AllMovie

The life and times of 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns are dramatized in this semi-musical biography. Burns is played by operatic tenor Joseph Hilsop, obliging the screenwriters to come up with scenes in which the protagonist will be permitted to sing as well as recite his verse. Its expansive title notwithstanding, the film focuses on only two of Burns's romances. The first is with Jean Armour (Dorothy Secombe), whom he marries; the second is with Mary Campbell (Eve Gray), with whom he has an extramarital affair. Typically, the film never lets the facts get in the way of the story, offering a fascinating if historically suspect account of Burns's early demise. A bit wearing for anyone not already familiar with its subject, The Loves of Robert Burns is redeemed by its gorgeous location photography.