A Ghost in Monte Carlo (1990 TV Movie) User Reviews

Drama-romance with spectacular scenarios and surprise final

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 27 November 2007]

Madame Emilie (Sarah Miles) is an old courtesan woman , changing her weary life , she takes her orphaned niece Mistral (Lysette Anthony) from a convent . Both of them undergo a new life in the cosmopolitan Montecarlo along with the maid (Samantha Eggar). The courtesan becomes the countess of Secret . They are the talk of the high class from Montecarlo . Mistral encounters herself surrounded by suitors , as Lord Roberts (Marcus Gilbert) and prince Nicholas , son of the Grand Duke (Christopher Plummer) . But some (Gareth Hunt) knows the secrets and threatens to Emilie and an admirer Rajah (Oliver Reed) has less than honorable intentions over Mistral . Meanwhile , the aunt hiding a number of secrets is plotting a long-awaited vengeance in a twisted finale . Naturally , there's a happy ending like happens on all stories by Barbara Cartland.

This is a romance-drama with tragedy , murder, passion , love , twisted plot and incredible ending . It's an entertaining film and regency romance fans will appreciate the attention to period detail . Based on the romance novel with the same title by Barbara Cartland . In fact , belongs to quatrain of pictures directed by John Hough , such as : ¨Duel of hearts (Alison Doody, Michael York), ¨Hazard of hearts¨(Helena Bonham Carter, Gilbert), and the best , ¨The lady and the highwayman¨(Hugh Grant, Lysette Anthony) . All realized by the same director , producer (Albert Fennell, Sir Lew Grade), musician (Laurie Johnson : The avengers) , author (Cartland) and similar players (Lysette Anthony , Marcus Gilbert , Neal Dickson , Fiona Fullerton , Christopher Plummer , among others) . This TV picture was well directed by John Hough . He has an eclectic and long filmmaker career , beginning in television series (Avengers, Protectors) , making Hammer film (Twins of evil), classic terror (legend of hell house) , average horror movies (Howling IV, American Gothic) , adventures (Island of treasure, Black arrow) until wholesome Disney family fare (Return and escape to witch mountain) . The flick will appeal to romantic drama buffs.

romantic junk in lush settings

[didi-5 · 6/10 · 29 April 2007]

It's an adaptation of a Barbara Cartland novel, so you can't expect this to be good. It is watchable, but that's about all. You can figure out most of the story in the first few minutes and then you just wait to watch it enfold, exactly as expected.

Sarah Miles is cold and calculating as the manipulative Countess who takes her innocent niece from a convent and sends her into the world in Monte Carlo, throwing her into the arms of the Crown Prince. Typical romantic junk so far, extremely formulaic, and Lysette Anthony plays the pouting niece to perfection.

Other decent actors sleepwalk through this rubbish - Christopher Plummer, Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, Gareth Hunt, Fiona Fullerton - but not much can be done to redeem it. It is watchable enough to divert for its 90 minutes running time, but it is hardly a classic of 1990s television!

OK period soap opera

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 10 June 2018]

A handsome, well-staged production, set in 1875 Monte Carlo, with some beautiful vistas and some lovely women, but a bit on the dull side. A good cast is not used to its full capabilities. A murder and a couple of sword fights cannot disguise the fact that this is really a chick flick at heart. My first experience with a Barbara Cartland adaptation, and it's probably enough to realize that it's not for me. **1/2 out of 4.

Soooo bad...

[ANeary · 1/10 · 8 August 2004]

Well, what can you say about a Barbara Cartland adaptation?

There are some amazing actors in this (Oliver Reed, Sarah Miles, Christopher Plummer) but they clearly are clocking up the money.

Lysette Anthony and Marcus Gilbert have appeared in two other Cartland epics - Anthony with Hugh Grant (who looks suitably embarrassed) and Gilbert with Helena Bonham Carter.

If you really want to see a "watchable" adaptation of Cartland, the Bonham Carter one is the one to go for ("A Hazard of Hearts" - what a title!!). Gilbert is the weak link in that, but Bonham Carter is suitably beautiful and of course can actually act, and the rest of the cast play it to the hilt with tongues firmly in cheek (Edward Fox & Diana Rigg)

A wonderful adaptation of a great story with a fantastic cast and plot!

[cathytreks · 10/10 · 22 March 2008]

This is a superb adaptation of a page turning Barbara Cartland novel, with all the frills you would expect, and one will find this to be highly watchable. While some have said you may "figure out most of the story in the first few minutes" I dare say otherwise and with the cast in the film and excellent production values this has more of a "movie movie" feel, than a made for TV film, as you watch it enfold as its enveloping twists and turns it will delight the viewer to it's moving climax.

Sarah Miles and Lysette Anthony are wonderful, Ms Miles delivers a compelling and sympathetic performance as a world weary Countess who takes her innocent niece (Ms.Anthony) from a convent and sends her into the exciting world of Monte Carlo, into the arms of the Crown Prince himself, all played to atypical romantic perfection!

This ensemble cast of top actors shine in this photo-play. The late Oliver Reed, along with the ever wondrous Christopher Plummer, shine especially, along with the superb Samantha Eggar, Fiona Fullerton and Gareth Hunt in supporting but important roles this is a true classic of 1990s television at it's best, to be watched and enjoyed, and watched again. This is a ***** star TV Movie production that zips by in in an all too short 90 mins!

Watch for the Marcus Gilbert factor!

[ysic2 · 8/10 · 27 December 2006]

Okay. Am a bit biased on this movie as like Marcus Gilbert. First saw him in Hazard of Hearts and liked him so much and the movie wasn't bad either that bought the book. Really surprising Marcus Gilbert has not been in more movies. The ones he has been in have been horror ones, so bit disappointed in that. In fact this movie has four characters from Hazard of Hearts. (Christopher Plummer, Marcus Gilbert!, Fiona Fullerton and Gareth Hunt) so I think they were just recycling the actors. Okay. This movie could of been a little better. I didn't like Lysette Anthony playing the main girl character Mistral or Madam Phantom. I think she was wrongly picked. She didn't have any quality that I could see every man attracted and drawing to her. Not only did she look plain and ordinary, as well as having flaws, there was nothing appealing about her including her character in the story. Lord Stanford, on the other hand. (Marcus Gilbert) was superb in my books. His voice and looks (woah!) He is up there with Colin Firth in my books.

The story itself. Again not as good as Hazard of Hearts despite having some other great actors in it like Oliver Reed and Joanna Lumley but okay to watch if you like period pieces.

A wonderful story of romance, secrets, and suspense!

[clasik1 · 8/10 · 7 May 1999]

"A Ghost in Monte Carlo" has an excellent cast. The storyline is superb and succeeds in drawing the viewer quickly into the story. The setting and costumes add to the richness of the storyline. This fine story, based on the novels of Barbara Cartland, is neatly interwoven with romance, secrets from the past, and suspense with regard to the various storylines linked to the main character of Mistral. This movie is definitely for all "romantics-at-heart!"