The Wicked Lady

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James Mason and Margaret Lockwood in The Wicked Lady (1945)

A noblewoman begins to lead a dangerous double life in order to alleviate her boredom.A noblewoman begins to lead a dangerous double life in order to alleviate her boredom.A noblewoman begins to lead a dangerous double life in order to alleviate her boredom.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

1.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Trivia
Both Margaret Lockwood and Patricia Roc were brought back to Gainsborough to re-shoot some of their scenes with less revealing décolleté versions of their wardrobe (appropriate for the era portrayed). Despite this, The Wicked Lady (1945) was the very first British film to be cut by Hollywood censors due to leading lady Margaret Lockwood's still remaining revealing cleavage. It was a problem Jane Russell also had in "The Outlaw" (1943). TCM sometimes airs the original, uncensored version on its USA cable network. Margaret Lockwood said "We had to do nine days of re-takes to satisfy the censor on that film and it all seemed very foolish." Mason said "I don't like it now," referring to the film after the changes.

Goofs
The wedding scene shows two musicians playing clarinets. The clarinet wasn't invented until 1690. The movie takes place in the 1680s.

Quotes
Lady Henrietta Kingsclere: Barbara, are you trying to make a fool of me?
Barbara Worth: Of course not. There's no need.

Alternate versions
The first USA release version differed from the original UK version by substituting footage with higher necklines on some women's costumes.

Connections
Featured in The World According to Smith & Jones: The Napoleonic Wars (1987)

Soundtracks
Love Steals Your Heart
(uncredited)
Music by Hans May
Lyrics by Alan Stranks

User reviews38

Review

Featured review

7/10

Amoral woman slays men left and right

This Gainsborough Picture costume drama stars Margaret Lockwood and James Mason with Lockwood playing the title role of The Wicked Lady. If you think this film bear resemblance to Forever Amber you'd be right. But Amber St.Clair is a Girl Scout next to the beautiful and treacherous Lockwood as Barbara Worth.

It all starts with Lockwood coming to live with Roc who is about to be married to the propertied and nice, but rather dull Griffith Jones. Lockwood sees security there and when she sets her cap for Jones he and Roc don't have a prayer.

But after that this minx craves excitement that Jones who is not just a landed squire, but concerned with social issues and ahead of his time that way. Lockwood after losing a precious ruby at cards then impersonates notorious highwayman James Mason and steals it back. Mason catches her and he should have obeyed his first impulse to kill her. But Lockwood uses her charms on him and the dashing Dick Turpin like highwayman is also hooked.

This film really belongs to Lockwood. I've not seen too many people as amoral as Lockwood on the screen. Beautiful and deadly this woman is the equal of other amoral females such as Jane Greer in Out Of The Past and Anne Baxter in All About Eve. Four men who trusted her meet death at her hands.

James Mason also deserves a mention. He's got quite the swagger in him as highwayman Jerry Jackson. Sad in terms of acting is competing with Lockwood who gets the woman's role of a lifetime, but he more than holds his own.

If you like Gainsborough's English costume dramas you'll love The Wicked Woman.