A MIND TO MURDER

UK, 1995, 101 minutes, Colour.
Roy Marsden, Robert Pugh, Frank Finlay, Jerome Flynn, Christopher Ravenscroft, Sian Thomas, Ann- Gisel Glass, Cal Mac Aninch Susannah Corbett, George Costigan.
Directed by Gareth Davies.

During the 80s and 90s, there were several films but, more especially, a television series dramatising a number of the novels by P.D.James featuring her detective, Cmdr Adam Dalgleish. He was played in the series and in the films by Roy Marsden, embodying a very upright Scotland Yard detective, very serious, conscientious in his work, collaborating with his associates, and, also a poet.

This is one of the later films. It begins with a police disaster, the death of one of Dalgleish’s associates, and the involvement of a government office. However, the main action takes place in a mental institution, a refuge for rich patients, addicts or those with mental problems. It is run by a Prof, Frank Finlay. A woman is found murdered in the basement, stabbed, but a fetish carved by one of the patients lying on her body.

All the staff are interviewed – many of them with their own stories, relationships, confidentiality about patients, and the dead woman generally disliked. The staff include several of the psychiatric staff, receptionist, nurses, maintenance man.

The audience is also introduced to a number of the patients, some tensions in group work, the focus on the disturbed man who carved the fetish and his attachment to an opera singer who has had a mental collapse.

There are various possibilities – and even a visit from government officials who want to cover up about the previous killing and any link with the institution.

However, it emerges that the crime has nothing to do with the running of the institution but rather the blackmailing of patients who do not want their situation made public.

An effective British thriller, with well-respected Scotland Yard operatives, all working by rules of the book.

1. The popularity of the crime thrillers by P.D.James? Audiences liking Adam Dalgleish, his personality, his investigations?

2. Roy Marsden as Dalgleish, screen presence, age, height, demeanour, gentlemen, commander, Scotland Yard, his work in collaboration with staff? His abilities, clues, solutions?

3. The opening, Dalgleish, his associate going into the building, the discovery of the bodies, her death? The involvement of the government? Cover-ups?

4. Dalgleish on leave, ordered back, going to the psychiatric Centre? The encounter with the professor, his management of the Institute, confidentiality, staff, collaboration with Dalgleish, the passage to the sea? His work with his staff?

5. The murder victim, the basement, the office, the files, the fetish, Frank, lying on her? Her being stabbed? The gradual information about her as a person, disliked, her personality, relationship to sister Ambrose and her mother, financial support, her changing her mind? Motivation for murder?

6. Dalgleish, the range of staff, John is still loyal support, his investigations? Kim and her arrival, the interviews, alibis? Their skill in work?

7. The interviews with the staff, audience suspicions? Sister Ambrose, her work, care of the patients, her lying about the financial support? Dr Saxon, confidentiality, her patients? Dr Baguley, her relation ship with him, their history, exposure, the dead woman at the theatre, the doctor going back to his wife? Jennifer, reception, finding the body? Peter, maintenance, his being a painter, his boat, friendly with Dalgleish, showing him around, his relationship with Jennifer?

8. The focus on Philip, his carving the fetish, his mental illness, mind absence, unsure, his relationship with a still, her singing, her breakdown, his helping her to rehearse and to recover? The strength of the relationship? His anxiety, going onto the roof, Peter urging him about a style, his falling to his death? The consequences for a style, blaming Dalgleish?

9. The government interference, the visit to the institution, the presence of Casey, of Cheeseman? The previous case and the breakdown, Casey and his presence? The arrangements for a cover-up and the blaming of Philip for the death?

10. The surprise that the motivation for the death had nothing to do with the government, all with the staff? The discovery of the accounts, the blackmail, the phone call from the widow and her information, Jennifer and her role with the banking, Peter and his collecting the mail, getting the information, his arranging the blackmailing?

11. The situation, Peter discovered, the murder, Philip’s arrival, Peter persuading them that are still was to blame, his calling out to Philip on the roof, responsible for his killing himself?

12. Jennifer, the interrogation, her eventually confessing, a love for Peter, his trying to make his escape, Dalgleish and his pursuit, to the quicksand, Peter and his sinking, Dalgleish getting the rope, the lifeboat, pulling him to safety? In the film ending with this scene leaving the audience to reflect on what it happened?