When compulsive gambler Sir Giles Staverley has lost his estate and all his money playing dice, he realises that he only has one thing left of value: his daughter Serena. In a final game, he stakes his daughter's hand in marriage, convinced that this time he will not lose. Unfortunately, however, he does lose; to the evil Lord Wrotham. Unable to return home and tell his daughter that he has lost her in a game of dice, Sir Giles kills himself there and then. Lord Vulcan, who has witnessed the events, takes pity on Serena Staverley, although they have never met. He challenges Lord Wrotham to a game of dice in which the winner takes both Staverley Court and Miss Serena.
Reviews
Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Simply Perfect
Best movie of this year hands down!
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
When I saw Helena Bonham Carter's name among the lead actors in "A Hazard of Hearts," I lulled me into a false sense of promise for this horrifyingly boring, poorly acted made-for-TV movie.This was one of HBC's very first roles, so perhaps she can be forgiven for taking whatever was offered her. Fortuately for her -- and the rest of us -- she went on to make far more artistically gripping work than this. As I understand it, even she shudders at the roles she took at first and the image it initially gave her. The constant music played throughout the film which, years ago, would have been nothing more that white noise to its viewers (I among them), now is cloying and annoying, often dominating many scenes and thus proving to be more than a bit distracting. The best work in the film comes from Christopher Plummer, whose portrayal of HBC's gambling addict father is so wonderful as to make you completely forget all the more regal characters he has more predominantly portrayed and even cause him to look physically different from his normal self. Well done! Diana Rigg's role as the devious mother is also carried off with great strength and polish so that even the camp reactions that might produce snickers from a less accomplished actress are nearly forgiven due to Ms. Rigg's talented work.
This movie is such trash, but so totally unpretentious in its trashiness that one can't get too indignant at it. It's based on a Barbara Cartland novel - well, what more is there to say? I will carry with me forever some of the ridiculous lines and scenes from this movie, especially Edward Fox as a Regency villain, sitting on a horse and declaiming lustfully "I *shall* have her!" as he contemplates the winsome Helena Bonham-Carter. Just too funny for words; oh, MST3K, why were you taken from us before the greatest movie of them all came along?
Years ago a friend introduced me to "A Hazard of Hearts" and I've been hooked ever since. Not only for Marcus Gilbert's beauty, though that doesn't hurt, but because it brings to life an era which seems more fantasy than the reality it once was. Never pass up the privilege of enjoying it's romance and mystique. If ever I'm fortunate enough to discover it again, I will be most pleased.
The strength of this film is the performance of Helena Bonham-Carter in an early role. The plot comes straight from a romance novel, and thus is only for those who enjoy tales of young women in desperate situations that they overcome through spunk and the unexpected love of a mysterious nobleman, but it's a fun and charming way to pass a couple of hours.
Top Streaming Movies
