Black Jack

Black Jack

105 mins | Adventure, History | Sept. 9, 1979

In this fascinating adventure of the England of the 1750s, the huge Frenchman Black Jack (Jean Franval) miraculously survives a hanging by the British authorities in Yorkshire and escapes from the grim jaws of "justice." He takes to the countryside in the company of Tolly, a teenaged boy who is able to translate Black Jack's odd speech into something comprehensible. They join up with Belle, an aristocratic teenager who has escaped from the madhouse her family imprisoned her in when she grew troublesome. Together, the three join a carnival. However, as it becomes clear that the girl is far from crazy, love between Tolly and Belle grows. This story, set in the mid-18th century, is based on a novel by Leon Garfield.

Black Jack

105 mins | Adventure, History | Sept. 9, 1979

Black Jack
In this fascinating adventure of the England of the 1750s, the huge Frenchman Black Jack (Jean Franval) miraculously survives a hanging by the British authorities in Yorkshire and escapes from the grim jaws of "justice." He takes to the countryside in the company of Tolly, a teenaged boy who is able to translate Black Jack's odd speech into something comprehensible. They join up with Belle, an aristocratic teenager who has escaped from the madhouse her family imprisoned her in when she grew troublesome. Together, the three join a carnival. However, as it becomes clear that the girl is far from crazy, love between Tolly and Belle grows. This story, set in the mid-18th century, is based on a novel by Leon Garfield.
IMDb rating 6.8
Producers National Film Finance Consortium, Kestrel Films
Original title Black Jack
Directors Ken Loach
Writers Leon Garfield, Ken Loach

Cast

Jean Franval

as Black Jack

Stephen Hirst

as Bartholomew 'Tolly' Pickering

Louise Cooper

as Belle Carter

Phil Askham

as Hangman

Pat Wallis

as Mrs Gorgandy

John Young

as Dr Hunter

William Moore

as Mr Carter

Doreen Mantle

as Mrs Carter

Russell Waters

as Dr Jones

Brian Hawksley

as Parson Hall

Dave Daniels

as Footman

Michael Hinchcliffe

as Footman

Packie Byrne

as Dr Carmody

Joyce Smith

as Mrs Carmody

Andrew Bennett

as Hatch

Malcolm Dixon

as Tom Thumb's Army

Mike Edmonds

as Tom Thumb's Army

David Rappaport

as Tom Thumb's Army

Tiny Ross

as Tom Thumb's Army

Arthur Davies

as Mr Hannah

Cilla Mason

as Mrs Hannah

Jackie Shinn

as Mr Arbuthnot

Les Hickin

as Jed

Brian Lewis

as Jethro

Patti Nicholls

as Mrs Mitchell

Ted Beyer

as Inn Keeper

Gary Roberts

as Sexton

Hugh Turner

as Porter

Paul Copley

as Narrator

Brian Glover

as Narrator (uncredited)