Cause Celebre (1987/British Telefilm)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: D Telefilm: B-
Based on the play by Terence Rattigan, Cause Celebre
(1987) stars Helen Mirren as Alma Rottenbury, who is caught in the middle of
one of the biggest scandals of the 1930s when she confesses to killing her
husband (Harry Andrews) as a result of her intimate involvement with George
Bowman (David Morrissey) who was younger than she.
Of course, this causes outrage in a society bent on its
caste system and some authorities (David Suchet) are no so certain she actually
committed the murder in the first place.
John Gorrie (Doctor Who, Roald Dahl’s Tales Of the Unexpected)
directs this fine TV version that may not offer any surprises, but is competent
and consistent throughout. This
includes the acting by a fine cast and the story is told in flashback while the
courtroom proceedings go on, so this is not some straight-out mystery tale.
The 1.33 X 1 full frame image was taped on professional
analog PAL videotape and looks good for its age, but has the inherent limits
that come with the format. With that
said, it is clean and colorful enough.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 is a quiet stereo that plays back nicely, but has
not surrounds. The DVD has no extras,
but the main program runs 110 minutes.
- Nicholas Sheffo
