Robert Bolt won two Oscars back to back,
(for "Doctor Zhivago" and "A Man for All Seasons"), as well as penning
that most literate of epics "Lawrence of Arabia". Indeed for a time he
seemed to be David Lean's writer of choice until his script for Lean's
elephantine "Ryan's Daughter" and that films critical failure, severed
those ties. In 1972 Bolt not only wrote, but also directed, "Lady
Caroline Lamb". It wasn't really a success and, as may be expected, is a
very literate-minded costumer but also, as may be expected, is highly
intelligent and very nicely played.
It is, of course, an account,
for the most part, of the title character's scandalous and disastrous
affair with the mad, bad and dangerous to know Lord Byron, seen here as
some kind of 19th century rock star. As Lady Caroline, Sarah Miles is
quite splendid, (she was, of course, Mrs Bolt), I've always felt Miles
was a much better actress than she was ever given credit for, though her
tremulous style wasn't to everyone's taste. As Byron, a somewhat
surprising Richard Chamberlain acquits himself somewhat surprisingly
well, while Jon Finch is more than adequate as Lady Caroline's husband.
The supporting cast are made up mostly of the great and the good of the
British acting establishment, (a superb Margaret Leighton, John Mills,
Laurence Olivier as Wellington, Ralph Richardson in an excellent cameo
as King George IV, Michael Wilding), and the production overall is
extremely handsome to look at. (It's obvious, on the whole, no expense
was spared). Indeed, as historical dramas go, this one is a cut above
the rest with Bolt displaying a keen sense of the cinematic in several
scenes. Hardly ever revived, it's worth seeking out.
Robert Bolt won two Oscars back to back,
(for "Doctor Zhivago" and "A Man for All Seasons"), as well as penning
that most literate of epics "Lawrence of Arabia". Indeed for a time he
seemed to be David Lean's writer of choice until his script for Lean's
elephantine "Ryan's Daughter" and that films critical failure, severed
those ties. In 1972 Bolt not only wrote, but also directed, "Lady
Caroline Lamb". It wasn't really a success and, as may be expected, is a
very literate-minded costumer but also, as may be expected, is highly
intelligent and very nicely played.
It is, of course, an account,
for the most part, of the title character's scandalous and disastrous
affair with the mad, bad and dangerous to know Lord Byron, seen here as
some kind of 19th century rock star. As Lady Caroline, Sarah Miles is
quite splendid, (she was, of course, Mrs Bolt), I've always felt Miles
was a much better actress than she was ever given credit for, though her
tremulous style wasn't to everyone's taste. As Byron, a somewhat
surprising Richard Chamberlain acquits himself somewhat surprisingly
well, while Jon Finch is more than adequate as Lady Caroline's husband.
The supporting cast are made up mostly of the great and the good of the
British acting establishment, (a superb Margaret Leighton, John Mills,
Laurence Olivier as Wellington, Ralph Richardson in an excellent cameo
as King George IV, Michael Wilding), and the production overall is
extremely handsome to look at. (It's obvious, on the whole, no expense
was spared). Indeed, as historical dramas go, this one is a cut above
the rest with Bolt displaying a keen sense of the cinematic in several
scenes. Hardly ever revived, it's worth seeking out.
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