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Ordeal by Innocence is a 1984 mystery film directed by Desmond Davis. It stars Donald Sutherland, Faye Dunaway, Christopher Plummer and Sarah Miles. It is based on the 1958 Agatha Christie novel Ordeal by Innocence.
| Ordeal by Innocence | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Desmond Davis |
| Written by | Agatha Christie (novel) Alexander Stuart (screenplay) |
| Starring | Donald Sutherland Sarah Miles Christopher Plummer Ian McShane Diana Quick Faye Dunaway |
| Cinematography | Billy Williams |
| Edited by | Timothy Gee |
| Music by | Dave Brubeck |
| Distributed by | Cannon Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
editPaleontologist Dr. Arthur Calgary visits the Argyle family to give them an address book that belongs to Jack Argyle. He is told that Jack was executed for the murder of his adoptive mother two years previously. Dr. Calgary can prove that Jack was innocent and restarts the investigation, with lethal consequences.
Cast
edit- Donald Sutherland – Dr. Arthur Calgary
- Faye Dunaway – Rachel Argyle
- Christopher Plummer – Leo Argyle
- Sarah Miles – Mary Durant
- Ian McShane – Philip Durant
- Diana Quick – Gwenda Vaughan
- Annette Crosbie – Kirsten Lindstrom
- Michael Elphick – Inspector Huish
- George Innes – Archie Leach
- Valerie Whittington – Hester Argyle
- Phoebe Nicholls – Tina Argyle
- Michael Maloney – Micky Argyle
- Cassie Stuart – Maureen Clegg
- Anita Carey – Martha Jessup
- Billy McColl – Jacko Argyle
- Ron Pember – Ferryman
- Kevin Stoney – Solicitor
- Brian Glover - Executioner
Release
editSound design and music
editThe film's musical score by Dave Brubeck was criticized as inappropriate for its style depicting the mystery film genre.[2] Brubeck, an American jazz legend, was not-well-known for his work as a film composer and had taken over from Pino Donaggio, who had already composed many pieces for the project.[3] Donaggio was too busy in order to work on finalizing the film score when various film edits needed re-scoring, and so the project was handed over to Brubeck, who was given two weeks to complete the task.[3][4] Donaggio's original score had swirling strings, lush melodies, and tension-filled passages, whereas Brubeck's score relied on re-recordings of his previous compositions, criticized for not resembling movie music and was assessed to be mostly at odds with the visuals and mood of the film.[3][4]
Reviews
editA timeout.com review stated "the film succeeds admirably in catching a feeling of repression and social conformity, and the idea of murder as a means of maintaining respectability rather than for gain or passion" and "a genuine '50s black thriller".[5]
References
edit- ^ "MYSTFEST ' 84 TANTI FILM E UN IMPUTATO: AGATHA CHRISTIE - la Repubblica.it". Archivio - la Repubblica.it.
- ^ "Film Review: "Ordeal by Innocence" (1985) | The Agatha Christie Reader". 2 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Rare CD release of soundtrack by Pino Donaggio "Ordeal By Innocence"". www.kritzerland.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Ordeal by Innocence". film-authority.com. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Ordeal by Innocence". timeout.com. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
External links
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