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 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.
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 Alan Bates (who would have been better cast in the lead role) and Oliver Reed (ditto), it’s really hard to care what happens to him in this Prisoner of Zenda retread.
Still, the women (Florinda Bolkan and Britt Ekland) are fun, the pace is relentless, and the period 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
