Mystery: Malice Aforethought

Starring:Ronnie Masterson, Phyllis Ryan, Fiona O'Shaughnessy, Barbara Flynn, Ben Miller (II), Megan Dodds, Peter Vaughan, Lucy Brown, Kate O'Toole, Gemma Reeves, Joe Beattie, Orla O'Rourke, Richard Armitage, Niall Buggy, Ger Ryan, Hannah McCabe, Tom Kelly (VII), Mal Whyte, Des Braiden, Eileen Colgan
Director: David Blair (II)
Studio: Wgbh Boston
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Falling in love with this doctor could be bad for your health...

Between an endless round of garden parties and village gossip, the only way long-suffering Dr. Edmund Bickleigh can bear the torment of his formidable wife Julia's ferocious tongue is to find solace in the arms of sweet and besotted Ivy Ridgeway. But when he falls for the charms of Madeleine Cranmere, the exotic new resident of Wyvern's Cross, both Ivy's and Julia's fates are sealed as Madeleine won't marry a divorced man. With no other recourse, Dr. Bickleigh decides that one will be dismissed, the other murdered.

Arrogant with the success of a seemingly undetectable murder, Dr. Bickleigh rushes to be united with Madeleine only to find that he has been supplanted by a wealthier suitor. Gossip about his wife's death is rife and it seems to Dr Bickleigh that there is only one way to make the gossip stop. And that is to dispose of the gossipers

Ben Miller (Johnny English), Barbara Flynn (The Forsyte Saga) and Megan Dodds (Love in a Cold Climate) lead an ensemble cast in this classic tale of infatuation, revenge, and the scandalous business of murder.

Special DVD features include: link to the Masterpiece Theatre Web site; scene selections; and closed captions.

Description

Falling in love with this doctor could be bad for your health...

Special DVD features include: link to the Masterpiece Theatre Web site; scene selections; and closed captions.

On one DVD9 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo.

Customer Reviews:

DELICIOUS STUFF, INDEED..........2006-02-26

Sink yourself into a comfortable chair and revel in this near perfect depiction of the perfect crime. Wonderful music. Terrific direction and camerawork - and unnervingly solid acting all around. Just be careful that you pour your own drinks, and prepare your own snacks...

A SAVORY MURDER/MYSTERY BROTH.......2005-09-26

As I have previously indicated on this Board, I am a huge fan of British Murder/Mysteries. "Malice Aforethought" is certainly a "jolly good Murder/Mystery!" It has everything in its list of "ingredients" that I feel a good Murder/Mystery should include in order to make for a good and savory (what I call) "Murder/Mystery broth". "Malice Aforethought" certainly has the right "ingredients" to make it a most enjoyable 180 minutes of viewing. The "ingredients" comprising the ("Malice Aforethough) "Murder/Mystery broth" are as follows:

(1) Good suspense with the murderer appearing to have gotten away with murder, but as they always say: "murder will out". In this case, it's Typhoid Fever will out.

(2) Interesting characters consisting of an outwardly meek, masochistic letch of a philandering, obsessed with sanitation husband/doctor; a shrew of a wife that by her own personality and ways would certainly drive even a saint to want to murder her; a blond artistic vamp (with certain demands) for the "put upon" husband to lust after making the murder of the wife even more desirable: a "must get rid of (long standing) girlfriend" that becomes dispensable in order to get to what and/or to whom is really wanted. This girlfriend is very willing to (lie) in order to prove that she really loves her man; plus some innocent looking but irritating, see-all, know-all, town gossips that keep the "low cast" doctor and his philandering in their sights with the kindest word for the doctor/husband being "he's a beastly man". In addition there is a see all sickly gardener that too must be disposed of before he tells all of what he has seen.

(3) Great script that is written very well with nary a dull moment keeping this viewer on the edge of his seat.

(4) Wonderful recreation and depiction of a fascinating decade and/or era (the 1920s).

(5) Great acting with Ben Miller playing the lower class, seemingly "hen- pecked", letch, "scum-burger" of a husband marvelously; Barbara Flynn (in a role switch for her--she usually plays the Victorian fragile type of woman) is wonderful as his domineering, upper class very irritating, brow-beating, pretentious, full of herself harpy of a wife; and Megan Dodds is great as the conniving, money seeking would be artistic vamp.

(6) An intriguing setting for the entire "goings on"--a rural, picturesque and peaceful (at least on the surface) small English village with cobblestone walkways and small sheep herds.

The entire above ingredients meld together marvelously to make a wonderfully delicious concoction. Added, to the cauldron and to the above listed "ingredients", is just a pinch of so-called British "black humor" making for a most enjoyable and savory "Murder/Mystery broth".

This mystery is not a "detective driven" Murder/Mystery. Although there is a detective in the story his investigation does not bring the culprit to justice; potted meat and flies see that justice prevails.

To sample a "jolly good" example of some very savory steaming "Murder/Mystery broth", purchase this DVD.

A mystery lover's delight .......2005-06-12

Malice Aforethought is one of those British mysteries that are set in a small rural village of yesteryear and populated with a cast of memorable characters. Dr. Edmund Bickleigh is a henpecked husband who denigrates his aspirations as an amateur artist. It's also why he is a chronic womanizer. Then into the village moves Madeleine Cranmere and he falls hard. The problem is that he must remove the obstacle of his domineering wife, end his affair with a local girl, and continue the veneer of respectability demanded of a man in his position. The costumes are period authentic, the sets are scrupulous detailed, the dialogue engaging, the acting first rate, and the plot twists are truly imaginative. Also available in a video cassette format and lead to an exciting and unpredicted conclusion, the DVD edition has a total running time of 2.5 hours and also includes access to the "Mystery! website, offers scene selection, and features closed captioning for the hearing impaired. Malice Aforethought is a mystery lover's delight and certain to be a popular addition to any community library video collection.

Exciting and highly entertaining.......2005-05-31

Dr. Edmund Brickleigh (played by Ben Miller) is living a life of quiet desperation, trapped beneath the thumb of his domineering wife, and finding little solace among the young ladies that his practice puts him in position to seduce. But, when Madeleine Cranmere (Megan Dodds) moves into town, Dr. Brickleigh falls head over heels in love with this passionate free spirit. Madeleine won't have an affair with Edmund, and wouldn't take him as a divorcé, which leaves him only one course - he must murder his wife. Oh what a tangled web Dr. Brickleigh must weave, and when his plans begin to go astray, he must contemplate even more murders. [Color, released in 2005, with a running time of 3 hours.]

I must say that my wife and I enjoyed this movie immensely! It's something of a murder mystery shot from the other side. That is to say, instead of focusing on the detective and his attempts to bring the murderer to justice, this movie focuses on the murderer and his attempts to get away with murder! I found the change of perspective quite refreshing.

Also, I must say that I enjoyed the movie for itself. The cast does an excellent job of bringing the story to life, and making me believe that they are real people caught up in this drama. Will Dr. Brickleigh be brought to justice? You will be forced to go on watching to find out.

As for the content of the movie, there are some adult situations and conversations, plus one scene with a woman in a revealing outfit. But, that outfit is certainly not less than many women wear to the beach. So, overall I did find this to be an exciting and highly entertaining mystery, one that will keep you glued to you TV. We highly recommend it!

"I miss your healing hands.".......2005-05-28

There is a point in all unhappy marriages when a certain pleasure is derived from making one's spouse miserable. Dr. and Mrs. Bickleigh have reached that point. Set in the picturesque coastal British village of Wyvern's Cross, "Malice Aforethought" is the story of the Bickleigh's miserable marriage, and how Dr. Edmund Bickleigh (Ben Miller) decides to free himself from it.

It is the consensus of village gossips that Julia Bickleigh (Barbara Flynn) married beneath her. Julia, a rigid snob, who never fails to mention her family connections, agrees that her husband is a lowlife. Every chance Julia gets, she exposes her much younger husband to ridicule and public humiliation. It's a way of making him behave. Dr. Bickleigh may have his professional status, but his roots are humble. Julia's continuous insults always reach their target, and Bickleigh engages in a series of affairs as a form of defiance. The Bickleighs' bad behaviour--her insults and his affairs--serve as a balance system in their relationship.

Bickleigh's current amour is Ivy Ridgeway (Lucy Brown), and their affair is common knowledge--although Bickleigh and Ivy imagine it's their little secret. Into this domestic maelstrom enters Madeleine Cranmere (Megan Dodds)--a glamourous bohemian whose artistic pretensions match Bickleigh's. To Bickleigh's smitten heart, Madeleine makes Ivy look like a dull country maid. Bickleigh promptly dumps Ivy and pursues Madeleine.

Madeleine, however, isn't as naïve or as plaint as Ivy, and she also states that she can't possibly marry a divorced man. Bickleigh concludes that Julia is standing in between him and happiness ....

If you are a fan of British mysteries (this one is set in the 20s), then you won't be disappointed in "Malice Aforethought." Bold characterizations mix with strong drama and a touch of black humour to produce 180 minutes of solid entertainment. The acting is excellent, the sets splendid, and the village scenery quite beautiful. But it's the small touches that make this an excellent film--the maliciousness of the village gossips--two seemingly innocent elderly ladies, for example who parrot each other's condemnations of the local doctor. Another humourous aspect is Dr. Bickleigh's perception that he's well thought of in the village. The Dr. and the seductive vamp, Madeleine deserve each other. The film is based on a novel by France Iles. If you enjoy "Malice Aforethought", I also recommend "Dandelion Dead"--displacedhuman

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