Prime Suspect: Scent of Darkness (1995)

A series of brutal sex murders disturbingly similar to the pattern of Superintendent Jane Tennison's first major case leads to the awful suggestion that she may have caught the wrong man the first time.

Director:

Paul Marcus

Writer:

Guy Hibbert

Stars:

Helen Mirren, Pip Donaghy, Tim Woodward

Won 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Mirren	...	Supt. Jane Tennison
Pip Donaghy	...	Len Sheldon
Tim Woodward	...	George Marlow
Stephen Boxer	...	Supt. David Thorndike
Hugh Simon	...	Chief Inspector Finlay
Alan Leith	...	Supt. Howell
Stuart Wilson	...	Dr. Patrick Schofield
Penelope Beaumont	...	Dr. Elizabeth Bramwell
Christopher Ashley	...	Antony Bramwell
Glen Berry	...	Wayne
Joseph Kpobie	...	Al
Otis Munyangiri	...	Pete (as Otis Munyang'iri)
Rebecca Thorn	...	Policewoman 1
Scott Neal	...	Geoff
Christopher Fulford	...	DCI Tom Mitchell

Storyline

A series of horrific murders of women in a pattern very similar to a previous series of murder Police Detective Jane Tennison investigated lends support to a growing popular feeling that she arrested the wrong man, who has always claimed his innocence. Jane refuses to accept that possibility and orders her team to investigate the new murders to the exclusion of reviewing the older ones. The growing friction of the suspicions of her fellow officers and her own convictions lead to her being taken off the case as being biased. Now, she must try to restore her professional reputation while investigating elements of the case on her own.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | detective | police | tabloid journalism | perfume | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS/Masterpiece Theatre

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1995 (UK)

Also Known As:

Heißer Verdacht - Der Duft des Todes

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Dr. Patrick Schofield: Sometimes you have to trust people.

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Connections

Follows Prime Suspect 3 (1993)

User Reviews

Nothing compares to Prime Suspect

These series were popular, and still admired and remembered. Helen Mirren is wonderful as always, playing Jane Tennison - a great detective, proving that women can be both strong and emotional (In real life as much as on the screen), which is a quality men rarely have...in my not at all humble opinion. It's suitable for everyone not just fans of crime stories- it's not violent, it's emotional and filled with suspense and mystery.