Prime Suspect 3 (1993) (TV)

Director:

David Drury

Writer:

Lynda La Plante (written by)

Release Date:

28 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Assigned to a Vice squad, Detective Jane Tennison investigates a child murder and discovers a sinister link to the police.

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Investigation | Police | Detective | Pimp

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Helen Mirren	...	DCI Jane Tennison
Peter Capaldi	...	Vera Reynolds
Michael Shannon	...	Jake Hunter (as Michael J. Shannon)
Greg Saunders	...	Connie
David Thewlis	...	James Jackson
Danny Dyer	...	Martin Fletcher
Tom Bell	...	Sgt. Bill Otley
Richard Rees	...	Mike Chow
Terrence Hardiman	...	Commander Chiswick
Mark Strong	...	Insp. Larry Hall
Karen Tomlin	...	WPC Norma Hastings
Struan Rodger	...	Supt. Halliday
Liza Sadovy	...	WPC Kathy Bibby
John Benfield	...	Chief Supt. Kernan
Stephen Boxer	...	Supt. Thorndike
Terence Harvey	...	John Kennington
Stafford Gordon	...	Commander Trayner
Lewis Jones	...	Judge Syers
Ciarán Hinds	...	Edward Parker-Jones
Gilbert Wynne	...	Frampton
John Middleton	...	Fire Team Officer 1
Peter Rylands	...	Fire Team Officer 2
Pearce Quigley	...	Red
Adrian Schiller	...	Gold
Alyson Spiro	...	Margaret Speel
Andrew Woodall	...	DI Brian Dalton
John Axon	...	Jackson's Lawyer
Richard Hawley	...	DS Richard Haskons
Philip Wright	...	DC Lillie
Mark Drewry	...	DI Ray Hebdon
Andrew Dicks	...	Billy Matthews
Eric Deacon	...	Doctor Gordon
Richard Cadman	...	Alan Thorpe
Steven Crossley	...	Mark Lewis
Kelly Hunter	...	Jessica Smithy
Felix Bell	...	Rutter
Colin Meredith	...	Paramedic
Joseph Greig	...	Caretaker
Robin Polley	...	Club MC
Paul Burgess	...	Cabaret Artiste
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Aspden	...	Kenny Lloyd
John Blakey	...	Brian
Jeremy Colton	...	Disco Driscoll
Rowena Cooper	...	Mrs. Kennington
Kelly Derbyshire	...	Girl at Station
Christopher Fairbank	...	Chief Insp. David Lyall (as Chris Fairbank)
James Frain	...	Jason Baldwin
David Gambles	...	Frankie
Kaye James	...	WPC Bronwen
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Anthony Field
Olive Pendleton	...	Mrs. Field
Mark J. Pepper	...	Police Officer
Brian Spink	...	Parker-Jones' Lawyer
Michelle Hooper	...	Extra featured in Health Centre (uncredited)

Directed by
David Drury

Writing credits
Lynda La Plante		(written by)

Produced by
Sally Head	....	executive producer
Lynda La Plante	....	associate producer
Paul Marcus	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Warbeck

Cinematography by
David Odd

Film Editing by
Edward Mansell

Casting by
Doreen Jones

Production Design by
Chris Truelove

Art Direction by
Tom Brown
Julian Parry		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Mike O'Neill

Makeup Department
Jane Hatch	....	makeup supervisor
Margaret O'Keefe	....	makeup artist
Colin Ware	....	special makeup designer (uncredited)

Production Management
David Meddick	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vincent Fahy	....	first assistant director (as Vinny Fahy)
Sue Whitley	....	second assistant director (as Sue Whitely)

Art Department
Simon Dalton	....	props
Trevor Devoy	....	production buyer
Tony Mills	....	chargehand asm
Mark Nuttall	....	graphic designer
Pippa Rawlinson	....	art department assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Eve	....	boom operator
Jackie Ophir	....	dubbing editor
John Rutherford	....	dubbing editor
John Senior	....	dubbing editor
Nick Steer	....	sound mixer
John Whitworth	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Wyatt	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects

Stunts
Terry Forrestal	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
David Bell	....	focus puller
Jimmy Camp	....	gaffer
Mike Fisher	....	camera grip
Howard Somers	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anne Rudd	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Neil Parker	....	colorist (uncredited)

Other crew
Gwenda Bagshaw	....	script associate
Jeff Bowen	....	location manager
Craig McNeil	....	production executive
Rob Partridge	....	armourer
Milly Preece	....	production coordinator
Valery Ryan	....	script editor
Sue Wild	....	continuity
Gareth Williams	....	production financing
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Granada Television

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1994) (USA) (TV)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Elephant Films (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

207 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

In his lecture at the beginning of the film, Jake says that all known serial killers are male -- with exception to a recent case in the United States. This is a reference to Aileen Wuornos, who was arrested and charged in 1992 for murdering seven men.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Parker-Jones walks into the police station, he is alone, but after the interrogation room door is closed, his lawyer suddenly appears.

Quotes:

DCI Jane Tennison:[to members of her team] So if any names come up on this tape, they are going to stay here in this office amongst us. because we are opening one very big can of worms. We're going to need hard evidence to back it up. Excuse the pun.

Movie Connections:

References Some Like It Hot (1959)

Soundtrack:

Falling in Love Again

Stunning performance by Mirren and cast

The director did a superb job pulling PS 3 together. There are many twists and turns and unexpected endings. This shows the fullness of human nature in graphic, dark but jarring peeks into a modern police investigation. It also is a thought provoking portrayal of how powerless we often are to bring about meaningful change in erasing the root causes of such crimes from our communities.

The interjection of the investigation teams personal and sexual lives adds to the drama and richness of PS 3. The beginnings of life, childhood interrupted and the degradation of some of humanity is well portrayed. The dialogue is often excellent and you have to listen to some of the questioning sessions carefully to pick up nuances that become important later. The resolution is not as expected leaving the audience with a lot to think about about the rent boy issue today.

Mirren again bucks the system and the old boy network. the crusty Sergeant Bill Otley also surprises -- sometimes hard and occasionally "soft" when faced with the grit and horror of the crimes they are investigating.

There is no sugar coating hear. Highly recommended.