THE SUSPICIONS OF MR WHICHER: BEYOND THE PALE

UK, 2014, 90 minutes, Colour.
Paddy Considine, Nancy Carroll, Nicholas Jones, Laura Torchia, John Heffernan, Adrian Quinton, Laura Morgan, Anthony O'Donnell.
Directed by David Blair.

This film is the third in a series of four focusing on the private investigator, Mr John Whicher, played by Paddy Considine on. The original story was based on an actual case in London in the 1860s, the subject of a book by Kate Summerscale. The writers in the series have taken her character and created fictional cases.

This one is rather different from the previous stories. The focus is on India. Mr Whicher is asked to take on a search for missing person by Sir Edward Shore who had been instrumental in dismissing Mr Whicher from the police force. The film opens with a mysterious Indian pursuing a gentleman in the London streets – the gentleman is Sir Edward’s son who has spent 12 years in India, military, business, failure, fathering to children with an Indian partner but bringing his fiancee out from England and their forming a household. He has now returned to England, taking the children and is being pursued by the two brothers of the mother of his children.

While there is quite a flavour of London at the period, especially when Mr Whicher goes throughout the city interrogating people, also including going on board a ship from India, much of the action is interior and takes place at night, a general darkness in the film.

Mr Whicher is a touch more humane in this film, not only in his investigation and his integrity but also in his new landlady, Mrs Piper, with whom he forms a genial relationship.

Once again there is a priest and a nun, possibly Anglican, possibly Catholic, unusual in stories about London in the 1860s.

1. The Mr Whicher series? London mysteries, the 19th century, private investigation?

2. The re-creation of the period, costumes and decor, homes, parks and gardens, the ships, the wharves? The interiors and the darkness? The musical score?

3. The title, with reference to Britain, India, conflicts?

4. The history of Mr Whicher, his failed case and dismissal from the police, the role of Sir Edward and his asking for help. Mr Whicher as a private investigator, boarding with Mrs Piper, conversations with her, her hospitality, his coming and going, offering to help in the garden, her helping with nursing at the refuge? The discussions about payment? His finally working in the garden? The bond between the two?

5. Charles Shore, the Indian, watching, the pursuit, his escape? Commissioning Mr Whicher? Initially brief elements of the story, his indiscretion in India, his return, Katherine and children, expectations from his father? An angry man? The military service, going into business? Returning to England after 12 years? The true story emerging, his relationship with Zeenet, taking the children, setting up house in London? His mother concerned about the family reputation? The influence of his father and his political career?

6. Mr Whicher, a loner, serious, taking on the commission, the range of his questioning of people all around London, the ship, the captain on the list, identifying the Indian, going to the refuge, Father John and his reluctance with information, the nun? The news of the dead body, the murder of the Indian? His younger brother with him on the boat, his slashing Mr Whicher’s neck? Mrs Piper sewing the wound?

7. Mr Whicher, his encounter with the nanny, her being on the boat, telling her background story, stigmatised as Indian? Further revelations about her? The suspicion that she had taken the children? Her arrival, Charles threatening with the gun? Her brother wounded by Charles, being cared for in the house?

8. The truth about the children, Charles’s mother and her taking them, arranging for them to go to France, not wanting the embarrassment of Indian children? Sir Edward and his wanting to see his grandchildren? Their rescue from the train?

9. Charles, his double life, admitting the truth, his love for Zeenet, his love for Katherine? With the gun?

10. At the wharf, the children going back to India with Zeenet, Katherine and the farewell, Charles and the farewell?

11. Mr Whicher and his achievement?