About an attorney (who seems to be either a senior partner or office manager) with a sexual pre-occupation for young female employees in his office, & sexual harassment in the workplace. The film also explores the taboo subjects of pedophilia, infidelity, & other unpleasant topics. Although the film is very well done, it's hard to follow at times due to the frequent use of confusing flashbacks, unusual lighting, camera angles & sounds, that combine to result in a distortion that becomes dream-like at times. The key to this very unusual movie is contained in a statement made by Williamson's character ("If the people who matter to you, don't care about you anymore, then you cease to exist"). Williamson has little joy in life. He is bored with his bland & sexless wife. He is bored with the social events that his wife plans for them. He is bored with his job, which he finds dull & meaningless. He looks for things to arouse some emotion in his emotionless character, & he finds that hurting other people makes him feel good or at least feel something. Engaging in illicit activities also makes him feel good, partially because he hurts other people while he engages in these activities. He thrives on watching the reactions & emotions (albeit negative) of the persons he hurts. His mistress understands him quite well & loves him, but due to her intelligence & insight, is aware that he will (again) end up hurting her, so she breaks off their relationship. Williamson loves his daughter, but she cares little. He proceeds to alienate his wife, daughter, & mistress, all of the people who care about him the most, to the point where no one is willing to put up with his obsessive sexual thoughts & compulsive sexual behaviors. Then, inside a police van on the way to the police station/jail (a scene which both starts & ends the film), the screen goes blank in the area where Williamson is supposed to be. He has ceased to exist. Difficult to watch due to subject matter that makes the viewer feel uncomfortable; difficult to comprehend due to the use of confusing flashbacks. But ultimately worthwhile due to outstanding acting/directing & social significance of the subject matter, & a masterpiece of Existentialism. Needless to say, this is not a film for casual viewing, nor is it a "happy" film.
5 Reviews
Superannuated Angry Young Man
howardmorley24 February 2012
I do not like John Osbourne (JO) plays & films.His male characters are either sarcastic, unlikeable, boozy, pseudo-intellectual, aggressive, sex obsessed characters; and the women are passive, doormat, submissive, don't answer back types.It makes me wonder whether JO really liked women (misogynist?) despite marrying the actress Jill Bennett (who plays NW's mistress).This film really grated on me. Nicol Williamson (NW) at his legal office never seems to do a stroke of work while expecting others to do it for him while putting up with his boorish behaviour.His character has all the negative JO traits outlined above of "Angry Young Man", except he is no longer young.NW's character just sits around making old fashioned sexist remarks at work, while the "dolly birds" there seem to be equally sexually obsessed.Of course NW has a horrible relationship with his wife.NW smokes, drinks womanises, frequents strip joints, and is vile to his wife, daughter and dinner party guests alike.What on earth did the characters in this film see in NW's character and why did they persist in seeing him?In some ways "Inadmissable Evidence" (1968) reminded me of a British version of Jean- Luc Goddard's "Pierrot le Fou" (1965) with Jean-Paul Belmondo.
As a measure of light relief I spotted a young Dot Cotton (June Brown) of "Eastenders" and Uncle Fred (John Savident) lately of Coronation Street, at the dinner party scene.In the scene where he interviews a man charged with "importuning for an immoral purpose" even the man himself criticised NW for not making notes.There was even a suggestive, incestuous scene with his daughter just to add to the negative traits of this old fashioned anti-hero.JO's anti-heroes loved portraying and sneering at the middle classes, swigging wine at dinner parties and wanting an audience for their "clever" remarks and boorish behaviour.5/10
As a measure of light relief I spotted a young Dot Cotton (June Brown) of "Eastenders" and Uncle Fred (John Savident) lately of Coronation Street, at the dinner party scene.In the scene where he interviews a man charged with "importuning for an immoral purpose" even the man himself criticised NW for not making notes.There was even a suggestive, incestuous scene with his daughter just to add to the negative traits of this old fashioned anti-hero.JO's anti-heroes loved portraying and sneering at the middle classes, swigging wine at dinner parties and wanting an audience for their "clever" remarks and boorish behaviour.5/10
Please Someone tell me what it is about
malcolmgsw16 June 2015
On reading some of the other reviews here I was pleased to find that other people were as confused as I was at what was happening.I was not sure why Williamson was in the dock.Was it to do with witnesses at the divorce hearing?I,as a lawyer,have worked in many London offices but none anything remotely like this one.In the offices that I have worked in everything has revolved around work and not sex.Now that might be my loss.However in this case everything seems to revolve around sex with work coming a very distant second place.No wonder poor old Williamson is having a nervous breakdown.I remember that I did not see this film when it first came out and I am pleased that I saved my 4/-(20p).
Uniquely Gripping, Yet, Nearly Incomprehensible.
Tirelli27 April 2000
'Inadmissible Evidence' is a film unlike any other I have ever seen. From the moment we are introduced to the anti-heroic main character, played to perfection by Nicol Williamson, we are gripped by his every movement.
Yet, due to his strong, bewildering performance, our attention is solely directed to him, and not to the many other characters, plot twists and story. The John Osborne tale was complex enough as it was without the ordeal of confusing flashbacks and such fierce characterizations.
I may be crazy, but I actually think that this film would benefit from a poorer cast! After all, Williamson is so fascinating, that we completely forget about the story itself, and we can't help being bewitched by his London solicitor who slowly descends into emotional bankruptcy while analyzing his own existence and the harm he has done to others - his wife, his mistresses, and the carefree young man he used to be.
About the flashbacks... I guess they were a mere device that the producers of the movie thought would be helpful, since the movie is almost a filmed play. Nevertheless, the device backfires, and only add to the utter confusion of the viewer.
Well, all in all, this is an unusual, gripping film, that features a powerhouse performance by Mr. Williamson, but whose gloomy, depressing, confusing and existentialist point of view are definitely not for the ones
who are looking for breezy entertainment.
Yet, due to his strong, bewildering performance, our attention is solely directed to him, and not to the many other characters, plot twists and story. The John Osborne tale was complex enough as it was without the ordeal of confusing flashbacks and such fierce characterizations.
I may be crazy, but I actually think that this film would benefit from a poorer cast! After all, Williamson is so fascinating, that we completely forget about the story itself, and we can't help being bewitched by his London solicitor who slowly descends into emotional bankruptcy while analyzing his own existence and the harm he has done to others - his wife, his mistresses, and the carefree young man he used to be.
About the flashbacks... I guess they were a mere device that the producers of the movie thought would be helpful, since the movie is almost a filmed play. Nevertheless, the device backfires, and only add to the utter confusion of the viewer.
Well, all in all, this is an unusual, gripping film, that features a powerhouse performance by Mr. Williamson, but whose gloomy, depressing, confusing and existentialist point of view are definitely not for the ones
who are looking for breezy entertainment.
Very confusing
EARman5 August 1999
The characters in this film are very interesting but the story is extremely confusing. Apparently the script was adapted from a play and the film feels like a play for the most part. Some plot points do not make sense at all and it took me two viewings before some issues in the story sunk in. Nicol Williamson is great as the lead character. Overall, an interesting but unfulfilling film.
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