The film in style and manner of photography, the environment and a slightly exaggerated cloak-and-dagger story relates directly to the heyday of Gainsborough romances in the 40's, and there is actually nothing missing here. Even the music is somewhat exaggeratedly romantic. Helena Bonham-Carter is good enough as the grossly manhandled victim of the plot which contains some galleries of rogues, the worst of all though being Diana Rigg as the mother, a virtuoso performance of cruelty. Of course, much of this messy and shabby story is highly improbable, and the one who exaggerates most of all is James Fox - you will probably never have seen him more despicable. Christopher Plummer represents a portion of heart-rending tragedy, while the brief relief of Stewart Granger's contribution is actually a refreshing change from all the shocking criminal schemes going on. You don't expect much of Marcus Gilbert but that he will be like the rest of them, just another devil, but here is actually some character development. The one good person throughout this nightmare of outrageously cruel and wicked intrigue is Anna Massey as Eudora with a wooden leg. I's great entertainment, and although you will find most of this sordid mess highly objectionable, there are some nicer ingredients lighting up the dreary mess. There is hardly any tenderness at all anywhere, all is drowned in ruthless egoism, but some good will eventually come out of it after all.
Review of A Hazard of Hearts
A Hazard of Hearts
(1987 TV Movie)
A rich heiress at the mercy of overwhelming specialists on cruelty.
11 January 2020