Indeed, I realize John Huston's "Sinful Davey" qualified as a box office dud. I am aware of the clashes "The Maltese Falcon" director had with producer Walter Mirisch about the film. They fell out with each other and wanted nothing to do with each other. Mirisch claimed "Sinful Davey" was dreary and overlong. He plead with Huston to trim it, but Huston refused. According to Mirisch, he took the shears to it to "make it less draggy and more accessible to American audiences." Ultimately, the runtime wound up at 95 nimble minutes. Ironically, Huston lensed this lark on location in Ireland, with studio work done at Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. The problem is most of the cast speak English with an Irish accent rather than a Scottish brogue. Sure, you can catalog the errors in this handsome looking United Artist release, but "Sinful Davey" beguiled me as a lighthearted comedy of errors. John Hurt of "Alien" fame delivers a sterling performance as the eponymous highwayman/pick pocket Davey Haggart from whence the title "Sinful Davey" is drawn. The supporting cast, including Robert Morley of "Beat the Devil," Ronald Fraser of "The Flight of the Phoenix," Nigel Davenport of "Nighthawks," Allan Cuthbertson of "The Guns of Navarone", Eddie Byrne of "Odd Man Out," and Noel Purcell of "The Crimson Pirate," are every bit as captivating! This tongue-in-cheek yarn chronicles the endeavors of our Davey as he struggles to surpass his dear departed father in the execution of criminal acts. Hilarity ensues and soars more often than sinks in this rollicking 19th century epic with our hero losing out but winning in the long run. Nigel Davenport plays the indefatigable British Constable who resolves to catch Davey red-handed with the help of Davy's closest friend and confidante Annie. Our protagonist grew up with Annie (Pamela Franklin as the adult Annie), and she is head over heels insanely in love with Davey. She refuses to give up on Davey, despite his solemn reassurances to her that nothing can get him to change his ways. Consequently, just about every time he steals jewels and purses from the affluent, Annie is there in the next instant to thwart every one of his treacherous acts. The Irish scenery looks splendid looking. Whether they worked in tandem or one took over after the other had left the production, lensers Edward Scaife and Freddie Young make everything appear like a postcard. Mind you, while it is by no means the best picture John Huston made during his illustrious career, it didn't deserve the reception it got and ill feelings that most have for it.
Review of Sinful Davey
