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

Bill Eversleigh: Bundle! You're alive?
Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent: Of course I'm alive.
Bill Eversleigh: Well, how long have you been? I mean when did you come to?
Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent: About five minutes ago.
Bill Eversleigh: Why didn't you open your eyes or say something?
Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent: I didn't want to. I was enjoying myself. Listening to all those nice things you were saying. You will never say them so nicely again. You'll be too beastly self conscious.

User Reviews

Well worth watching.

At almost two and a quarter hours, it's a very long drama, but it's worth watching, as it is absorbing, fun and intriguing. It's a slow, ambling mystery, full of espionage and intrigue. Don't expect great drama or sudden shocks, it's all very subtle.

I quite like the book, it's worth noting that this is a very accurate adaptation, the one thing I would point out is that here you're given subtle clues as to who the killer is, whereas in the book you're given hardly any. The solution always baffles me.

I love the style of it, it looks terrific, nice sets and lovely costumes. It is a production of its time, sometimes it looks more like a stage play.

Cheryl Campbell and James Warwick are excellent together, they work incredibly well, although producers were guilty of casting Mr Warwick too frequently, in all fairness he's perfect for them. Sir John Gielgud adds the humour, he's wonderful.

I like that we have references to Chimneys, Inspector Battle appeared in a few novels, including Chimneys.

Long, but lovely for a wet Sunday afternoon.

Intriguing. 9/10

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