Lady Caroline Lamb ** (1972, Sarah Miles, Jon Finch, Richard Chamberlain) – Classic Movie Review 9969

Distinguished screenwriter Robert Bolt (Lawrence of Arabia, Ryan’s Daughter) got his chance to direct his wife Sarah Miles in this British 1972 historical romance Lady Caroline Lamb about Lady Caroline Lamb’s brief affair with Lord Byron when she is married to politician William Lamb (Jon Finch), endangering his political prospects. When Byron arrogantly tosses her aside, she turns first to trying suicide then to the arms of old boot the Duke of Wellington (Laurence Olivier).

Bolt’s screenplay is sometimes melodramatic, contrived and unconvincing, spinning off a lumbering, often moribund movie. But the acting saves it: Miles does well in her custom-built role and Richard Chamberlain is suitably dashing as the poet, even if Finch is less charismatic and convincing, though the role is less exciting.

There are also delightful cameos from John Mills (Canning), Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson (George IV) and Margaret Leighton as Lady Melbourne, as well as appearances from Pamela Brown, Peter Bull, Sonia Dresdel, Trevor Peacock, Charles Carson, Nicholas Field and Joyce Carey.

Lady Caroline Lamb is directed by Robert Bolt, runs 122 minutes, is made by GEC, Pulsar, Vides, Tomorrow and EMI, is released by United Artists, is written by Robert Bolt, is shot by Oswald Morris, is produced by Fernando Ghia, is scored by Richard Rodney Bennett and is designed by Carmen Dillon.

RIP Jon Finch (1942–2012).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9969

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com