On this day July 22 1983, The Wicked Lady premiered in theaters in the United States. A remake of the 1945 British film, this lavish period drama starred Faye Dunaway as Lady Barbara Skelton, a cunning noblewoman who secretly lives a double life as a masked highway robber.
Directed by Michael Winner, the film featured opulent costumes, scandalous affairs, and a rebellious streak that pushed it far from typical period pieces of the time. Alongside Dunaway, the cast included Alan Bates, John Gielgud, and Denholm Elliott. The movie stirred controversy for its provocative scenes, which earned it an R rating and drew heavy media attention.
While it struggled with critics and audiences in the US, The Wicked Lady found more success in Europe. Over time, it gained a cult following for its bold style, extravagant tone, and Faye Dunaway’s unapologetically fierce performance. It stood out as one of the more daring and decadent films of the early 1980s.
80s insight: The Wicked Lady showed that period dramas in the 80s could go off script, turning corsets and carriages into something wildly over the top.
Directed by Michael Winner, the film featured opulent costumes, scandalous affairs, and a rebellious streak that pushed it far from typical period pieces of the time. Alongside Dunaway, the cast included Alan Bates, John Gielgud, and Denholm Elliott. The movie stirred controversy for its provocative scenes, which earned it an R rating and drew heavy media attention.
While it struggled with critics and audiences in the US, The Wicked Lady found more success in Europe. Over time, it gained a cult following for its bold style, extravagant tone, and Faye Dunaway’s unapologetically fierce performance. It stood out as one of the more daring and decadent films of the early 1980s.
80s insight: The Wicked Lady showed that period dramas in the 80s could go off script, turning corsets and carriages into something wildly over the top.
