THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB

Australia, 2012, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Waters, Marco Chiappi, Shane Jacobson, Felix Williamson, Oliver Ackland, Helen Morse, Kerry Walker, Brett Climo.
Directed by Shawn Seet.

Based on the 1880s novel by Fergus Hume, the book is Australia’s oldest crime thriller. Hume was to continue in the UK with his writing career.

The film re-creates the atmosphere of the Victorian era in Melbourne with great attention to detail. The plot has many of the conventions of the times, wealthy families, dark pasts, secrets, mistresses, illegitimate children, squalor, the law, conmen and murder for fortunes. The film has a strong cast of Australian character actors.

1. The popularity of the novel in the 19th century? The Victorian era? The film capturing the flavor and style? The adaptation of the novel?

2. Melbourne, 1886? The city and its landmarks, the mansions, the slums, the parks, the club? The musical score?

3. The title, the town, murder in Melbourne, the role of the cabs and the drivers?

4. The mystery, the set-up? Seeing Morland or not? The mystery? The solution?

5. The introduction to the family, Mark as the patriarch, widower, marriage, the meals and guests? The manners, pool? The tone?

6. White’s voyage, Morland, the queen? Blackmail, documents? Mark and his marriage? Madge and her stance? The father and his stance? The mystery?

7. The drinks, the message to Brian? Morland? White? The cab? The death? The audience seeing who did it?

8. The papers, the detective, obtuse, his investigation, the alternates, going deeper? The visits? Mother Guttersnipe? The documents? Detective Kilsip? The park, the coat, the bottle?

9. Brian, his career and wealth, wanting to marry, the message, the arrest? Sal and the information? The meeting, his mother?

10. The mother, the past history, the queen, going to England, the necklace, her story? Her name? Mary, the baby to England, the deaths of the baby, the gold, the mother and her vengeance? New paragraph Seoul, her work, leaving, the so often, the celebration army, the shelter, government, finding mother Guttersnipe? The alibi?

11. Duncan, the barrister, that’s tick tick, pursuit, the visits, Salome, the defense in court, success, reliance not telling?

12. Some estimates, in the house, marks collapse, the documents, the issue of legitimacy? Brian?

13. Mer, recognizing the necklace, recognizing cell, his death? Duncan providing the solution?

14. To sip, roger, the bar, the check and the money, the chase, the motives?

15. The wedding, happiness, questions? Marriage is? The honeymoon, socializing, the hand of god?

16. An entertaining and entertaining piece of Australian the Tory honour?