Royal Flash (film)

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Royal Flash

Directed by	Richard Lester
Produced by	Dennis O'Dell David V. Picker
Written by	George MacDonald Fraser (based on the novel Royal Flash by George MacDonald Fraser)
Starring	Malcolm McDowell Oliver Reed Alan Bates Florinda Bolkan
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	October 1975
Running time	102 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
IMDb profile

Royal Flash is a 1975 film 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 and the film was directed by Richard Lester.

[edit] Plot summary

The film begins with Flashman making a patriotic speech to the boys of Rugby School framed by a giant Union Flag, 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 manoeuvred 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.