Wicked Lady

It is to be hoped that the exhibitors of this film have suitably rewarded a certain critic for his inimitable effort in advertising on their behalf. As a result, the public of Wellington have flocked to it ever since hoping to be shocked by this supposedly spicy entertainment. They must have been disappointed. The film was disreputable alright, but the greater part of the action was so flat and unconvincing that those little gasps of virtuous horror they had come to produce were absolutely impossible. What a flop! What a delusion! The emotions were entirely unaffected.

The story is punk. The hero (?) Roger Skelton dishes his fiancée to marry her girl friend who thus becomes Lady Skelton (the wicked one). The dished fiancée is maid of honour at the wedding, and remains as housekeeper. Thereafter it is difficult to decide to whom Roger is really married. Lady Skelton then proceeds to lead her wicked life: impersonates a highwayman, meets him, murders people who get in her road, and finally gets killed herself. This cleans everything up leaving Roger to marry his true love. Presumably they live happily for evermore.

No doubt there was a modicum of noteworthy items in the picture—most pictures have a few—but only two pierced the general boredom. Firstly the crowd scene at the hanging, and secondly, the shots from the back of the fire place of the butler and Lady Skelton.

The film has no further redeeming features.