CAUSE CELEBRE

UK, 1987, 120 minutes, Colour.
Helen Mirren, David Suchet, Harry Andrews, David Morrissey.
Directed by John Gorris.

Cause Celebre is an absorbing telemovie, a recreation of a crime of the mid 30s, the details of its execution, a portrait of the characters involved, a comment on the reaction of Britain at the time - especially in relationship to capital punishment. The film is an adaptation of a play by Terence Rattigan (Sleeping Prince, Separate Tables, Deep Blue Sea). It is particularly well mounted, the attention to detail of life in the 30s is excellent.

The performances are also very good with Helen Mirren in the lead as a wilful woman, caught with an eighteen year old handy man and sacrificing everything that she values for him. The supporting cast includes Harry Andrews in one of his last films as Helen Mirren's elderly husband. David Suchet appears as council for the defence.

This is the kind of film that the British make so well, attention to detail, strong characterizations, ambitious motivation and the complexities of life. All the more interesting, because it is a true story, indicating public stances and values of the mid 30s - in the years just prior to the abdication of Edward VIII. The film is a telemovie made for Anglia Television.

1.The true background of the film, personalities, crime, the court case, judgment, capital punishment, suicide? The re-creation of the period?

2.The work of Terence Rattigan, his plays, adaptations? Quality of characterisation, dialogue?

3.The period 1934-5 in Bournemouth, the homes and the detail, the courtrooms, the countryside, the atmosphere? Musical score? The use of the song, `You Stole My Heart Away'?

4.The dates and times, the framework of the court case, the flashbacks, especially within the court proceedings? Dramatic effect?

5.The picturing of the jury, the audience sharing the perspective of the jurors? The selection of the jury and their prejudices? Audiences changing perspective by the end of the film or not?

6.The portrait of Alma: Helen Mirren's screen presence and style? The history of her marriages, World War I and the death of her husband? Her going to France and serving with the ambulance, receiving the French medal? The marriage and divorce and her son? Marrying Rats and her security? Her second son? The need for money? Her skill in composing songs? Irene as companion? Her relationship with Christopher and Little John? The decision to advertise, Irene's wariness? Bowman and his application for the job? The discussion about his age and appearance? Her decision to employ him? A woman of whims? Attracted to Bowman, getting him to drive, to live in? The beginning of the affair, the passionate nature of the affair? What she saw in Bowman? Her capacity for deceit? Yet her devotion to Rats, their discussions - his lament over his lack of prospects, his violence towards her, his drinking?

7.Irene as companion, her relationship with Bowman, looking after the children? Her reaction on the night of the crime? Her memories and testimony in court?

8.Rats, his age, skill as an architect? His experience? His drinking, talking while drunk? His following Alma's whims? Giving her the money she asked? Employing Bowman, his driving, allowing him to live in? His reading the novel about the older man and the younger woman and seeing the parallel with himself? The brutality of his death?

9.The build-up to the situation of murder, the audience not seeing what actually happened, seeing the events within the flashbacks during the court sequences? Judgment?

10.The picture of the lawyers, their interviews with Alma and with Bowman? Bringing Christopher to the prison to persuade his mother to tell the truth? The tour de force scene as they dressed for the trial, each explaining to the other how they would treat their client and talking to the other as if they were clients? Performances in court, prosecution and defence? The judge and his presiding, the nature of the evidence? His weighing up speech, the prejudice against Alma?

11.The re-creation of the events of the night of the murder: Bagwell and his going to the house, his being interrogated about treatment of people in shock, his prejudice against Alma's behaviour? The night, Alma and her discussions with Rats? His drinking? The death, Bowman coming to tell her, her drinking, carrying on? Her making the statement about her guilt? The passionate nature of her shock? The background to the death with her talking with Rats about the book, the locked door, Bowman's misinterpretation about their sexual behaviour? Her passionate defence of Bowman - seen in the flashback to London, her spoiling him? The question of the mallet, the aftermath?

12.The portrait of Bowman, his age, wanting the job, his strict father? Being employed, his devotion to Alma? His skill at his work, driving the car, friendly with the boys? With Rats? The beginnings of his jealousy, violent touches, Alma's black eye? His going to London, suicidal talk, the intensity of his passion, immaturity and ignorance? His behaviour in the court, his plea?

13.The jury's condemnation of Alma? The condemnation by the press? Her being acquitted? Her walking in the country, her suicide note, her explanation of herself? Her death and the verdict about her sanity?

14.Bowman, capital punishment, the appeal against his sentence? His being seen as Alma's victim?

15.A sense of realism about the film, the real story behind sensational headlines? Moral issues, judicial issues? The portrait of England at the period and moral standards and judgments?