The Gay Cavalier

1957 - United Kingdom

1950's swashbuckling adventure (in the days when 'gay' only meant carefree, flambouyant and waggish) that took a true-life historical rogue and turned him into a romantic figure, who fought for the Stuart cause against the supposedly tyrannical dictatorship of Oliver Cromwell, in an England torn apart by civil war.

In reality the Gay Cavalier (Captain Claude Duval) was a highwayman with a reputation for being something of a ladies-man. However, he was a staunch supporter of Charles ll, who was forced to live in exile in France following defeat at Worcester by Cromwell's army in 1651. Charles would eventually return triumphantly to England after Cromwell's death and his period of reign would be known as the Restoration period.

The TV series was in similar vein to other popular adventure series of the day such as The Adventures of... 'Robin Hood,' 'William Tell' and 'Sir Lancelot', and it's star, Christian Marquand, was joined by Christopher Lee (episode 4), John Le Mesurier (episode 7), Conrad Phillips (episode 7), Nigel Stock (episode 8) and Sam Kydd (episode 8 and 9 -portraying different characters!). Made by Associated Rediffusion and shot on film this series is unique for one made on such a format in as much as not one single episode (shown from May to August 1957) of the 13 made has survived.

Each self contained story followed Duval's exploits as he tried to retrieve a piece of treasure, save a maiden in distress or thwart a Roundhead plot, and for each of these quests he was to be seen in the company of a beautiful woman. Had the series survived the legend of the Gay Cavalier may well have fared better than it has done, especially in light of his epitaph, which can be found above his tomb in London's Covent Garden church: 'Here lies Duval: Reader- if male thou art look to thy purse; if female, to thy heart.' Stirring stuff!

Published on December 17th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

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Play and Single Dramas

The Buccaneers (1956)

November 30th, 2018

Future Hollywood actor Robert Shaw (The Sting, Jaws) made his small screen debut as ex- pirate Dan Tempest, the leader of a small band of freebooters who roamed the Caribbean Seas in the 1720's on their ship The Sultana.

The Musketeers (2014)

February 29th, 2020

Swashbuckling series based on Alexander Dumas' adventurous 17th century characters. When d'Artagnan and his father are attacked on the way to Paris resulting in the father's death, the young swordsman seeks revenge on the murderer. A musketeer called Athos.

Smuggler (1981)

October 17th, 2024

A former naval officer turned smuggler, who operates with a Robin Hood-like sense of justice, is at odds with both local criminals and the authorities, earning him the ire of rival gangs and the watchful eye of the law

John Silver's Return to Treasure Island (1986)

December 28th, 2018

When the Disney Channel contracted the UK ITV broadcaster HTV Wales to bring to the screen this major drama series, it realised a legacy left by Robert Louis Stevenson when he wrote his classic thriller more than a hundred years ago.

The Queens Champion (1958)

February 18th, 2022

Loyalty and treason on the eve of the Armada in this eight-part BBC serial featuring some of television's best known names

Ivanhoe (1970)

January 23rd, 2026

Ivanhoe returns to England from the Crusades after serving alongside King Richard I, who is believed to be imprisoned abroad. Disguised as a pilgrim Ivanhoe navigates a divided kingdom where Prince John plots to usurp the throne

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