Jane in Search of a Job (9 Nov. 1982)

An unemployed girl is the spitting image of a Grand Duchess fearing to be assassinated by the anarchists. So, she accepts to impersonating her in a charity fête, risking her life for a very big sum of money.

Director:

Christopher Hodson

Writers:

Agatha Christie (short story), Gerald Savory (adaptation)

Stars:

Elizabeth Garvie, Andrew Bicknell, Amanda Redman

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Elizabeth Garvie	...	Jane Cleveland
Andrew Bicknell	...	Nigel Guest
Amanda Redman	...	Pauline, Grand Duchess of Ostravia
Stephanie Cole	...	Princess Anna
Tony Jay	...	Count Streptitch
Geoffrey Hinsliff	...	Colonel Kranin
Julia McCarthy	...	Miss Northwood
Helen Lindsay	...	Lady Anchester
Robert McBain	...	Police Superintendent
George Waring	...	Station Sergeant
Hetty Baynes	...	Holly de Witt
Roy Macready	...	Mr. Bissell
Neville Phillips	...	Delemain
Josie Kidd	...	Miss Thristle
Martin Chamberlain	...	Police Sergeant

Storyline

Jane Cleveland, behind with the rent, answers a strange advertisement in the paper and finds herself employed as a decoy for the visiting duchess of Ostravia,who fears that she may be the target of an assassination attempt. Jane impersonates the duchess when they attend a charity bazaar to auction jewellery but, following an assassination scare, the two women are whisked away and given drinks. Jane's is drugged and when she comes to she finds that she has been set up by a gang of jewel thieves. Fortunately her adoring male neighbour is a policeman who can prove her innocence.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Release Date:

9 November 1982 (UK)

Company Credits

User Reviews

Another lightweight tale

As the title says, the sweet but penniless Jane is looking for a job, any job, to pay her rent and get a decent meal. Opportunity seems to knock at her door when she is selected, among several girls, to impersonate the visiting Grand Duchess of a small country at public events. The risk is high, because the Duchess may be the target of a kidnapping or even an assassination attempt, but Jane thinks that the generous fee makes it all worth it. The impersonation goes well - so well, in fact, that Jane finds herself kidnapped....This episode has winning performances from its cute leading ladies (Elizabeth Garvie - see also the Marple movie "The Mirror Crack'd" - and Amanda Redman), and a smart twist in the middle, but the second half is flatly paced, and it's disappointing that the capture of the bad guys is never even shown. **1/2 out of 4.