A Hazard of Hearts (1987 TV Movie) User Reviews (24)

Romance story with luxurious and spectacular scenarios against British high class

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 17 December 2008]

Compulsive gambler Sir Giles(Christopher Plummer) has lost his money an estate playing against Lord Wrotham(Edward Fox) . He realises which he only has one thing , his gorgeous daughter Serena(Helena Bonham Carter). Giles stakes his daughter's hand in marriage to villain Lord. Sir Giles lost and he commits suicide himself. Then Lord Justin Vulcan(Marcus Gilbert) is witnessed the deeds and stakes Lord Wrotham to play dices. Justin wins and he now finding himself as owner of the Gilles's mansion and Serena.Lord Justin installs her as a guest at Mandrake palace with maid included(Anna Massey). Trouble is, he can not marry her, until she solves the secret issues contains the mansion.Unfortunately, she becomes a strange into the house and the ambitious Justin's mother , Lady Harriet Vulcan( a despicable Diana Rigg) has less than honorable intentions over Serena.

This is a romance-drama plenty of suspense, intrigue, dark secrets,passion and plot-twists. It's an amusing movie and regency romance fans will appreciate the attention to period detail. Based on the romance novel with similar title by Barbara Catland. In fact belongs to quatrain movies directed by John Hough, with similar scenarios and style; same producer(Albert Fennell, Sir Lew Grade), musician(Laurie Johnson) and author(Barbara Catland), these are : 'A ghost of Montecarlo'(Lysette Anthony,Sarah Miles, Marcus Gilbert), 'The lady and the highway man'(Hugh Grant, Lysette Anthony) and 'Duel of Hearts'(Alison Doody, Michael York).

The motion picture is professionally directed by John Hough. He has an eclectic and long filmmaker career , starting in TV movies(The protectors, Avengers), directing Hammer movies(Twins of evil), mediocre horror films(Howling IV, American Gothic), adventures(Island of treasure) and wholesome Disney family fare(Return and escape to witch mountain).Rating : Acceptable and passable, this television movie will like to romantic stories fans.

A Barbara Cartland romance

[jsabrina · 7/10 · 24 December 1999]

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.

A really rather good love story.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 15 August 2020]

I have never been a fan of this genre, nor a fan of romantic novels from the likes of Barbara Cartland, but I have to say I love this movie. A story of love and greed set against the absurdity of the British class system, does true love conquer all? This movie will answer that question for you.

It moves along nicely, it looks wonderful, sets and costumes etc, and of course there are the beautiful people, Helena Bonham Carter and Marcus Gilbert, she is soft and feminine, and so beautiful, he's handsome and charming, the pair are great. As is so often the case, the villains steal the show, Fox and Rigg are an absolute joy to watch, they make it worth a look.

It is romantic, but it has a story, and a bit of action, it is definitely worth seeing, 8/10.

Help!

[dmbreaux · 1 March 2001]

I saw this movie when it aired in 1987 on the ABC network. I absolutely loved it. My mom taped it and I watched it everyday after school and all summer long, until... MY MOM TAPED OVER IT ACCIDENTALLY!!! I was absolutely devastated, and needless to say, my mom still has not lived it down. HELP! I have searched for this movie for 14 years, and am desperate to get a copy of it. Even if it has all the old commercials--any condition. Where can I find a copy? Please help me locate a copy of this most adorable movie. Thank you for any assistance you may lend to assist me.

"No little scrap of a girl is going to defy me. I must think."

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 12 December 2021]

The Gainsborough logo at the beginning of the film brought back memories to me of all those deliciously scandalous Margaret Lockwood films of the forties such as "The Man in Grey" and "The Wicked Lady". Lockwood could play heroines and scheming murderesses in her sleep, and the character that she would have played here, the one portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter, must gain strength as she has to deal with the evil Diana Rigg. The circumstances which brought her to the large estate surround her father Christopher Plummer literally losing her as part of a gambling debt. She ends up in a fake engagement to Riggs' son (Marcus Gilbert) which creates an instant hatred by the evil mother, as wild as any Disney queen ever was.

This film starts off direct with the issues of heroine Serena Staverley and her father and turns into a complete camp fest with Rigg's entrance. "Take your paws off me. Your stench sickens me" she tells one foe before running him through with a sword in Carter's presence. It's obvious that she's involved in a smuggling ring as well as illegal gambling which makes it obvious how she has gained her fortune in addition to her marriage to the older Stewart Granger, ironically a veteran of those Margaret Lockwood movies.

Among the others in the cast are Edward Fox, Fiona Fullerton, Anna Massey and Eileen Atkins, an ensemble of the creme de la creme of British acting royalty. It is beautiful to look at in every way with a great score, fabulous art direction and costumes. There's also a fabulous energy that will keep the three were enthralled throughout. It's a shame that CBS did not adapt more Barbara Cartland novels as TV movies, particularly the costume adventures, because this one is just too much fun to dismiss as just dressed up soap trash. For me, this one's a keeper.

The Clothes and Scenery Were Better Than the Story

[ldeangelis-75708 · 6/10 · 29 March 2023]

I love the time period, the clothing styles, the scenery and architecture, but I can't say the same for the story, which was okay, but just barely. The best one in the movie was Diana Rigg, even if the former "avenger" was playing a villainess. Christopher Plummer had a thankless role, as he was dead almost as soon as he made his first appearance.

As for the leading lady: Helena Bonham Carter looked younger than her age, too young, in fact, making Marcus Gilbert look like a cradle robber. Also, instead of acting the part like the typical spirited heroine, Helena plays her more like a belligerent teenager with an attitude. Someone else would have been better in the role.

If you skip this one, no big deal.

I love to curl up with this movie (forget a book!)

[ladyhgiggles · 10/10 · 19 December 1999]

I caught this movie when it first came out and it instantly became my favorite romance film. I was 12 then and I impatiently waited for it to come on TV again. I was fortunate enough to record it the second and third time that it re-appeared and I wish it was out on video for others to enjoy. It's not earth shattering, but cute, sweet and fun. Helena Bonham Carter is adorable and has spunk and Marcus Gilbert is a handsome devil that can make you melt down through the couch! This movie started me on Regency period novels and films (not to mention forever hunting down Marcus Gilbert film/TV appearances). If you have the chance, WATCH IT!! BUT REMEMBER: Do not take it too seriously or you will be doomed to disappointment! You can also find other TV movies from Barbara Cartland novels such as A Ghost In Monte Carlo (also w/Marcus Gilbert), Duel Of Hearts, and The Lady & The Highwayman (w/Hugh Grant). You might also enjoy The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Like a drug...

[sweetrupturedlight · 10/10 · 10 January 2004]

As stated above, once you start, you cant stop. this movie, once you've seen it, you'll want to see it again, and again, and again...!

I saw it years ago and it proved to be unforgetable. even now, years later, i still remember the marvelous cliches and the beautiful blue eyed gaze of one Marcus Gilbert.

Romance at its finest!!!

Shocked that anything this bad could be made in England

[bacchae2 · 1/10 · 16 October 2015]

I know that Lord Grade (as producer) has been jokingly referred to as "Low" Grade and I knew that Barbara Cartland is supposed to be absolute dreck, but, even given that, this 'film' is so much worse than I expected considering some of the talent involved. Diana Rigg does seem to consciously add a bit of camp to the proceedings and has some very amusing (intentionally? maybe not) lines, but it's a shame that former Avengers writer/producer Albert Fennell couldn't come up with something more worthy of her considering the great genuine wit of that series. We even have music by Avengers composer Laurie Johnson. And one of the New Avengers has a nice little cameo. The dialogue, which I am assuming, comes full-blown from the pen of Cartland (all I can think about is that great Little Britain sketch with Matt Lucas in drag churning out yet another bad formulaic assembly-line bodice-ripper) is some of the most atrocious, cliché, and insipid I have heard in years. I thought they, thankfully, stopped making movies this bad some time in the 1930s. Some of the apparently clueless women who love this sort of coded 'romance' novel and who claim to swoon over the spoiled brat control freaks (not far removed from Cristian Gray) that supposedly pass for men in this odious world of 'romance' are just mind-boggling at not recognizing abusive behavior for what it is. It's anything but romantic.

A wonderful movie you can't easily forget!

[Miss-Cellaneous · 10/10 · 27 April 2000]

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.

So trashy you can't rip your eyes away.

[volatile · 2/10 · 27 March 1999]

So there I was, laid up with the 'flu. I flick to the midday movie - oh, it's got Helena Bonham-Carter in it. Groovy. Little did I know that I was in for two hours of cliched corny crap that also proved extremely difficult to stop watching despite all my efforts. I swear, I tried so hard to stop! But it was just so (unintentionally) amusing!

The cliches just kept on coming; the acting was terrible (apart from Bonham-Carter); the direction clumsy; the costumes and set design cheap. I know, it was made for television; but so was My Beautiful Laundrette.

But what really made me frustrated was the hero - throughout the whole film, purportedly a romance-adventure, he always, every single time, kissed Helena on the forehead. Like she was a little girl. It killed me.

Watch it for laughs, but don't expect anything else.

Good rollicking nonsense!

[staceym · 10/10 · 21 September 2004]

I love this movie and have done since I first saw it many years ago.

The script is firmly buried in cliché and is in places laughable (She's about to have the vapours - I'll lay odds on it!) but that only adds to its charm.

An impressive early performance from Helena Bonham-Carter as the spunky country-mouse, and a first look at Marcus Gilbert (phoaar) as the brooding-yet-misunderstood-and-hunky Lord Vulcan provides the energy of the movie, but the old guard (Diana Rigg, Stewart Granger, Anna Massey et al) provide the seasoning which makes this a most palatable effort.

I have now seen this about a hundred times and can practically talk along with it, but it never gets old, never gets tired and the DVD will be my next purchase (I *shall* have it!).

I'm glad you've found someone here to love at Mandrake. In your short time here, you've learned all our most guarded secrets.

[pie-3 · 9/10 · 26 November 1998]

I have seen this movie more times than any other. My mother taped it off television and my sisters and I would watch it every day after school. I recently watched it again after not having seen it for several years, and despite my expectations of disappointment, I loved it just as much as ever. The old commercials are a kick too (pre-bunny Energizer commercials - TOO RIGHT THE EXTRAORDINARY ENERGIZER IT'LL SURPRISE YA!)

If you think, as I do, that Helena Bonham-Carter is one of the most charming faces and voices around, you will enjoy this young vision of her. And her eyebrows are more active here than anywhere else.

Tangerine empire-line dresses - wonderful!

[oscarina · 27 April 1999]

This is an incredibly corny adaptation of a Barbara Cartland novel. Diana Rigg as the evil mother figure wears a variety of increasingly bizarre hats, Edward Fox bumbles his way through it in typical English aristocratic fashion and Stewart Granger turning up was a real plus! Helena Bonham-Carter looks more like a pug than ever in this, but it's the anachronistic costume colours which are the real highlight. Diana Rigg in a bright tangerine ensemble is an abiding image! For sheer trash value, Hazard of Hearts is worth a 10 out of 10.

Where's my handy bodice-ripper?

[Rosabel · 3/10 · 25 July 2000]

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?

Boy loses girl in card game, winner falls for girl.

[gv71 · 9/10 · 12 February 2001]

Good typical Regency romance. Excellent scenery and some good actors in the movie. Costumes could have been a little better but over all I enjoyed it. Except I can't believe they cut the ending where the guy never quite kisses the girl. Just an impression that he does it. Wish it was out on video

Fun

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 21 February 2021]

Yes, along with The Lady and the Highwayman, this Mill Creek has not one but two John Hough made for TV movies. Hough is an interesting director who made perhaps my favorite late model Hammer movie (Twins of Evil), one of the best car movies of all time (Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry), several fun Disney movies (the Witch Mountain films, The Watcher In the Woods), some out there slashers (American Gothic and Incubus), a few sequels (The Triumphs of a Man Called Horse and Howling IV: The Original Nightmare) and even executive produced a really insightful wrestling documentary (The Backyard).

This bodice ripper, based on the book by Barbara Cartland, starts with Sir Giles Staverley (Christopher Plummer) being tricked into gambling away not only his home but his daughter to Lord Harry Wrotham (Edward Fox, M in Never Say Never AgaIn). He becomes so distraught over what he has done to his daughter Serena (Helena Bonham Carter in one of her first big movies) he kills himself.

However, Lord Justin Vulcan (Marcus Gilbert, who is also in Hough's Biggles) wins everything from Wrotham yet has no idea what to do with the house and the girl. His mother, Lady Harriet Vulcan (Diana Rigg!) wants her far away from her son and their ancestral home of Mandrake, so all manner of upper crust intrigue follows.

Originally airing on December 27, 1987 on CBS, there are also roles here for Stewart Granger (The Wild Geese), Fiona Fullerton (A View to a Kill), Neil Dickson (who was also in Biggles, an HBO afternoon movie that I really need to get to), Anna Massey (Peeping Tom), Eileen Atkins (Sister Albana from I Don't Want to Be Born), Gareth Hunt (who is in Hough's Lady and the Highwayman) and Robert Addie (Mordred in Excalibur).

Eurospy fans will be pleased that two Bond girls (Fullerton and Rigg) show up here, while noting that both Rigg and Hunt played roles on The Avengers (she was, of course, Emma Peel while he played Mike Gambit on The New Avengers).

Hilariously Bad!!!!

[moonmare · 10/10 · 7 February 2006]

I totally enjoyed this movie because it was terrible! The producers surely didn't mean for it to be a satire, but that's how it should be viewed. I must explain. I am a romance-addict. It all started when I was forced to read "Pride and Prejudice" in 9th grade English Lit. That was it. I was hooked and having devoured Austin, I moved on to her much less talented imitators, such as the author of this story, Barbara Cartland. This movie is a classic Regency plot. It has everything: a plucky Young Heroine, a gorgeous Rake with a Dark Secret, a Scheming Mama (who is also the Affronted Dowager), a Dissipated Lord who Loses Everything in a Foolish Wager, an Abduction, a Forced Marriage and even a Highwayman with a Heart of Gold. What a riot! The cast is great- Diana Rigg chews the scenery as she pacing menacingly in her be-feathered turbans. Helena Bonham Carter does the pouting consternation thing she at which she excelled in her Corset Days. The Hero is dressed with sartorial elegance in Biscuit-Colored Inexpressibles and Gleaming Hessians (his valet must have used champagne in the blacking!) The best-worst thing about the film is the score- the music is SO over-the-top! It really pushes the film from moderately bad to hilariously awful! I loved every minute of it! If you're a fan of costume romance and melodrama, watch this one for a good laugh at yourself!

The Best Of Barbara Cartland's Novel Adaptation So Far

[lia00027 · 9/10 · 22 November 2010]

The story is charming indeed as always as any of Barbara Cartland's novels, love between aristocrat with romantic intrigue. However even usually Barbara wrote good novel still it depends on the actors' work to present the real feelings of each characters.

I definitely agree that a couple in this movie is incredibly perfect, Helena Bonham Carter and Marcus Gilbert showed a very much growing affection between them. Helena is wonderful portrayed her character as a strong girl who had principal with a strong heart to live in that kind society. While Marcus was terrifically charmed and showed his character really well as any of Barbara novel hero described. All other cast are doing terrific job portrayed their characters as described in the novel. Marcus also acted in other Barbara Cartland' adaptation novel "A GHOST IN MONTE CARLO" (worth watching also).

The story of all Barbara novel always happy ending including the film. The movie ended with a wedding scene between Justin and Serena and that's all that matter for a romantic film viewer like me not to forget the creative modest background music that felt matching the movie very well.

Extraordinarily cheesy, classic gothic romance

[theprovinces · 23 December 2002]

Helena Bonham-Carter is such a divinely eloquent actress, she shines above such veterans as Christopher Plummer, Diana Rigg, Edward Fox and Stewart Granger (the latter so very underused).

Plummer, Rigg and Fox are so horrifically over-the-top, you can only assume that the director was too intimidated by their previous credits to repress their cartoonish gleeful overacting.

Cartland works with a formula that makes this a very standard gothic romance, but it's saved, in parts, by the charm of the two leads, the extraordinary Bonham-Carter and the still little-seen Marcus Gilbert.

This also might not seem so infinitely cheesy if the predictable, derivative soundtrack didn't soar in so obviously.

Still, the film is a must for Bonham-Carter fans, if only to confirm what an excellent, expressive talent she is. And, as previous commentators have noted, this is ideal rainy Sunday afternoon fare.

Fabulous Nonsense!

[danielemerson · 5/10 · 9 August 2022]

Do you have to know who the daffy aristocrat turned pulp romance conveyor belt Barbara Cartland was to enjoy this? I'm not sure you do.

A young Helena Bonham Carter heads a surprisingly high-quality cast in a story that everybody involved knew from the start was a preposterous bodice-ripper. Knowing this, they have fun, with some tremendously over-ripe performances.

If you're into authentic period drama, run screaming for the hills. This is a "two bottles of Lambrini" honker that's a lot of fun once you adopt the necessary mindset.

Swoonworthy period romance

[magnoliacream · 8/10 · 1 March 2024]

This is about a girl, Serena Staverley (Helena Bonham Carter), whose father Sir Giles (Christopher Plummer) gambles his whole estate and her away. The eventual winner, Lord Justin Vulcan (Marcus Gilbert), takes Serena to live with his mother Lady Harriet (Diana Rigg) at his estate, Mandrake, while he decides what to do with her.

Whatever the production lacks in quality - the acting of some characters and some scenes are rather cheesy - it makes up for it in spades (pardon the pun) with the stunning visuals of the lead characters. Marcus Gilbert, especially, is so swoonworthy, I wish more Barbara Cartland novels were adapted into movies with him as the male lead.

Quite possibly one of HBC's WORST

[palmer3689-119-119211 · 28 September 2014]

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.

A rich heiress at the mercy of overwhelming specialists on cruelty.

[clanciai · 9/10 · 11 January 2020]

The film in style and manner of photography, the environment and a slightly exaggerated cloak-and-dagger story relates directly to the heyday of Gainsborough romances in the 40's, and there is actually nothing missing here. Even the music is somewhat exaggeratedly romantic. Helena Bonham-Carter is good enough as the grossly manhandled victim of the plot which contains some galleries of rogues, the worst of all though being Diana Rigg as the mother, a virtuoso performance of cruelty. Of course, much of this messy and shabby story is highly improbable, and the one who exaggerates most of all is James Fox - you will probably never have seen him more despicable. Christopher Plummer represents a portion of heart-rending tragedy, while the brief relief of Stewart Granger's contribution is actually a refreshing change from all the shocking criminal schemes going on. You don't expect much of Marcus Gilbert but that he will be like the rest of them, just another devil, but here is actually some character development. The one good person throughout this nightmare of outrageously cruel and wicked intrigue is Anna Massey as Eudora with a wooden leg. I's great entertainment, and although you will find most of this sordid mess highly objectionable, there are some nicer ingredients lighting up the dreary mess. There is hardly any tenderness at all anywhere, all is drowned in ruthless egoism, but some good will eventually come out of it after all.