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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Better than it had to be..., 31 January 2005 Author: (style@austinchronicle.com) from United States
Not bad at all – a movie starring Joan Collins always has the possibility of being a dicey affair, and she may have produced and starred in this one, but that doesn't stop it from being a charming, mannered comedy of errors. Collins has some big IL' surprises up her sleeve for us – for her first trick, she does not play Alexis Carrington, or any variation on her, in this movie. And, as if that weren't earth-shattering enough, she – I kid you not – plays a woman approximately her own age, who also looks her age. That's right, no black eyeliner and no raven tresses. It is amazing. Don't get me wrong, though – we're still dealing with Joan Collins here, so she's still pretty glam, in her own way, and certainly her character is as over-the-top as any Joan Collins character is supposed to be – but she actually acts as part of an ensemble in which she is not center stage at all times. Set in a spectacular 17th century country estate, Stanway House, with all the requisite gorgeous accoutrement, the film does exceptionally well on what was obviously not an enormous budget. The costumes, hair and makeup are beautiful, and though the story gets somewhat messy in the middle of the film, the cinematography and art direction keep the eye glued to the screen. The supporting cast also serves the film well, with a variety of skilled actors who make the best out of minor roles. It is a fun movie to watch and it looks like the kind of movie that the cast and crew had a great deal of fun making. This is a valuable quality that is imparted in the finished product, and makes it easy to overlook any weaknesses.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Loved it...., 7 March 2006 Author: dew-25 from United States
I thought this movie was very good. The characters, the costumes... you have to like movies like this to start with in order to appreciate it. The timing on the humor was really good. The music was excellent and I would like to find the soundtrack. Miriam Stockley sings the song Secret. She performs several of the songs in the movie. She's a cross between Celine Dion and Enya. The British speak was easy enough that you could understand what they were saying. A lot of that is too much and it's hard to catch it all. There are a lot of recognizable actors in this and they all did a good job. I highly recommend this movie for just some old fashion humor in a period piece.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Excellent acting, loaded with humor., 29 July 2004 Author: Linda (lindaz) from Austria
Pure entertainment. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys films from this time period. Nigel Hawthorn's acting makes this film a sheer delight. I was equally surprised with Joan Collins who plays a snobby rich woman most convincingly. The plot is based on two rich families trying to get their children to marry. It turns out that one of the daughters is already married secretly. Everything gets hilariously all mixed up. A movie to relax by.Watch for the scene when Nigel Hawthorn is applying make-up to his aging face. An amazing and unique actor.
4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A jolly good romp amongst English gentry., 13 August 2000 Author: George Parker from Orange County, CA USA
The arranged marriage of an English aristocrat's daughter goes awry befuddling all concerned in this well made and lighthearted comedy. An unpretentious little film, "Clandestine Marriage" serves up an ample portion of good old English comedy and quits while it's ahead.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Maja, 9 July 2006 Author: majajan from Netherlands
Hi, I agree that this a wonderful movie. I even heard that Nigel Hawthorne and Joan Collins both paid money to produce this movie....that gives one an particular good notion what a great couple of actors they are with such a big heart for their profession....Everyone who loves great acting , should watch this film,several times!!!! Seldom do we see this kind of acting. For me, as an professional opera singer, it is almost a guideline for acting in the 18 century, such finesse......Hawthorne and Collins are enjoying themselves enormous....Maja from the Netherlands
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: From the eye of a filmmaker -, 9 July 2005 Author: cinematicbeautyandblood from United States
The costumes are just amazing! The dialog is wonderfully witty! The wigs are inspirational! The makeup is perfect! The locations are breath-taking! The acting is superb! If you like period films you'll need to add this lovely piece to your collection. An excellent ensemble cast who portray tangible characters. This feature must have fallen through the cracks of non-advertising land, because I don't remember it being in theaters. I find myself watching it about three or four times a year - it will really make you smile. It is indeed a film of "Quaalitaay." I'll have to hire Paul Nicholls for one of my films; would like to see more of him.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Delightful movie, 24 September 2000 Author: Sam (nkdnatl@aol.com) from Atlanta, GA
The Clandestine Marriage is definitely not Hawthorne's best work (Madness of King George) but it is quite fun and he does do a great job as the old, odd Lord Oglesby. The rest of the cast is fairly good too, especially Tom Hollander as Sir John and Timothy Spall as Sterling. Joan Collins was over-the-top and, in her English accent with a German twist, was kind of difficult to understand. Overall, I thought this a very entertaining, well-acted movie.
18th Century Movie of the Week, 20 September 2009 Author: samkan from poconos, pennesylvania
Imagine, if you can, an early 18th century English audience not in the mood for Shakespeare, the sitting Poet Laureate, or anything so heavy. Cricket match is rained out and Bedlam is closed for renovation. These folk just want to stroll down to the local corner playhouse on half-price Wednesday, pick up a cheap bottle of wine and some greasy chips and have a nice chortle, cahoot, yuk, etc.They would be splendidly satisfied if the The Clandestine Marriage were playing that evening. No long soliloquies, preachy speeches or inside jokes. No heroes or sympathetic characters. No daggers, evil motives or dastardly rogues. Indeed, there are no characters in this amusing farce that are much better or worse than another. Just an amusing comedy about pretensions, human nature and anxieties. If you can't have a good time with it, thou best lighten up,
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Contemporary sensibilities prove an anchor to a classic story, 27 December 2000 Author: rsoonsa (rsoonsa@bandbbooks.com) from Mountain Mesa, California
The Clandestine Marriage, a highly entertaining drama published in 1766 by Colman and Garrick, and still performed, is the source of a stolen scenario which fails to honor the play. The film is most damaged by an excess of cinematic "business" which detracts from the adequately complicated but sprightly original, including some rather tasteless subplots. Without doubt the location (an estate in Gloucestershire), production design, and costumers cannot be faulted, as all are splendid; however, they are unescorted by the direction, most of the acting, and the cinematography, which latter quaintly features plethoric closeups, serving only to slow the proceedings - hardly appropriate for a well-made comedy. Less than ideal casting of many of the roles is another element which spoils the production's chances of success: Joan Collins, in particular, is more grotesque than usual, and her bleating is virtually unintelligible, as well.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A mishandled piece of Restoration fluff, 31 August 2002 Author: mr_impossible from London, England
Garrick and Coleman's play on which this is based really isn't all that good, but it's a harmless enough bit of period fun and so making this film wasn't a bad idea in itself. Making it like this however, displays very little of anything regarding talent in either its director or writer. The original doesn't have any sparkling lines and the screenwriter also appears too lazy to insert any. The shooting is similarly undistinguished and the soundtrack, over-intrusive and devoid of anything resembling a good idea.The poor cast struggle manfully to keep the viewer interested, with particularly charismatic performances from Timothy Spall, the late great Sir Nigel Hawthorne and even the often disappointing Tom Hollander and Paul Nicholls clown and smoulder respectively. Joan Collins just struggles. There is little any of them can do, however, with this pretty dire succession of period drama cliches and falling-over gags. This film would be just about watchable if it wasn't such a waste of talent.The costumes and locations are pretty though.
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