The Bad Lord Byron
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Bad Lord Byron is a 1949 British historical drama film centered on the life of Lord Byron. It was directed by David MacDonald and starred Dennis Price as Byron with Mai Zetterling, Linden Travers and Joan Greenwood.
Plot
The film sees life from the perspective of Lord Byron, seriously wounded in Greece where he is fighting for Greek independence. From his deathbed, Byron remembers his life and many loves, imagining that he's pleading his case before a celestial court.
The first witness called is Lady Caroline Lamb who recalls their relationship. She met Byron after a ball and they began an affair. He writes the poem She Walks in Beauty about another woman, causing Lady Caroline to stab herself with a broken glass. He breaks things off and Lady Caroline is sent to Ireland.
The next witness is Annabella Milbanke who talks about her romance and marriage to Byron, including the birth of their child.
The third witness is Augusta Leigh, with whom Annabelle thought Byron was having an affair, although Augusta denies it.
John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton is the fourth witness. He talks about Byron's political career and how he became famous overnight through his poetry and meeting Teresa, Contessa Guiccioli.
Teresa is the fifth witness. She talks of their love affair while she was married and his involvement in the Carbonari in Italy. Byron leaves her to go fight for Greek independence. The celestial judge (played by Dennis Price) tells the viewer it is up to them to decide whether Byron was good or bad.
Cast
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- Dennis Price as Lord Byron
- Mai Zetterling as Teresa Guiccioli
- Joan Greenwood as Lady Caroline Lamb
- Linden Travers as Augusta Leigh
- Sonia Holm as Annabella Milbanke
- Raymond Lovell as John Hobhouse
- Leslie Dwyer as Fletcher
- Denis O'Dea as Prosecuting Counsel
- Irene Browne as Lady Melbourne
- Virgilio Teixeira as Pietro Gamba
- Ernest Thesiger as Count Guiccioli
- Gerard Heinz as Austrian Officer
- Cyril Chamberlain as Defending Counsel
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Mr. Hopton
- Henry Oscar as Count Gamba
- Richard Molinas as Gondolier
- Robert Harris as Dallas
- Ronald Adam as Judge
- Archie Duncan as John Murray
- Barry Jones as Colonel Stonhope
- Natalie Moya as Lady Milbanke
- Bernard Rebel as Doctor Bruno
- John Stone as Lord Clark
- Nora Swinburne as Lady Jersey
- John Salew as Samuel Rogers
- Betty Lynne as Signora Segati
- Zena Marshall as Italian Woman
