A Is for Acid (TV 2002)

John George Haigh, the notorious "acid bath murderer" in 1940s England, becomes the subject of this dramatization.

Director:

Harry Bradbeer

Writer:

Glenn Chandler

Stars:

Martin Clunes, Keeley Hawes, Richard Hope

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Clunes	...	John George Haigh
Keeley Hawes	...	Gillian Rogers
Richard Hope	...	Dr. Archie Henderson
Celia Imrie	...	Rose Henderson
Rowena Cooper	...	Mrs. Olive Durand-Deacon
John Flanagan	...	Arnold Burtin
Terence Beesley	...	DS Heslin
Matyelok Gibbs	...	Mrs. Constance Lane
Barbara Marten	...	Emily Haigh
Geoff Holman	...	John Haigh Senior
Neil McKinven	...	Donald McSwan
Christopher Town	...	John George Haigh (as a boy)
Claire Nielson	...	Amy McSwan
Donald Douglas	...	William McSwan
Christopher Ettridge	...	Steven Rogers (as Chris Ettridge)

Storyline

Dramatisation of the true story of the notorious "acid bath murderer" John Haigh, who murdered women and disposed of their bodies in vats of acid in the 1940's. He was only caught when the gallstones of one of his victims, Mrs Durand-Deacon, failed to dissolve in the acid and were detected by the pathologist who examined the residue from the acid bath.

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Plot Keywords:

acid | acid bath | 1940s | murderer | sergeant | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Crimes Quase Perfeitos

Filming Locations:

7 South St., Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Haigh meets the Hendersons at the seaside and comments "splendid weather for February!" (it was in fact 12 February 1948 when he killed them). He is then seen driving Archibald Henderson to his workshop down a road with trees in full leaf; this must have been filmed in May or early June.

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Connections

Referenced in Psychoville: Joy (2009)

User Reviews

A is for acid, memories of meeting Det Sgt Heslin

I have just seen a repeat of this TV film and was very impressed. I had the opportunity of doing some gardening work for the Sgt Inspector Heslin (Ret'd) before he died, when he lived in Torbay. As one of the detectives who interviews Haigh and discovered his gun, he showed me photographs which very much resembled the film set of Haigh's workhouse.

I also specialized someone in the RAF when, as a medic, I saw just what Sulphuric acid can do. Now I am a prolific author and wish I had taken more notes about this case. Heslin and I enjoyed good conversation and he was very proud to have been one of the main detectives to interview Haigh.

Peter Carroll