What starts off very amusing quickly turns dull as the character played by Richard Chamberlain gets a bit of a back story, going from candidate for the priesthood to law student to prisoner, becoming celebrated in French society for his daring escape. In the opening scene, he's being chased by the military and jumps into the carriage of Countess Faye Dunaway and her two ladies-in-waiting, getting her assistance as he escapes. What promises to be a fun variation of what Chamberlain and Dunaway did in "The Three Musketeers" movies goes a bit of track as it becomes very dour, showing the creation of the Casanova characterization with him breaking hearts and ultimately labeled a libertine. He's ill treated in prison, put in a cell he doesn't even fit in (because of his extreme height), and he conspires with the inmate above him to escape. It's here that it gets a bit better, a little comical as they go through various efforts to get out, finally succeeding. Then he meets Dunaway again, gains her favor, offends her, and moves on to other conquests.
I like Richard Chamberlain in period peces. He has the face and demeanor and body type that is perfect for these dashing scoundrels and anti-heroes, and he does a good job with this. He is completely different than he was in "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Man in the Iron Mask" and "Lady Caroline Lamb". The detail is good and the production is handsome. Duniway is nothing more than an extended cameo, with a few scenes making me wonder how she would have been in "Dangerous Liaisons". She is obviously enjoying the lightheartedness of this part, and it's refreshing to see her being comically absurd rather than over-the-top melodramatic. The other actresses are basically serviceable, but it's clear that their characters want to be a part of an adventure even if they know he'll break their hearts. The difference in moods between the first half, and each half of the second parts gives it an odd personality where the script definitely required some therapy. Probably the weakest of Chamberlain's costume pictures, but a few amusing moments prevents it from being a bomb.
I like Richard Chamberlain in period peces. He has the face and demeanor and body type that is perfect for these dashing scoundrels and anti-heroes, and he does a good job with this. He is completely different than he was in "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Man in the Iron Mask" and "Lady Caroline Lamb". The detail is good and the production is handsome. Duniway is nothing more than an extended cameo, with a few scenes making me wonder how she would have been in "Dangerous Liaisons". She is obviously enjoying the lightheartedness of this part, and it's refreshing to see her being comically absurd rather than over-the-top melodramatic. The other actresses are basically serviceable, but it's clear that their characters want to be a part of an adventure even if they know he'll break their hearts. The difference in moods between the first half, and each half of the second parts gives it an odd personality where the script definitely required some therapy. Probably the weakest of Chamberlain's costume pictures, but a few amusing moments prevents it from being a bomb.
