The Master of Ballantrae (1984) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Douglas Hickox

Writers:

William Bast (writer)
Robert Louis Stevenson (novel)

Release Date:

31 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot Keywords:

Sword Fight | Scotland | Colonial America | 18th Century | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Michael York	...	James Durrie
Richard Thomas	...	Henry Durrie
John Gielgud	...	Lord Durrisdeer
Timothy Dalton	...	Col. Francis Burke
Ian Richardson	...	Mr. MacKellar
Finola Hughes	...	Alison Graeme
Nickolas Grace	...	Dass
Brian Blessed	...	Captain Teach
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ed Bishop	...	Pinkerton
Nick Brimble	...	Chew
Brian Coburn	...	John Mountain
Pavel Douglas	...	Bonnie Prince Charlie
Richard Driscoll	...	McGregor (as Steven Craine)
Donald Eccles	...	John Paul
John Hallam	...	Captain Harris
Don Henderson	...	Hicks
Kim Hicks	...	Jessie
Robert James	...	Macconochie
Leonard Maguire	...	The Sin Eater (as Leonard McGuire)
Andrew Panton	...	Sandie
Steve Wilsher	...	Clansman

Directed by
Douglas Hickox

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
William Bast		writer
Robert Louis Stevenson		novel "The Master of Ballantrae"

Produced by
Hugh Benson	....	producer
Patrick Dromgoole	....	executive producer
Patrick Dromgoole	....	supervising producer
Peter Graham Scott	....	producer
Larry White	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Bruce Broughton

Cinematography by
Bob Edwards

Film Editing by
Geoff Shepherd

Casting by
Esta Charkham

Production Design by
John Biggs

Art Direction by
Derek Nice

Costume Design by
Olga Lehmann

Makeup Department
Jane Pearce	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Keith Webber	....	production supervisor
Jake Wright	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jon Older	....	assistant director: second unit
Peter Graham Scott	....	second unit director

Art Department
Richard Hornsby	....	assistant art director
Olga Lehmann	....	portrait (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon Kethro	....	sound mixer
Gus Lloyd	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Michael Collins	....	special effects (as Mike Collins)

Stunts
Peter Diamond	....	stunt supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Gibbs	....	gaffer
Brian Morgan	....	camera operator: second unit
Steve O'Connor	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Daryl Bristow	....	wardrobe master
Brenda Dabbs	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Andy Kennedy	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator

Other crew
William Bast	....	executive consultant
Mike Irish	....	horse master

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Television
• HTV
• Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

Distributors

• CBS Television (1984) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)
• Vídeo Arte (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

150 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

You Can't Make a Silk Purse Out of a Sow's Ear.

The previous reviewer has commented,and quie rightly so,that this is a convoluted,hard-to follow screenplay.Well,it's really essential that one consider the original story.It's NOT a swashbuckler,but,rather a character study in a swashbuckling setting.The 2 brothers shown in this tale are actually the 2 sides of a total personality,seeking integration.(THAT was the entire point of Jeykll and Hyde.)It's been set during a perod of historical turbulence,in order for the drama to proceed.

There was an earlier production,filmed in 1953 or so,that was designed as a vehicle for Flynn.And,to be perfectly frank, that was about all that it was good for.It was a historical romance-pirate movie.This one at least makes some attempt to follow the original plot.And the cast does a good job with some confusing material.

HISTORICAL NOTE:The real Captain Teach(also known as Blackbeard)had been dead for almost 28 years before this story opens.So,it's not accurate historically.But Mr. Blessed has so much fun with the character,playing hims as a psychotic version of Orson Welles,that it's immensely enjoyable.