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» » Ordeal by Innocence Episode #1.3 (2018)

Short summary

After another death in the house the children recall Rachel's cruel treatment of them and housekeeper Kirsten as well as her discovery of then husband's affair with Gwenda. In fact every single one of them had cause to be rid of Rachel but only one of them killed her and is punished by the others for letting Jack take the blame.

John Lee, the director of photography, said that during prep with Sandra Goldbacher, the director, they spoke a lot about trying to be honest about the 1950s but also modernizing it. They spoke a lot about being inspired by Hitchcock.

Agatha Christie was also involved in archaeology. She spent two decades living on excavation sites in the Middle East, writing novels and helping her husband on digs - often cleaning the finds with her face cream to preserve their moisture. She became an expert photographer during this time.

Morven Christie said, "I think what makes Agatha Christie stories timeless is that they are filled with intrigue. The characters are really rich, and they are quite complex stories. People love answering questions when they are watching dramas, and I think she was a master at that. That's why they endure."

Agatha Christie's books have been published in over 100 languages, making her the most translated writer of all time (UNESCO and Guinness World Records).

Pathologists read Agatha Christie novels to help them solve real-life poisoning cases. Christie was a poison expert; a skill she gained while volunteering at the dispensary in her local hospital during the First World War.

There were five different replicas of the Anubis made, two of which were soft for stunt action.

Claire Harris, the makeup designer, said she was reading a 1950s magazine that suggested women wear makeup and look their best, because there were fewer men available after the war.

Anna Chancellor described the costume designer, Trisha, as "really brilliant, and her team is brilliant. She is so exact. She goes way beyond the call of duty."

Director Sandra Goldbacher described Agatha Christie's "Ordeal by Innocence" as a whodunit and Sarah Phelps' adaptation as a whydunit.

Matthew Goode said that Bill Nighy brings a calmness to the set, and Matthew thinks that everyone is slightly in love with him. He described him as a '"charm bomb."

Anna Chancellor was asked, "If you were to sum up 'Ordeal by Innocence' in one word, what would it be?" She said, "Gothic."

Crystal Clarke, who plays Tina, said, "I see Jack as possibly Tina's defender. I imagine if they're out in town and somebody says something, it would be Jack that would speak up and shut it down. I think she really appreciates his cheekiness, and I think she appreciates the life that he brings into the house and the life that he brings out of her, even."

Agatha Christie had a prolific writing career spanning six decades, with 66 crime novels, six non-crime novels, and over 150 short stories. Her work includes "Murder on the Orient Express," "Death on the Nile," "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," and the genre-defining "And Then There Were None."

When Eleanor Tomlinson was asked to describe "Ordeal by Innocence" in one word, she said, "Fractured."

Director Sandra Goldbacher said the time jumps were complex, and there were a few different techniques that she and DP John Lee used. The night of the murder all takes place in fog. The present takes place mostly in high summer. They also used different flashback techniques to take you into flashbacks.There are little heightened moments shot at a high frame rate and using backward sound designs.

John Lee, the director of photography, shot Rachel's scenes differently from those of the other characters. Rachel was given central framing, with the camera low to give her an appearance of power and dominance, but there is also a lot of space in the frame to showcase her loneliness.

Sarah Phelps, the script writer, had Morven Christie in mind to play Kirsten as she was writing the script.

Agatha Christie suffered rejection by six publishers before she was finally published by the Bodley Head.

Eleanor Tomlinson said that she loved how Sarah Phelps' adapted the script to modernize it and make it approachable for a younger audience.

The sets took about two and a half months to create within the locations.

Trisha Biggar, the costume designer, used original costumes from the 1950s. Eleanor Tomlinson said one of the blouses she wore was even hand painted.

Anna Chancellor described the screenwriter, Sarah Phelps, as "very emotional, very passionate, very compassionate, and also very detailed."

"Ordeal by Innocence" was filmed in Scotland, and the weather was sometimes a struggle. Producer Roopesh Parekh said that on some days they experienced all four seasons in just one day.

John Lee, the director of photography, said that one of the most difficult places to shoot in the house was the stairway. There wasn't a lot of natural light.

Jo Riddell, the production designer, said that when they first got to the house it was yellow.

Director Sandra Goldbacher said that she was hooked immediately after reading the script.

Jo Riddell, the production designer, mostly decorated the house only with artwork that was described in the script.

Trisha Biggar, the costume designer, found the green dress that Tina is wearing before the wedding in Rome. The flowers were hand painted.

This is not the first time that John Lee, the director of photography, and Sandra Goldbacher, the director, have worked together. They both worked on parts of "Victoria."

"Ordeal by Innocence" was the first time in his career that Bill Nighy worked with a drone.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Vetitc
    I just know there are going to be reviews from purists who are unhappy with the changes to the text, we had them throughout Marple (Oddly never for Poirot, or the BBC's Miss Marple,) but wait for them.

    Sarah Phelps is truly interesting when you hear her talk about how she adapts the texts, how she sees it, and this finale was a gripping, tense conclusion, I loved her re-interpretation of the outcome, motives etc.

    Matthew Goode had dominated the first two episodes with his charismatic performance, but in this finale, initially Anna Chancellor, then Bill Nighy, two great actors, but some of the best work I've seen from both of them.

    It was tense, gripping, maybe the final scene was a change too much, but it felt in keeping with this deliciously dark re-telling. The Agatha Christie estate has the right to veto any changes to the plot, and in this instance I think they made the right decision, had 2007's Marple version not been made then I think it might have been a different case.

    I loved it. 9/10
  • comment
    • Author: Nalme
    Am a huge Agatha Christie fan. Have been since the age of 11 after reading 'And Then There Were None', one of my favourites to this day, and watching the Joan Hickson and David Suchet adaptations of 'A Murder is Announced' and 'Sad Cypress'. 'Ordeal By Innocence' may not be one of her very best, but it is expertly and splendidly crafted with an unexpected and very clever ending. One can see why she herself apparently thought highly of it.

    Certainly there are worse Agatha Christie adaptations around, she is adapted frequently (one of the most adapted authors) but not everything adapting her books has done it justice. There are many outstanding ones but a fair share of bad ones. 'Ordeal By Innocence' was sadly one of the disappointment and considering what it had going for it it shouldn't have been. Sarah Phelps' Agatha Christie adaptations have been a mixed bag, with the wonderful 'And Then There Were None' being by far the best. 'Ordeal By Innocence', has yet to be well adapted. Judging it by which one's best and worst (a hard choice), at a guess the ITV adaptation for best and the 1984 film worst.

    That it, all three parts, is a poor adaptation of the book is not where my disappointment with 'Ordeal By Innocence' lay, not completely at least. It for me had far more issues on its own terms, which for me has always been a fairer way to judge as there are films and television that are not particularly good adaptations but are good and more actually as standalones. The first part of the three episodes is definitely the best though it's still heavily flawed. Despite being the highest rating here as of now, for me this third and final part fared the least. It was the episode where the pacing was especially a problem and it also had the worst asset of the entire adaptation in it.

    There are good things. The best thing again is the production values. Gorgeously shot, sometimes imaginatively edited, sumptuously costumed, atmospherically lit and evocative in period detail with well chosen locations, visually it is exceptional.

    Parts of the story early on do intrigue and there is enough to keep one guessing with nothing being too obvious.

    Acting is uneven, with only a few standouts. Bill Nighy does underplay with dignity and is sometimes affecting, he is the character that one feels most for in the source material so this was an ideal way to approach him. It may come over as phoning it in to some but that is only when comparing it to the rest of the acting, which was quite broad, someone had to take things seriously as ought and Nighy does that. Morven Christie, looking luminous, and Luke Treadaway, quietly understated, also do very well.

    On the other hand, the rest of the cast are still either too broad or bland. Instead of feeling much empathy for the characters and what they go through which one is meant to considering that in the book there is more emphasis on the family ordeal, one is irritated by that most of them do not come over as real people and more stale archetypes.

    Unfortunately, the mystery fails to engage. Tonally, it is little more than overblown melodrama too often and there is a lack of tension and suspense. Whereas the second part especially felt padded, over-stretched and dull, this final episode suffers from the opposite. To me it was rushed and tries to cram in too many things in a short space of time with things happening far too quickly that they are underdeveloped.

    Like the previous two parts, the dialogue is soap-operatic and reminiscent of hammy camp, also not doing a particularly good job fitting the period (much of it takes one out of it). The music again is too brash and intrusive. Anything included to seemingly bring more grit or appeal to a wider audience instead comes over as mean-spirited and out of kilter as well as unnecessary. The worst aspect was the ending, people were understandably incensed at how it missed the point and frustrated with the changes. To me though, even on its own terms it felt contrived and absurd.

    In conclusion, disappointing ending to a disappointing adaptation. 4/10 Bethany Cox
  • comment
    • Author: Ventelone
    With Philip Durrant dead the atmosphere is tense in the Argyll household. With the aid of flashbacks, we find that Rachel Argyll could be horrid to her adopted children and incensed that two of them were closer than they should be.

    Arthur Calgary has certainly placed himself in danger and several people wonder if Leo's aloofness is just a mask.

    Sarah Phelps has taken liberties with the ending and the actual culprit from the Agatha Christie book. This is not an issue for me as I have never read the book but I guess some purists would be incensed.

    This serial had some wonderful production values, some very nicely staged art direction, maybe the best since the early Poirot days of David Suchet. Easily to overlook when most viewers were looking out for the joints for the cast change and re-filming.

    A nice, enjoyable adaptation by the BBC which was a lot better than 'Witness to the Prosecution.'
  • comment
    • Author: Flas
    Argyll is one of the most despicable literary characters in my memory. As this show progresses we are made aware of secrets that have as their foundation an utter sickness. In this final episode we come to realize that the young member of this family, all of them adopted, have suffered horribly. First of all, the mother is a beast, full of self importance and vindictiveness. Her husband, however, goes beyond the level disgusting. There is manipulation, disdain, power, and more, including a marvelous conclusion.
  • comment
    • Author: Vizuru
    Another Fantastic Binge worthy Prime BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie. What I love about her novels/movies/tv is that I CAN ABSOLUTELY NOT figure out the "Who Done It?". I usually can figure out who the bad guy/girl is but AGAIN was surprised by the end of this one! SUPERB! WHAT A SATISFYING END! All of the Actors were perfect in their parts. Anna Chancellor as The Mother made Joan Crawford look like a nice woman. I already loved Bill Nighy in anything he's done and was brilliant as the Father. I read that there were some reshoots and there was trouble with continuity because of Season but I did NOT see it. Didn't even cross my mind. Too engulfed in this GREAT Thriller/Mystery. We watched it over 2 nights. I didn't realize that it was only 3 episodes until the 3rd Episode was on and I went to look up one character on IMDB. I'll be looking for more of these for sure. PRIME has done it again!
  • Episode cast overview, first billed only:
    Matthew Goode Matthew Goode - Philip Durrant
    Luke Treadaway Luke Treadaway - Dr. Arthur Calgary
    Bill Nighy Bill Nighy - Leo Argyll
    Morven Christie Morven Christie - Kirsten Lindstrom
    Christian Cooke Christian Cooke - Mickey Argyll
    Eleanor Tomlinson Eleanor Tomlinson - Mary Durrant
    Crystal Clarke Crystal Clarke - Tina Argyll
    Ella Purnell Ella Purnell - Hester Argyll
    Luke Murray Luke Murray - Young Jack
    Anthony Boyle Anthony Boyle - Jack Argyll
    Anna Chancellor Anna Chancellor - Rachel Argyll
    Abigail Conteh Abigail Conteh - Young Tina
    Rhys Lambert Rhys Lambert - Young Mickey
    Hayden Robertson Hayden Robertson - Young Hester
    Catriona McNicoll Catriona McNicoll - Young Mary
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