User Reviews

I am a huge fan of the 1974 production which remains faithful to the Original story. However I would have been very disappointed if this 1997 version had of turned out to be precisely the same. Whilst it would have still been very watchable it would have been essentially going over old ground due to the excellently portrayed earlier version. What Alan Bleasdale gives us in his version is a prologue to the original story which provides additional story lines and much more background to the original characters and how some of their pasts link up with one another. In the original story Cape Town is only mentioned in passing, however Alan Bleasdale uses this setting to portray Guy's past and how he meets Melissa as well as a backdrop for three additional murders. In my opinion this production was brilliantly written and offered us something much more than just a straight forward adaptation and the additional material fits seamlessly in to the original story. The cast consists of very well established names which results in very strong and memorable performances all round.

Frances Durbridge's story 'My Wife Melissa' is possibly his finest work, a prolific writer that wrote some wonderfully intriguing mysteries.

I'm a huge fan of the 1974 version, totally faithful, beautifully acted, done in the way of a stage play.

For the updated production Channel 4 called in Alan Bleasdale, notably famed for Boys from the Black stuff.

For me I'm glad to story was changed and updated, had it been a carbon copy of the previous version it would have been wasteful. There were changes, Melissa survives a lot longer then she's meant to, giving her more of a character. Guy is given more of a story.

Jennifer Ehle and Julie Walters are utterly terrific, Adrian Dunbar is a brilliant actor, but I'm not sure how suited to the part he was.

Part 1 was a little disappointing, it acts almost like a prequel, it gives the back story to the characters, it's a little hit and miss, but after that it's fantastic, Part 4 in particular is wonderful. Really worth watching. 9/10

Having survived a terrible car crash, a reporter decides to leave South-Africa and return to his home country. While travelling by ship, he meets a luminous beauty called Melissa. A whirlwind romance ensues. Still, it is wise to do a good think before marrying someone, especially if this someone is part of a weird little clique running on alcohol and secrets...

"Melissa" is a mix of thriller and drama, with accents of both tragedy and comedy. It's a well-made and well-acted series. Although the pace is somewhat slow it turns into an enjoyable viewing experience, especially in the later episodes, when the various cracks in the clique become apparent. The finale of "Melissa" boasts a taunting confession by a tap-dancing murderer, which must be pretty unique in thriller annals. The theme music is particularly apt, with currents of sadness or stress running through the jazzy smoothness.

The series also functions as a warning against the dangers of hasty and superficial courtships. The male protagonist, who is an investigative reporter of some note, jumps into marriage with a woman he's just met, without bothering to find out more about her past, nature or environment. Yes, she's a ravishing ivory-skinned beauty, but what does that say about her personality or her suitability as a partner ? Unsurprisingly, this lack of attention will come back to haunt him in a truly soul-crushing fashion. All over the world there are millions upon millions of real-life individuals, male or female, who make a similar mistake, thus setting themselves up for a grievous collision with reality.

"Melissa" involves characters carrying illicit cash in jolly hatboxes, so as to avoid detection. When I was young my job sometimes required me to transport considerable amounts of (legitimate) cash, even through some of the less appetizing parts of Brussels. So here's my tip, born from years of experience. Take the cash and shape it into an irregular heap, somewhat like a family pack of meat. Wrap it into into sturdy and non-translucent material - and don't skimp on the tape. Package the result in some bland-looking paper of the kind used for butcher's or baker's products. Now fill a well-worn shopping bag, preferably made out of macramé, with the following items : a pack of butter with an easily recognizable logo, the money, some lemons, a celery and two or three leeks. The tops of the vegetables should be visible from afar. Ready to go !