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Mystery!: Malice Aforethought

Original title: Malice Aforethought
  • TV Series
  • 1979– 1979–
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 50m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
132
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Hywel Bennett in Malice Aforethought (1979)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Crime
Dr. Edmund Bickleigh is a man who is very careful and very determined. And he is especially determined to not get caught committing the perfect murder of his wife. In the end he succeeds but... Read allDr. Edmund Bickleigh is a man who is very careful and very determined. And he is especially determined to not get caught committing the perfect murder of his wife. In the end he succeeds but then finds circumstances are "agin him".Dr. Edmund Bickleigh is a man who is very careful and very determined. And he is especially determined to not get caught committing the perfect murder of his wife. In the end he succeeds but then finds circumstances are "agin him".
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
132
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Hywel Bennett
    • Cheryl Campbell
    • Belinda Carroll
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Hywel Bennett
    • Cheryl Campbell
    • Belinda Carroll
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 win total

    Episodes4

    Browse episodes
    1 Season
    1979

    Photos

    Malice Aforethought (1979)
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    Top cast

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    Hywel Bennett
    Hywel Bennett
    • Dr. Edmund Bickleighas Dr. Edmund Bickleigh
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Cheryl Campbell
    Cheryl Campbell
    • Madeleine Cranmereas Madeleine Cranmere
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Belinda Carroll
    • Ivy Ridgewayas Ivy Ridgeway
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    David Ashford
    • William Chatfordas William Chatford
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Vivienne Moore
    • Maidas Maid
    4 episodes4 eps • 1979
    Christopher Guard
    • Denny Bourneas Denny Bourne
    3 episodes3 eps • 1979
    Harold Innocent
    Harold Innocent
    • Rev. Hessary Torras Rev. Hessary Torr
    3 episodes3 eps • 1979
    Susan Porrett
    Susan Porrett
    • Florenceas Florence
    3 episodes3 eps • 1979
    Judy Parfitt
    Judy Parfitt
    • Julia Bickleighas Julia Bickleigh
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Antony Brown
    Antony Brown
    • Supt. Allhayesas Supt. Allhayes
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Rohan McCullough
    • Gwynyfryd Ratteryas Gwynyfryd Rattery
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Anthony Woodruff
    • Mr. Gunhillas Mr. Gunhill
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Elizabeth Stewart
    Elizabeth Stewart
    • Mrs. Torras Mrs. Torr
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Briony McRoberts
    • Quarnian Torras Quarnian Torr
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Shirley Cain
    • Miss Peavyas Miss Peavy
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    Mary Laine
    • Miss Wapsworthyas Miss Wapsworthy
    2 episodes2 eps • 1979
    James Grout
    James Grout
    • Chief Insp. Russellas Chief Insp. Russell
    1 episode1 ep • 1979
    Thorley Walters
    Thorley Walters
    • Sir Francis Lee-Bannertonas Sir Francis Lee-Bannerton
    1 episode1 ep • 1979
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Dr. Edmund Bickleigh is a man who is very careful and very determined. And he is especially determined to not get caught committing the perfect murder of his wife. In the end he succeeds but then finds circumstances are "agin him".
    • trial
    • surprise
    • shrew
    • scotland yard
    • physician
    • 14 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Crime
      • Mystery
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Alfred Hitchcock once considered making a film of this famous murder story by Francis Iles, perhaps with Alec Guinness as Dr. Bickleigh. Hitchcock had already made a film ("Suspicion") based on the other famous Francis Iles novel, "Before The Fact".
    • Connections
      Version of Malice Aforethought (2005)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    A classic tv adaptation of a classic crime novel.
    Francis Iles' original novel, written in the 1920s, broke the mould for crime fiction as it was not a wholly serious 'whodunnit' but a black comedy which revealed the murderer right from the outset and allowed the reader to be privvy to his every calculated thought as he conceives and executes his crime and then copes with the consequences of his actions.

    This BBC adaptation, first broadcast in March 1979, is faithful to the book. All the names, characters and key scenes are intact and it captures perfectly the subtle underlying comedy without detriment to the drama of the piece.

    Hywel Bennett is superb in the main role of the murderer, Dr Edmund Bickleigh. Fresh from appearing in the acclaimed Dennis Potter serial "Pennies From Heaven", he was about to achieve further success with this serial, then "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and the sitcom "Shelley" which made him a household name. His performance here as Bickleigh is probably the pick of the bunch as he effortlessly steers the character through his many guises - hen-pecked husband, charming lover, scheming murderer and worried defendant.

    Shot entirely on video and almost entirely on location this is a glossy television production for its time that, thanks to its 1920s setting, has hardly dated since its original transmission.
    helpful•36
    3
    • DPMay
    • Apr 1, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Teuflischer Plan
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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