Royal Flash (film)
| Royal Flash | |
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| Directed by | Richard Lester |
| Produced by | Dennis O'Dell David V. Picker |
| Written by | George MacDonald Fraser |
| Based on | the novel by George MacDonald Fraser |
| Starring |
Malcolm McDowell Oliver Reed Alan Bates Florinda Bolkan |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
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Release date
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Running time
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102 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $US4,040,000 |
Royal Flash is a 1975 film based on George MacDonald Fraser's second Flashman novel, Royal Flash. It stars Malcolm McDowell as Flashman. Additionally, 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.
Though it received good reviews for its performances and action scenes, Royal Flash only had a limited release in cinemas.
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. There is a brief flashback to the events of the original Flashman, with the head of the Rugby School (Michael Hordern) recounting Flashman's exploits in Afghanistan.
The film then follows the plot of the book, which itself largely derives from The Prisoner of Zenda. Flashman is forced by Otto von Bismarck to impersonate a Danish prince, who is about to marry a German princess (Britt Ekland). Bismarck exacts this retribution partly in revenge for his 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.
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