Retro Film Review: Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995)

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(source: imdb.com)

Judging by the way British film makers commented on the social and other realities of Great Britain in their 1990 films, social divisions there are still very strong. Comedies are the best example - when they deal with working class they always have extra layer of bleakness; when they deal with middle and upper classes, they tend to be nothing more than escapist fun. Yet, the lives of upper-class Britons aren't always that rosy, and Mad Dogs and Englishmen, 1995 thriller directed by Henry Cole, deals with such issues.

The protagonist of the film is Antonia Dyer (played by Elizabeth Hurley), young woman who had the fortune to be born in rich aristocratic family. However, her fortune didn't give her enough wisdom to evade mistakes of past generations, including her mother who had succumbed to drug overdose decade and half ago. Her father, Sir Harry Dyer (played by Frederick Treves) isn't any better, since he supports Antonia's decadent lifestyle, pretending that this doesn't involve heroin. Antonia's life is going to change when she meets Mike (played by C. Thomas Howell), young American who supports his university education by working as motorcycle courier. After two of them fall in love, Mike is quite determined to help Antonia in getting rid of her addiction. Unfortunately, Antonia's chances for new and better life are threatened by the arrival of Stringer (played by Joss Ackland), tough Scotland Yard's narcotics detective who starts stalking her in order to get to her dealer Tony Vernon-Smith (played by Jeremy Brett). Stringer is actually corrupt and the real motives of his anti- drug crusade are even more sinister.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen is in many ways similar to The Young Americans - both films feature decadent, corrupt and powerless+ Britain and American outsiders who are going to help Britons get their act together. However, in case of this film, viewers would have some problems in getting that particular message, because director Henry Cole doesn't show much skill in bringing complex plot to the screen. For almost half of its length, this film is very confusing and the viewers would have difficulties in getting acquainted to the characters and their motives. Fortunately, the acting in this film is very good. Although the lead actress and famous model Elizabeth Hurley proves that she can be something more than a pretty face, the best impression is made by her older colleagues. Joss Ackland, already specialised in playing ominous characters, is particularly nasty piece of work in this film. For Jeremy Brett, actor best known for his wonderful performance in television adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories, this was the last performance. Seeing those two acting giants is going to be rewarding experience for all those who were tolerant of flaws in Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on December 10th 2002)