Seven Dials Mystery (1981)

Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent is a pert, aggressive young aristocrat that insinuates herself into a series of murders, stolen state secrets, and a mysterious secret society.

Director:

Tony Wharmby

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), Pat Sandys (adapted from the novel by)

Stars:

John Gielgud, Harry Andrews, Cheryl Campbell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Gielgud	...	Marquis of Caterhan
Harry Andrews	...	Superintendent Battle
Cheryl Campbell	...	Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent
James Warwick	...	Jimmy Thesiger
Joyce Redman	...	Lady Coote
Leslie Sands	...	Sir Oswald Coote
Lucy Gutteridge	...	Lorraine Wade
Terence Alexander	...	George Lomax
Rula Lenska	...	Countess Radzsky
Christopher Scoular	...	Bill Eversleigh
James Griffiths	...	Rupert 'Pongo' Bateman
Brian Wilde	...	Tredwell
Hetty Baynes	...	Vera (as Henrieta Baynes)
John Vine	...	Ronny Devereux
Robert Longden	...	Gerry Wade

Storyline

When Gerry Wade sleeps in and is late for breakfast, his friends find that he has a very good reason - he's been murdered. Lady Eileen Brent, known to her friends as Bundle and in whose bed Wade died, returns home and decides to investigate. When a second man is killed, he mentions something about " ...seven dials...tell Jimmy Thesiger..." but Thesiger has no idea what he was talking about. What they learn is of the existence of a secret society and of a hugely valuable formula for making a specialized form of steel. But who exactly is behind the two murders and why were they killed?

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Plot Keywords:

secret society | state secret | father daughter relationship | whodunit | suspect | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Goofs

The raised roman numeral for the "eleven" o'clock position on the hoods is reversed reading 'IX' instead of 'XI' during the first meeting shown. Later in the movie it is corrected, but they didn't make new hoods; instead they inked over the raised leading 'I' and added a gold paint 'I' after the 'X'.

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Quotes

Countess Radzsky: The crimial, he had an evil voice. The other one was cultured, English, a gentleman I think. He was swearing a lot.
Supt. Battle: Clearly a gentleman.

User Reviews

Classic Agatha Christie

A secret formula, an enigmatic society, and a murder steer the plot in this TV movie, based on Christie's whodunit novel, set in the English countryside during the 1920s.

Most scenes take place indoors, using what looks like theatrical sets borrowed from some TV soap opera or Broadway play. As the actors move about, the production lighting casts annoying shadows on the walls. Further, the actors tend to overact, with accompanying facial mannerisms that are exaggerated. I found the Bundle Brent character to be particularly irritating, as she darts and flutters around, in a flippant sort of way.

Especially in the film's first half, the stagy sets, the overacting, the absence, for the most part, of background music, and a very talky script, all contribute to the impression that we are watching a community playhouse production.

The film improves in the second half, when plot suspense finally overpowers the production flaws, as a murderer tries to manipulate a mansion full of innocents. Near the film's end, flashbacks explain the story, reveal the clues, and show us once again how Agatha Christie cleverly leads her readers down the garden path.

The book was better than this film, in my opinion. But, the film is not bad, if you can overlook the production weaknesses.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Тайна семи циферблатов

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1