Never Speak Ill of the Dead (24 May 1981)

Buddies Sim and Bob arrive at the house of their friend Dr. David Rankin one Sunday morning to go fishing, and find him in the cellar cementing over a newly laid floor. His wife Irene is ... See full summary »

Director:

John Gorrie

Writers:

John Collier, Robin Chapman (dramatisation)

Stars:

Colin Blakely, Warren Clarke, Keith Drinkel

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Colin Blakely	...	Dr. David Rankin
Warren Clarke	...	Bob
Keith Drinkel	...	Sim
Cheryl Hall	...	Irene Rankin
Brian Osborne	...	Police Sergeant

Storyline

Buddies Sim and Bob arrive at the house of their friend Dr. David Rankin one Sunday morning to go fishing, and find him in the cellar cementing over a newly laid floor. His wife Irene is not at home and Rankin tells them that she is staying with friends. However her infidelity is well-known around the village and Bob and Sim make the mistake of surmising that Bob has killed and buried his wife. They think he cannot hear their discussion as he is out of the room, but he can, with lethal results.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Details

Release Date:

24 May 1981 (UK)

Company Credits

User Reviews

Average Tales of the Unexpected episode.

Tales of the Unexpected: Never Speak Ill of the Dead starts one ordinary Sunday morning in a quiet English village where Bob (Warren Clarke) & Sim (Keith Drinkel) are about to go fishing with their buddy Dr. David Rankin (Colin Blakely), at first they can't seem to find him at home but they notice David's cellar door is open & find David inside acting very evasive having just laid some cement on the floor. Bob & Sim question David on the whereabouts of his much younger & unfaithful wife Irene (Cheryl Hall) & again David is very evasive & unconvincing merely saying that she is staying with friends, Bob & Sim soon come to suspect that David has in fact murdered Irene & buried her body in the cellar...

This Tales of the Unexpected story was episode 8 from season 4 & originally aired here in the UK during May 1981, the fifth of eleven Tales of the Unexpected episodes to be directed by John Gorrie this is an OK way to pass twenty five minutes but in the grand scheme of things Never Speak Ill of the Dead is a strictly average entry into this very hit and miss series. The story by John Collier was dramatised by Robin Chapman & one has to say it's pretty obvious & predictable all the way, it's an alright story centering on a crime that hasn't taken place with the somewhat predictable twist ending that the accused uses the fact he has been cleared to indeed commit the crime he was initially suspected of. I suppose for anyone who hasn't seen Never Speak Ill of the Dead before I've just spoilt the whole thing but seriously you would have to be pretty dumb not to see where it's going, it's painfully & sometimes embarrassingly obvious. Having said that it's watchable for what it is, nothing more & nothing less.

One of the Tales of the Unexpected episodes shot entirely on location but annoying completely on videotape so it gives it an odd sort of look to my eye, I much prefer the look & feel of proper film (even 16mm) to videotape but that's just down to personal preference & isn't really a criticism. Not really much else to say about this one other than another future star makes a guest appearance with Warren Clarke, how did the makers manage to get such good actors involved on a regular basis?

Never Speak Ill of the Dead is an alright Tales of the Unexpected episode, I didn't think it was brilliant & the twist ending is painfully obvious but for what it is it passes twenty five minutes harmlessly enough.