Despite the lack of Campion, Amanda, Lugg, Dot and a little girl - I can't remember why she's there. I have an awful feeling the Campion's son is there too. They are packed off early on - Allingham couldn't really do children.
But the rest of the book is there in full. Charlie Luke takes over the detecting. I've always thought that you couldn't put him onscreen as desribed by Allingham - it would be an impossible acting job. The actor here makes him clipped and intuitive - which is fine.
Muriel Pavlov is good as Meg - she can cry convincingly. And Lucy Cash is excellently sinister.
As others have said, it's a film of two halves. As in the book, the first half is compelling and the fog is used to the utmost dramatic effect. But once we set off in search of the treasure, in bright sunlight, it all falls apart.
One plot point is missed, though - the reason for the original wartime raid, and why Havoc was picked for the job.
But the rest of the book is there in full. Charlie Luke takes over the detecting. I've always thought that you couldn't put him onscreen as desribed by Allingham - it would be an impossible acting job. The actor here makes him clipped and intuitive - which is fine.
Muriel Pavlov is good as Meg - she can cry convincingly. And Lucy Cash is excellently sinister.
As others have said, it's a film of two halves. As in the book, the first half is compelling and the fog is used to the utmost dramatic effect. But once we set off in search of the treasure, in bright sunlight, it all falls apart.
One plot point is missed, though - the reason for the original wartime raid, and why Havoc was picked for the job.