Saturday, 09 October 2021 13:02

Unnatural Causes






UNNATURAL CAUSES

UK, 1993, 103 minutes, Colour.
Roy Marsden, Simon Chandler, Kenneth Coley, Mel Martin, Bill Nighy, James Cossins, Nicholas Jones, Anne Lambton, Marjie Lawrence, Richard Alborough, Lucy Briers.
Directed by John Davies.

Unnatural Courses is a standalone contribution to the television series of dramatising PD James novels with Adam Dalgleish as the hero. The film presupposes Dalgleish’s background, his work as a poet, his skills and reputation as a detective, staunch and upright. He is played in all the episodes by Roy Marsden.

In this film, Dalgleish has a love interest, an editor with a publishing firm, played by Mel Martin. This film shows the relationship, the tensions, the pressures on each because of their job, Debra having to make a decision whether she will move to New York or not.

The initial setting is London club which is involved in money laundering. Then there is a murder, an author found dead in a boat, his hands chopped off. He was not generally liked. The film then introduces the range of his friends, their relationship with him, dislikes, and the issue of his will, the news that he was to make a foundation for a literary award, his relationship with his stepbrother.

There is a literary clique in the village, several authors who value their reputations. Interestingly, among these characters is an earlier performance by Bill Nye.

The film spends time on the delineation of characters, then focusing on the half brother, the condition of his inheriting his brother’s money if he married.

Finally, most of the attention goes to the authors longtime secretary, crippled by an accident for which he took the blame, the suicide of his wife, the secretary years of devotion to him.

When the half brother is also murdered, suspicions were narrowed, the police closing – but, there is a highly melodramatic ending (which must’ve cost the budget quite a deal with its elaborate storm, helicopter rescue, destruction of a house).

Some PD James fans felt that it was not faithful to the novel – but television audiences may well enjoy it with its many complexities.

1. The popularity of the detective novels of P.D..James? The investigations by Adam Dalgleish? The television series? Standalone television movies? The place of this film?

2. Audience familiarity with Dalgleish, his personality, strong, tall, dignified, Scotland Yard, Commander, his life, marriage, as a poet? This story and his involvement with Deborah Briscoe?

3. The club setting, the manager, his assistants, Maurice Seton and his presence, photographing, his being ousted? Digby Seton and his connection, working at the club, being fired? The manager and his international clients? The suspicions of money laundering?

4. Maurice Seton, seen at Kings cross station, found dead in the boat, his hands chopped off? His lack of popularity, even among friends? His work as an author, his research? The background of his marriage, his wife’s suicide, the devotion of Sylvia, his secretary? His money, his will?

5. Dalgleish called in, his assistant, the local police, his collaboration with Inspector Gerry Reckless? Local knowledge, the village, the sea, the range of houses? The weather, storms, rising tides? The musical score?

6. The range of suspects, the literary clique? Celia, her snobbery, her writing, attitude towards Maurice? Her careful is? Liz, the relationship with Digby, possible marriage? Justin Bryce, author, gay? Oliver, prissy, gambling, in need of money? The various meetings, the meals, the discussions, throwing light on Maurice?

7. Sylvia, the history of the accident, her injuries, taking the blame? Her continued devotion to Maurice?

8. Deborah, the publishers, the information about Maurice Seton providing an endowment? Sylvia not knowing?

9. Deborah and Dalgleish, the time together, love, her career, his career and timing, the tensions, Deborah is flat and the invasion? The ultimatum? Deborah going to New York? The final message? The effect on Dalgleish?

10. The further complications, Debbie Digby to marry if he was to inherit? The revelation that he had married Sylvia? His unreliability, his drinking, connections with the money laundering? His killing Maurice? The grotesque aspect of the cutting of the hands, the views of the coroner, motivation?

11. Digby, discovered dead, the poisoning?

12. Oliver, his visits, knocked unconscious? Under suspicion? His jealousy of Justin Bryce?

13. Dalgleish, Reckless, their working on the investigation, the various clues, pointed to Digby, pointing to Sylvia?

14. The gathering storm, the rising tide, Sylvia in the house, Dalgleish going to her, the confrontation, her confession, the rescue and the helicopter, her diving into the water?

15. The complexities of the murder mystery, the further murders, the money laundering, the detective work?