Cause Celebre

Starring:Helen Mirren, David Morrissey, Harry Andrews, Norma West, Oliver Ford Davies, Neil Jeffery, Edmund Pegge, Gillian Martell, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Bayldon, David Suchet
Director: John Gorrie
Studio: Lance Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

Originally made for British television, CAUSE CELEBRE is based on the tragic true story of Alma Rattenbury, whose life became the talk of England in the 1930s. Helen Mirren stars as Alma, a woman in her mid 30s married to a much older man and in love with their 18 year-old chauffeur, George Bowman. The scandal began when Alma discovered her husband had been brutally beaten with a blunt object, and took him to the hospital where he soon died. Afterwards, Alma confessed, as did George. Sensationalized in the press, attorney T.J. O'Connor (Suchet), convinced of Alma's innocence, takes the case and tries to find the truth about a woman who has become trapped by her passions.

System Requirements:

Running Time 105 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The magnificent Helen Mirren soars through British TV movie Cause Célèbre, a true-life story of a scandalous murder in 1930s England. Soon after Alma Rattenbury (Mirren) hires an 18-year-old named Bowman (David Morrissey) to help around the house, she falls into an affair with the much younger man. Madly in love with her and jealous of her much older husband, Bowman rashly murders the elderly man. When the lovers are put on trial, the tabloids rant less about the murder and more about the sin of Alma's middle-aged passion. The storyline of Cause Célèbre contains few surprises, but it's skillfully written--the mordant wit of Alma's and Bowman's lawyers blithely discussing how each intends to blame the other's client is delicious--and wonderfully acted by Morrissey; David Suchet as Alma's celebrated lawyer, T. J. O'Connor; and especially Mirren, whose intelligence, sexiness, and empathy make her every scene fascinating. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

"Do you remember dancing around half-dressed trying to kiss several of the policemen?".......2006-10-14

The made-for-British-television film "Cause Celebre" is based on a real-life murder case that occurred in Britain in the 1930s. When the film begins, times are hard, and strapping 18-year-old George Bowman (David Morrissey) applies for the job of houseboy with the middle class Rattenbury family. Although the Rattenburys intended to employ a boy of school age, Bowman gets the job at the meager wage of one pound a week.

Middle aged Alma Rattenbury (Helen Mirren) is married to the elderly Francis Rattenbury (Harry Andrews). Affectionately known as 'Rats', he's her third husband, and she has two boys--the younger son is the product of their union. Rats and Alma sleep apart in separate rooms these days, and while they have a friendly relationship, it's based on Alma placating Rats when he's in a bad mood, or when she needs to wheedle money out of him. She's portrayed as lonely and emotionally fragile. According to her loyal, protective maid Irene (Norma West), Alma is also extremely vulnerable. It doesn't take long before Alma and Bowman are embroiled in a passionate affair right under Alma's husband's nose.

The film begins with Alma's arraignment for her husband's murder, and then the film goes 8 months back in time to the day when Bowman first arrives at the Rattenbury home. The plot covers the torrid affair between Alma and her much younger lover, and approximately half of the film covers the sensational trial and the murky details surrounding the crime. Some of the best scenes occur when lawyers square off in a changing room prior to the commencement of the trial. It's clear that all sides--the prosecution and the defense--have scripted certain roles for Alma and Bowman. Pilloried by the press, Alma is viewed and condemned as a femme fatale by the public. She's committed the unpardonable sin of smashing societal norms with her affair with a much younger man who is outside her class. The murder of Mr. Rattenbury is subordinated to the notorious, sensational aspects of the passionate love affair.

Helen Mirren is superb--as always--as Alma, a sad, lonely woman with a hint of giddiness. She appeals to Bowman who claims to love her madly. Bowman is a rather dark character who seems to merge his fascination with cinema with disastrous flights of romanticism. Fans of British television should enjoy this film--although it's not really a mystery to be unraveled in the traditional sense--displacedhuman

Uneven is the Keyword.......2006-02-10

Helen Mirren can always dazzle; all these Brits are so well trained but this vehicle is not up to their talents. David Morrissey looks promising, but is uneven in this part. He's good playing innocent but I didn't buy his character's evil side. It may be the fault of the screen play. They managed to take an interesting (true) story and totally muddle it. I'd love to see this re-made for the big screen.

NOT a murder "mystery" as such.......2005-10-16

If you are thinking about watching this movie, just be aware that it is NOT a murder "mystery" as such. Unfortunately, I got it thinking it was more of an Agatha Christie type story, and spent the entire time trying to figure out who really "done it." I was very disappointed when the typical twists and turns of a true mystery didn't materialize.

If my expectations had been different, I might have enjoyed this movie more. The set design was superb, as was most of the acting and the dialog (although, without subtitles, the British accent was a bit difficult for me to understand at times). But, on the other hand, I might have been disappointed anyway, since the story is somewhat disjointed and I never bought into the relationships between the characters (the two mismatched lovers, the husband and wife, the wife and 'companion' etc.)

The story might have been true, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good movie.

Average customer rating:

"Do you remember dancing around half-dressed trying to kiss several of the policemen?"
Uneven is the Keyword
NOT a murder "mystery" as such

Cause Celebre
Starring: Helen Mirren , David Morrissey , Harry Andrews , Norma West , and Oliver Ford Davies
Director: John Gorrie
Manufacturer: Lance Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997)
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
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Hussy
Elizabeth I

ASIN: B00005R5H1
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

"Do you remember dancing around half-dressed trying to kiss several of the policemen?".......2006-10-14

Uneven is the Keyword.......2006-02-10

NOT a murder "mystery" as such.......2005-10-16

Average customer rating:

"Do you remember dancing around half-dressed trying to kiss several of the policemen?"
Uneven is the Keyword
NOT a murder "mystery" as such

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997)
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
The Passion of Ayn Rand
Hussy
Elizabeth I

ASIN: B00007M5HT
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Amazon.com

Description

It's 1935. The headlines scream "murder most foul." All England is boiling with fury - scandalized by "the crime of the decade." CAUSE CÉLÈBRE is an emotionally complex real-life drama of love, betrayal, guilt and obsession spun hopelessly out of control. Did Alma Rattenbury (Helan Mirren) - as she confessed - bludgeon her ailing husband to death? Or, was it Bowen, her 18-year-old-lover. Whatever the truth, as an upper class wife and mother, she is already condemned by an outraged public for the unforgivable crime of loving a boy only half her age. Into this maelstrom of emotion, facing Alma's confession and the public's wrath steps T.J. O'Conner (David Suchet) the distinguished, brilliant attorney for the defense fiercely determined to save his client. Helen Mirren weaves a spellbinding web as Alma Rattenbury, a fragile, free-spirited woman caught in a passion she is helpless to control.

Customer Reviews:

"Do you remember dancing around half-dressed trying to kiss several of the policemen?".......2006-10-14

Uneven is the Keyword.......2006-02-10

NOT a murder "mystery" as such.......2005-10-16

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