Film Reviews by IP

Although this film has got fairly glowing reviews from the critics, I found the script rather stagey. By stagey, I mean that the script seemed rather forced. The performances were good, but what they had to deliver was sometimes an exposition. The third act was a bit leaden, even where it was unexpected; and the ending was a little Hollywood, sugar-coated. The technical side of the film was interesting, i.e., that all of the film was presentation from computers or television film. However, as others have commented, the third act, again, veers into 'collecting video from other sources', whereas the first two acts were mostly from the point of view of the computers of the main protagonists. There is tension in the film, but perhaps I simply didn't enjoy the film as much as others seem to have.

The original Margery Allingham books are dark, complicated and atmospheric. These rather dated versions are a kind of comfort-watching versions of the books. Peter Davison is adequate as Allingham's detective Albert Campion. Campion does develop through the novels from a rather 'silly-ass' but likeable plod through to the much more complicated and interesting person towards the end of Allingham's career. These films are of their time. Interesting but rather light weight.