This television play, based on J.B. Priestley stage play, tells the story of a family gathering that in interrupted by the arrival of a police inspect who has some questions to ask the family. The Birling family are celebrating the engagement of their daughter to Gerald Croft. They are on their way up in the world Arthur Birling manages a local company and his expecting his knighthood to be announced at any time and the marriage of his daughter to the son of a lord will certainly help their standing
that is until the servant girl announces that a police inspector wants to talk to them. He tells them that a girl has been found dead in the town; it is a clear case of suicide but it soon becomes clear that each of the people at the dinner contributed to the girl being in such a desperate position. As each revelation comes out the family is forced to examine their actions; some clearly regret what they have done but others are more concerned about what it means for their own standing in society.
This new version of the classic play is taut and kept this viewer gripped. The revelations about the poor dead girl are nicely shown in a series of flashbacks as we see how each of the five people attending the dinner contributed to her destruction. Not much needs to be said about the story itself; it is a classic for good reason however it does contain twists that will surprise those new to the story especially the final twist. The cast does a brilliant job; David Thewlis is great as The Inspector, he gives a subtle performance as the character who clearly has a low opinion of those he is dealing with. The rest of the cast which includes Ken Stott, Miranda Richardson, Lucy Chappell and Sophie Rundle, as the dead girl, are all on top form. The story is clearly a statement on social attitudes; both in 1912, when it is set, and in post war Britain were social changes were taking place. Overall this is well worth watching; it shows you don't need action to have a tense story if it is well told.
This new version of the classic play is taut and kept this viewer gripped. The revelations about the poor dead girl are nicely shown in a series of flashbacks as we see how each of the five people attending the dinner contributed to her destruction. Not much needs to be said about the story itself; it is a classic for good reason however it does contain twists that will surprise those new to the story especially the final twist. The cast does a brilliant job; David Thewlis is great as The Inspector, he gives a subtle performance as the character who clearly has a low opinion of those he is dealing with. The rest of the cast which includes Ken Stott, Miranda Richardson, Lucy Chappell and Sophie Rundle, as the dead girl, are all on top form. The story is clearly a statement on social attitudes; both in 1912, when it is set, and in post war Britain were social changes were taking place. Overall this is well worth watching; it shows you don't need action to have a tense story if it is well told.