Regular readers will know that in times of crisis, I reach for the deflated life-jacket that is the films of Michael Winner. Why do I do it to myself, I wonder out loud? Winner was a major director when I was a kid, never off the telly explaining away his latest controversy; a troll, perhaps, but one who got his films made and attracted remarkable talents. Faye Dunaway, John Gielgud and Denholm Elliot didn’t work for peanuts and yet this remake of the 1945 classic bodice-ripper, made for the Cannon imprint, is a strange mixture of sex, violence and marble-mouthed intrigue that satisfied no-one but the director himself.
Pitched as ‘Bonnie and Clyde in the 17th century,’ The Wicked Lady is the story of wicked Lady Barbara Skelton (Dunaway), nobility by day, highway-woman by night. She teams up with industry expert Jerry Jackson (Alan Bates) for some skulduggery, but authorities take a dull view of their antics, and the ornate walls of the country-houses they inhabit begin to close in on them.
Winner is less concerned with the narrative as he is of creating a relentless spank-bank of undressed women, and a lengthy topless fight scene with whips aroused the interest of the British censor. Updating the Gainsborough paradigm with lashings of nudity and a synth score from Genesis keyboard maestro Tony Banks does give this one some unique flavour; this isn’t Winner’s worst by a long shot. This is mainly because of Dunaway’s performance, over-the-top to some degree, but providing a centre that keeps things just about watchable.
Winner seemed to be great at the art of the deal, and even the support provides some amusement; Glynis Barber! Joan Hickson! Oliver Tobias! Prunella Scales! All sorts are dragged into the mud here, kicking and screaming, much as I was when the film ended. But The Wicked Lady is manna from heaven for bad movies watchers, and for fans of Mommie Dearest, and there are legion, this is proof that for the estimable Dunaway, that slice of slock was no fluke.
Isn’t Marina Sirtis in this one?
That’s the one, she has the whip fight, I think!
After checking out IMDb.com and a few other sites, I see that this. indeed, is the case.
I’m not sure this is the role she’d want to be remembered for, but it seems to have created a niche in film history…
Marina Sirtis is on record as saying that she hated her non-Starfleet outfit because it showed too much cleavage. She says that she loved it when the writers and producers decided to dress Deanna Troi in standard-issue Starfleet officer’s uniform; that allowed Sirtis to play Troi as more professional and with a higher IQ because her boobs were no longer the center of attention.
Every day is a school-day for me! I was ignorant of her Starfleet days…at least this role brought her to bigger and better things!
Definitely not. Thanks for letting me know this is not watchable by me at all.
Or any rational human being…
Does that mean YOU are irrational? And doesn’t that disqualify you as an Ironing Master?
What you have to understand is…there is no ironing. Just like there is no spoon.
I KNEW you had more to teach me Sensei-san-kun…
I’ve heard there might be a resurgence of “lengthy topless fight scene(s) with whips” in Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings series…😇
“and a lengthy topless fight scene with whips aroused the interest of the British censor”….Gee….I wonder why that was? 🤔🤔🤔
Gotta admit, even though this doesn’t sound like my cup of tea, I would watch this solely for Dunaway..such a terrific actress 😀😀
And I think she’s good here, the best thing in it! But there’s a lot of rubble to sift through…
adding this to my list!
Michael Winner. URK. Such a sleazeball. Fab review my typographically challenged pal. 😀
URK is today’s best word to describe Winner…
Have to admit though, I loved Hannibal Brooks.
Can’t go wrong with Oliver Reed and an elephant, but not every one’s a Winner!
Groan.
Trying to bring a little light into your life!
Thanks, I’m ingonrously illuminated.