The Rising of the Moon (2000)

Mrs Bradley investigates the murders of two members of a traveling circus troupe, one a bullwhip artist and the other a member of a knife-throwing act.

Director:

Martin Hutchings

Writers:

Gladys Mitchell (novel), Julie Rutterford (screenplay)

Stars:

Diana Rigg, Neil Dudgeon, Richard Baglow

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Diana Rigg	...	Mrs. Adela Bradley
Neil Dudgeon	...	George Moody
Richard Baglow	...	Peter Forrester
James Baglow	...	Francis Forrester
Kenneth Colley	...	Archie Burlington
Peter Davison	...	Inspector Henry Christmas
Janine Duvitski	...	Mrs. Cockerton
Pete Gallagher	...	Little Bernard the Tall Man (as Peter Gallagher)
Francis Magee	...	Castries
Nikki McInness	...	Lily (as Nicky McInnes)
Big Mick	...	Tom
Felicity Montagu	...	Ruby Larkin
Sheila Steafel	...	Celestine Venus
Meera Syal	...	Madam Marlene
Nicholas Woodeson	...	John Forrester

Storyline

Mrs. Bradley is asked by Insp. Henry Christmas to help investigate the murder of a member of a traveling circus. The woman, who appeared as the human target in the knife throwing act, was stabbed to death and stumbled onto the stage. The police soon arrest the knife thrower but Mrs. Bradley isn't convinced they've got the right man. There is a good deal of animosity towards the travelers from amongst the villagers and she believes that is where the killer will be found. Two additional murders point her and chauffeur George in the right direction.

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Plot Keywords:

traveling circus | knife thrower | madman | card trick | magician | 

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Genres:

Thriller | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), BBC America, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Madam Marlene: [after putting her bullwhip around George and pulling him provocatively close] Don't worry, George. I'm not going to devour you. I don't eat meat.

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Soundtracks

"Blue Moon"
(uncredited)

User Reviews

Gypped

Pity the poor scriptwriter given this as a challenge.

Create a Peter Wimsey type, except make her an aged flapper who would have been far ahead of flapperdom. Have her pointedly look at the camera and provide witticisms galore. What folded fun! Have her stumble upon mysteries and pretend she is a detective. In fact, have her be a world famous detective and allow everyone to call her that, but in reality have every step of the mystery be revealed by accident.

In this case, the accident is a suspect who hides in her car and becomes a key witness.

As with the first of the four, have this begin in a folded manner (since scriptwriting school says that's effective). So our thriller begins with a show, one presented by "travellers." The show within melds with the show we are watching when the young woman (the target for the knives), stumbles onto the stage having been killed by a knife.

Be sure to place the female detective in peril at the end, after showing a hugely shocking (for TeeVee) murder.

That's the scriptwriter's challenge. Your challenge, dear reader, is to find better ways to relax.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.