Royal Flash (film)
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| Royal Flash | |
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| Directed by | Richard Lester |
| Written by | George MacDonald Fraser (based on the novel Royal Flash by George MacDonald Fraser) |
| Starring | Malcolm McDowell Oliver Reed Alan Bates Florinda Bolkan |
| Release date(s) | 1975 |
| Running time | 102 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Royal Flash is a 1975 movie based on George MacDonald Fraser's second Flashman novel, Royal Flash. It starred Malcolm McDowell as Flashman. Oliver Reed appeared in the role of Otto von Bismarck, Alan Bates as Rudi von Sternberg, and Florinda Bolkan played Lola Montez. Fraser wrote the screenplay. It was directed by Richard Lester.
The movie was not a commercial success. Possible reasons include that it came after several very well-received costume dramas, including The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, as well as indifferent work by the director and problems with continuity. McDowell was also seen by Flashman fans as a poor choice for the role, despite his talents. Flashman is described repeatedly in the novels as a big, strong-looking man, swarthy enough to pass easily as an Afghan or a Quadroon.
The movie begins with Flashman making a patriotic speech to the boys of Rugby School framed by a giant Union Jack, in a scene which appears to be a parody of the opening sequence in the 1970 film Patton. The film then follows the plot of the book, which itself largely derives from The Prisoner of Zenda. Flashman is forced to impersonate a Danish prince who is about to marry a German princess by Otto von Bismarck, partly in revenge for Bismarck's humiliation at the hands of Flashman in London; Flashman stole Bismarck's mistress Lola Montez, then maneuvered him into boxing against a professional boxer, John Gully (played by Henry Cooper), at a house party. Bismarck does not wish the princess to marry a Dane, since this may tilt the balance on the Schleswig-Holstein Question and interfere with his plans for a united Germany.
