OUT OF THE SHADOWS

UK, 1992, 95 minutes, Colour.
Charles Dance, Alexandra Paul.
Directed by Willi Patterson.

Out of the Shadows is a British telemovie, a thriller set in Greece and concerned with the stealing of art and artefacts.

The film stars Charles Dance (Jewel in the Crown, Plenty, Pascali's Island) as a British inspector. Alexandra Paul is an American working for the State Department in Greece. The film veers between investigation and romance between the two leads. The film takes trouble with defining its characters, uses its locations most attractively, builds up to a confrontation climax. Enjoyable thriller.

1. British thriller? Greek settings? The stealing of ancient art? Detection? Characters?

2. Greek settings, the beauty of the city, the islands? Musical score?

3. The focus on the stealing of ancient art? The initial murder? Jan and her finding the body, the helping woman screaming, the arrest? The British inspector observing the interrogations? The embassy personnel? Sufficient clues for the resolving of the mystery?

4. Jan, her working situation, her affair with Frank, with the embassy staff? Discovering the body? The interrogations, contact with the deceased? Her innocence? In the cell, being let go? Introduced to Michael, his helping her? The interrogations? The attacks, his taking her for safekeeping? Friendship, the attraction, falling in love? Going to the island after discovery of the artwork in the key chain? The final chase? Jan's participation in the chase, the confrontation with Frank? Happy ending?

5. Michael and his background, dedicated policeman? Interest in Jan, attracted to her, saving her, the interrogations? Romance? Liz's explanation of his work, helping her? The discovery of the truth, the trip to the island, discussion with the monks, the confrontation with Frank, the final fight?

6. The murder victim, the robberies? The contact at the monastery, trying to help the monastery finances? His final fear? Murders? Frank and his using diplomatic pouches to ship out the stolen goods? Frank and his final menace?

7. Liz, interesting character, explanation of her being in jail, friendship with Michael, his helping to set her up? Her talking with Jan, shopping, encouraging her?

8. The background of the Greek police, arrests and interrogations? International co-operation?

9. The monks, guarding the treasures? The final confrontation in the monastery?

10. Popular ingredients of a thriller? Effectively presented? Characterisations? An attractive thriller?