Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006) (TV)

Director:

Philip Martin

Writer:

Frank Deasy (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Approaching retirement, Jane Tennison investigates the murder of a missing girl. But the cracks soon begin to show as Jane struggles with an alcohol problem and the death of her father.

Plot Keywords:

Retirement | Prime Suspect | Alcoholism | Terminal Cancer | Police

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Helen Mirren	...	Det. Supt. Jane Tennison
Stephen Tompkinson	...	Sean Philips
Laura Greenwood	...	Penny Philips
Eve Best	...	Linda Philips
Gary Lewis	...	Tony Sturdy
Katy Murphy	...	Ruth Sturdy
Frank Finlay	...	Arnold Tennison
Tom Bell	...	Bill Otley
Robert Pugh	...	DS Alun Simms
Brendan Coyle	...	DCS Mitchell
Robbie Gee	...	DI Traynor
Russell Mabey	...	DS Cox
Laura Doddington	...	DC Wood
Heshima Thompson	...	Curtis Flynn
Carolyn Pickles	...	Pauline

Also Known As:

Prime Suspect 7 (UK) (working title)
Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act (USA)

Runtime:

182 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Elliott School, Pullman Gardens, Putney, London, England, UK

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

This episode was dedicated to the memory of Tom Bell (Bill Otley) 1933-2006, who died two weeks before this final TV appearance was screened.

Goofs:

Continuity: In this episode, Jane's only sister is named Pauline, yet in all the other episodes - when mentioned - her name is Pam (and played by Jessica Turner).

Quotes:

Det. Supt. Jane Tennison: [asking for a DNA test] Mr. Sturdy, unless you give us a sample, I'm afraid we're going to have to arrest you.
Tony Sturdy: [Spits in her face] There's your sample!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2007) (TV)

A Farewell

This is a way for Tennison, Mirren, Granada, and Prime Suspect to bow out gracefully. This is a classy production nearly four hours long and some have suggested the actual crime story is secondary to the personal portrait. Perhaps, perhaps not - but when you're ushering out an icon like this series you have to give time to that too.

Hats off to Tom Bell for his final appearance in the series. He was magnificent from day one, episode one, and he was exceptionally excellent here as well.

A word about the series as a whole: Dick Wolf didn't write it. This is no random shuffle, no one dimensional drama. It's thick and it's gutsy and everything is in three stark dimensions and ultimately it's not even crime drama either: it's very much social commentary. People don't work this hard and this long at something only to have a forty five minute L&O filler.

The first episode introduced the characters - and how they do it is something the hacks in Hollywood should bloody well study. 2 is about racism. 3 is about child molestation. 4 is about motherhood, corruption, and a return to 1. 5 is about gangs. 6 is about genocide. 7 is about... ?? Watch it and see.

Another word about the series: no sooner had the final part of The Final Act been shown than ITV came out with a beautiful boxed set. 10 DVDs all told with commentary and interviews on the last of them. Personally I find it a bit annoying after spending 70 quid to be reminded on each disc that I wouldn't steal a car so I wouldn't steal a DVD. But it's a beautiful set and a no-brainer as for purchase.

And Taylor's a lucky man, hitched as he is with a goddess.