointed and interminable.
No other Flashman novels were filmed.
Captain Harry Flashman
Malcolm McDowell Rudi von Starnberg
Alan Bates Lola Montez
Florinda Bolkan Otto von Bismarck
Oliver Reed Duchess Irma of Strakenz
Britt Ekland Kraftstein
Lionel Jeffries de Gautet
Tom Bell Sapten
Joss Ackland Eric Hansen
Christopher Cazenove Old roué
Roy Kinnear Mr Greig
Alastair Sim Headmaster
Michael Hordern John Gully
Henry Cooper Police constable
Bob Hoskins Mayor
David Jason
Director
Richard Lester
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