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Pretty Good

A lot of fun.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

"The Hellfire Club" is an amiable swashbuckler. It's not among the best of its genre, but it's quite agreeable. It has a very fine pace, a respectable amount of energy, an appreciably high level of humor, and an extremely engaging cast.The setting is England in the 1770s. Young Jason (Martin Stephens) and his mother (Jean Lodge) flee for their lives, from the tyranny of their cruel father / husband (Andrew Faulds). 15 years later, Jason is now a hunky, strapping adult (Keith Michell) living with a circus troupe. He receives word that his father has died, and decides to return to the family home to reclaim his birthright. But to do so, he will have to battle his sleazy and corrupt cousin Thomas (Peter Arne).The action and the sword fights may indeed not be the slickest that you'll ever see, but they're still entertaining enough to watch. Lavishly photographed in widescreen by Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman (who are also the producers and the directors), it's violent without ever being gory, and its sets and costumes are reasonably appealing. The music score by Clifton Parker is appropriate all the way through. As said before, the sense of humor helps a lot, especially during the sequence where Jason masquerades as a French Marquis (Bernard Hunter); Michell is hysterical in these scenes.There are solid contributions from much of the cast: lovely Adrienne Corri as the grasping but honest Lady Isobel, ever delightful Peter Cushing as the lawyer Mr. Merryweather, David Lodge as Timothy, Miles Malleson as a judge, Francis Matthews as Sir Hugh Manning, and Skip Martin as Joey. Michell is a worthy hero, and Arne is an effectively slimy villain."The Hellfire Club" remains consistently diverting for its entire 93 minute run time.Seven out of 10.

This cheap 'n' cheesy British swashbuckler is very much like the costume adventure films that Hammer were making during the same period, albeit on a much lower budget. There's a wobbly, fake look to the whole production; the costumes are anything but authentic, and nothing looks very believable when it comes down to it. It has the same authenticity as an episode of DOCTOR WHO around the time of Jon Pertwee, but that's not to say it isn't fun.The plot is completely predictable, involving a guy who comes home to claim his inheritance, only to discover that a bad guy (his cousin) has taken his place. It's rather amusing to see Keith Michell (THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII) as the straight-laced lead, but the prevalence of familiar faces in the supporting cast helps to even things out a bit. Watch out for a small, fussy turn from Peter Cushing, Peter Arne and Francis Matthews as the suave villains, Adrienne Corri (VAMPIRE CIRCUS) as a potential love interest, Miles Malleson as a judge and Bill Owen (LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE's Compo!) as a circus performer (!).The production is quite poorly staged and the fight choreography is all over the place, with punches thrown so badly that you can clearly see they never connect. There's a half-rousing sword fight at the climax but it still pales in comparison to other fare from the era. There's lots of titillation though, thrown in as if to make up for the other deficiencies. Nevertheless I love period films from this era, so I still enjoyed THE HELLFIRE CLUB despite the obvious shortcomings.

Everyone has covered this but it is a good swashbuckler and it does look like the Hammer Films costume dramas from the same period, so rather than it just been that Cushing and Sangster were involved, it also resembles a Hammer Film in everything except name. Also of interest is that this is the film that Kolliatis was watching in bed before he dies in the 'The Man Who Got A New Face' episode of the series 'Department S' Which Robert S. Baker produced between 1969 and 1970. An interesting film for everyone who likes a period piece or a costume drama and unlike Kolliatis you will not die after watching this. Great! Search the TV Guide or get it on DVD it's a good timewaster.

Rousing swashbuckling tale of an heir Jason(Keith Michell, in fine form as an Errol Flynn type hero), whose despicable father finally leaves this mortal coil for Hell after his death in a hunting accident, must contend with his equally devious, aristocratic scumbag cousin Thomas(Peter Arne)who lays claim to the estate and has the paper entitling Jason to the kingdom. Unfortunately, Jason will have to secure that paper from Thomas somehow by sneaking into his service as a servant. Jason, who was raised by Timothy(David Lodge), once a servant of his fathers'..and only one his late mother could trust..has been part of a traveling circus for some time and has keen acrobatic abilities, not to mention sword-fighting knowledge. This knowledge, and acrobatic skill, comes in handy when Jason's identity is found out, perhaps through Isobel(Adrienne Corri)who is to marry Thomas but falls in love with his cousin. Isobel is from poverty and so desperately wants a title of wealth that Thomas can provide..but despite her feelings towards Jason he stands in the way of her goals. Thomas' power with the English government(..but his underhanded secret dealings with the French offer possibilities of his possible downfall)puts Jason in prison when the evil aristocrat murders Timothy framing him. Jason had retrieved the paper stating his legitimacy to the kingdom and hid it in his lawyer's study. But lawyer Merryweather(Peter Cushing, amusing even if on screen for mere minutes)will not allow his knowledge of the paper known to the judge or jury at the trial for Jason's being tucked away in prison might just benefit England and bring down the corrupt Thomas and his Hellfire Club cohorts. But, Jason's circus-pals will not stand at bay as their friend lays in prison for the gallows and rescue him. Through a cunning kidnapping of the traveling French Marquis, Jason will go within the lair of Thomas' Hellfire club cavern to rescue his lady-love Yvonne(Kai Fischer), held prisoner so that a thorn can be removed from the evil cousin's side. Can Jason rescue Yvonne, thwart Thomas' plans, and, above all, remain alive?Lots of sword-dueling, acrobatic stunts, colorful sets & engaging performances rise this above merely the mundane. It has an appealing hero, loathsome villain worth rooting against, beautiful women, and an exciting prison escape. The circus troupe provide lots of joy as they cunningly trick the guards in the prison escape. Good production values and some suspense as poor Jason faces one trial after another so that he can get his revenge and claim his birthright. The Hellfire Club is an interesting backdrop to the action proclaiming what kind of sickening brutes Jason, and England, are up against.