Richard Curtis Movies

The fourth series of Blackadder episodes, logically titled Blackadder Goes Forth, commenced on September 28, 1989. Rowan Atkinson was back as the latest in a long line of Blackadders, this one named Captain Edmund. Having joined the Army to meet beautiful and willing damsels, the cowardly Edmund was aghast when Great Britain entered the First World War. In the episode titled "Plan A: Captain Cook," Edmund conspires with his traditional crony Baldrick (Tony Robinson) to avoid combat duty by becoming Official War Artist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Anxious to be transferred far away from the trenches of France, Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) arranges a musical show for the top brass. The plan comes acropper when Baldrick (Tony Robinson) stops the show with a disgusting Charlie Chaplin impression. Making matters even dicier, the general (Stephen Fry) falls in love with a sexy female chanteuse -- who turns out to be Lt. George St. Barleigh (Hugh Laurie) in disguise. "Plan C: Major Star" was originally telecast in England on October 12, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Faced with the prospect of joining the AEF in the "big push" against the Germans, Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) goes insane -- or at least he pretends to. Only a last-minute phone call to Field Marshall Douglas Haig (Geoffrey Palmer) stands between Edmund and the Kaiser's guns. Will our "hero" be sacrificed to the Great Cause, or will there somehow be a fifth season of Blackadder episodes? "Plan F: Goodbyeee" was originally telecast on November 2, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The cast and crew of the satirical British comedy series Blackadder reunited for this perverse one-hour spin on Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Rowan Atkinson stars as Ebeneezer Blackadder, a kindly and beloved London businessman. Alas, Ebeneezer is too warm-hearted and generous to suit his greedy, grasping ancestors, who on Christmas Eve appear in spectral form to force their descendant to live down to Blackadder family tradition. Also appearing are Tony Robinson as Baldrick, Robbie Coltrane as The Spirit of Christmas, Miriam Margoyles as Queen Victoria, Jim Broadbent as Prince Albert, and Miranda Richardson in the dual role of Elizabeth I and Asphyxia XIX. A Blackadder's Christmas Carol made its British TV bow on December 22, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Once again, Edmund Blackadder is jealous of his betters; in this case, the object of his envy is the Scarlet Pimpernel. Determined to prove himself as fearless and daring as that "damn'd elusive Pimpernel," Edmund heads to France (a country that makes him violently ill) to rescue aristocrats on his own. Meanwhile, Edmund's patron, the portly Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie), struggles in vain to put on his trousers. "Nob and Nobility" first aired on October 1, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To alleviate the Prince Regent's financial problems, Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) arranges for the Prince (Hugh Laurie) to marry the fabulously wealthy Amy Hardwood (Miranda Richardson). A series of improbable plot twists result in Edmund tying the knot with Amy himself. Worse yet, Amy turns out to be "The Shadow," a notorious highwayman (or highwaywoman?). Also known as "Cape and Capability," this Blackadder episode originally aired in England on October 15, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The third series of Blackadder episodes (logically telecast in England under the blanket title Black Adder the Third commenced on September 17, 1987, with "Dish and Dishonesty." Inasmuch as the series' time frame has been moved up to the late 18th and early 19th century, star Rowan Atkinson is now cast as the descendent to the two previously seen members of the odious Blackadder clan. As butler and Dogsberry to the Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie), Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson), and his crony Baldrick (Tony Robinson) continue their underhanded efforts to advance themselves in the British Higher Orders. In this episode, Blackadder manages to get Baldrick elected a Member of Parliament -- but only to keep himself from being banished from the Social Register by William Pitt the Younger (Simon Osborne). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) seethes with jealousy when Sir Walter Raleigh, freshly returned from the New World, presents Queen Elizabeth (Miranda Richardson) with a potato. Vowing that anything Sir Walter can do, he can do better, Edmund sets out on an exploring expedition of his own. Alas and alack, he secures the services of England's least reliable mariner, Captain Redbeard Rum (Tom Baker). "Potato" was first telecast on January 23, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ever anxious to one-up his fellow man, Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) enters a beer-drinking contest. On the same day as the Big Event, who should show up but Edmund's puritanical, teetotalling uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Whiteadder (Daniel Thorndike, Miriam Margoyles). Adding to Edmund's woes is an unfortunate run-in with a turnip and an ostrich feather. "Beer" made its first British television appearance on February 11, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The second series of Blackadder episodes ended on February 20, 1986, with "Chains." In response to a series of high-profile political abductions, Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson) adopts a strict no-ransom policy. Almost as if on cue, Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and his crony Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry) are kidnapped by Prince Ludwig of Germany (Hugh Laurie). Edmund's peril intensifies when he is placed in the hands of a Spanish interrogator (Max Harvey) right out of a Monty Python sketch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It is now the year 1492: Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) is still jockeying to become King of England, while the actual monarch, Richard IV (Brian Blessed), is busily making enemies of everyone in Europe. In order to prevent a war with Spain, Edmund is ordered to marry that country's Princess Maria (Miriam Margoyles). This, he figures, will put him in an excellent position to fulfill his dream of ruling England -- but things don't quite work out as planned. The episode's funniest moments belong to Jim Broadbent as the Princess' interpreter, Don Speekingleesh. "The Queen of Spain's Beard" first aired on July 6, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The second episode of The Black Adder's first season, "Born to Be King," was a reworking of the series' unsold pilot episode. Having inadvertently placed Richard IV (Brian Blessed) on the throne of England, the scheming Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) must find some way to discredit the heir apparent Prince Harry (Robert East) and thereby become king himself. Slowing down his efforts in this episode are the preparations for the Queen's birthday party and the planned assassination of disagreeable Scottish war hero McAngus (Alex Norton). "Born to Be King" was originally telecast on June 22 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"The Foretelling" marked the official inauguration of the satirical British comedy series The Black Adder. The year is 1485: Riding out of the nowhere into the now is Edmund (Rowan Atkinson), Duke of Edinburgh -- better known as The Black Adder -- the demented, embittered, and ruthlessly ambitious son of an obscure British king. Arriving late at the Battle of Bosworth, Edmund accidentally kills King Richard III (Peter Cook), whom he mistakes for a horse thief, thereby placing Richard IV (Brian Blessed) on the throne of England. Edmund must now hide his brother Henry Tudor (Robert East), the Prince of Wales, in his own quarters, as part of a master plan to claim the throne for himself. "The Foretelling" originally aired on June 15, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide