Cause Celebre
Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
  • Uneven is the Keyword
  • NOT a murder "mystery" as such
 Cause Celebre
Starring: Helen Mirren , David Morrissey , Harry Andrews , Norma West , and Oliver Ford Davies
Director: John Gorrie
Manufacturer: KOCH VISION
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Andrews, HarryAndrews, Harry | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Davies, Oliver FordDavies, Oliver Ford | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Mirren, HelenMirren, Helen | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Suchet, DavidSuchet, David | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Swift, CliveSwift, Clive | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Gorrie, JohnGorrie, John | ( G ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
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Similar Items:
  1. Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997) Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997)
  2. The Passion of Ayn Rand The Passion of Ayn Rand
  3. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
  4. Hussy Hussy
  5. Where Angels Fear to Tread Where Angels Fear to Tread

ASIN: B000BFJM2Q
Release Date: 2005-12-06

Product Description

Originally made for British television, CAUSE CELEBRE is based on the tragic true story of Alma Rattenbury, whose life became the talk of England in the 1930s. Helen Mirren stars as Alma, a woman in her mid 30s married to a much older man and in love with their 18 year-old chauffeur, George Bowman. The scandal began when Alma discovered her husband had been brutally beaten with a blunt object, and took him to the hospital where he soon died. Afterwards, Alma confessed, as did George. Sensationalized in the press, attorney T.J. O'Connor (Suchet), convinced of Alma's innocence, takes the case and tries to find the truth about a woman who has become trapped by her passions.

System Requirements:
  • Running Time 105 Mins.

    Format: DVD MOVIE

    Amazon.com

    The magnificent Helen Mirren soars through British TV movie Cause Célèbre, a true-life story of a scandalous murder in 1930s England. Soon after Alma Rattenbury (Mirren) hires an 18-year-old named Bowman (David Morrissey) to help around the house, she falls into an affair with the much younger man. Madly in love with her and jealous of her much older husband, Bowman rashly murders the elderly man. When the lovers are put on trial, the tabloids rant less about the murder and more about the sin of Alma's middle-aged passion. The storyline of Cause Célèbre contains few surprises, but it's skillfully written--the mordant wit of Alma's and Bowman's lawyers blithely discussing how each intends to blame the other's client is delicious--and wonderfully acted by Morrissey; David Suchet as Alma's celebrated lawyer, T. J. O'Connor; and especially Mirren, whose intelligence, sexiness, and empathy make her every scene fascinating. --Bret Fetzer

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Uneven is the Keyword.......2006-02-10

    Helen Mirren can always dazzle; all these Brits are so well trained but this vehicle is not up to their talents. David Morrissey looks promising, but is uneven in this part. He's good playing innocent but I didn't buy his character's evil side. It may be the fault of the screen play. They managed to take an interesting (true) story and totally muddle it. I'd love to see this re-made for the big screen.

    2 out of 5 stars NOT a murder "mystery" as such.......2005-10-16


    If you are thinking about watching this movie, just be aware that it is NOT a murder "mystery" as such. Unfortunately, I got it thinking it was more of an Agatha Christie type story, and spent the entire time trying to figure out who really "done it." I was very disappointed when the typical twists and turns of a true mystery didn't materialize.

    If my expectations had been different, I might have enjoyed this movie more. The set design was superb, as was most of the acting and the dialog (although, without subtitles, the British accent was a bit difficult for me to understand at times). But, on the other hand, I might have been disappointed anyway, since the story is somewhat disjointed and I never bought into the relationships between the characters (the two mismatched lovers, the husband and wife, the wife and 'companion' etc.)

    The story might have been true, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good movie.

    Cause Celebre
    Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    • Uneven is the Keyword
    • NOT a murder "mystery" as such
    		 Cause Celebre
    Starring: Helen Mirren , David Morrissey , Harry Andrews , Norma West , and Oliver Ford Davies
    Director: John Gorrie
    Manufacturer: Lance Entertainment
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
    Andrews, HarryAndrews, Harry | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Davies, Oliver FordDavies, Oliver Ford | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Mirren, HelenMirren, Helen | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Suchet, DavidSuchet, David | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Swift, CliveSwift, Clive | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Gorrie, JohnGorrie, John | ( G ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
    4-for-3 All DVDs4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
    DVDs Under $9.99DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
    ( C )( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997) Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997)
    2. The Passion of Ayn Rand The Passion of Ayn Rand
    3. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
    4. Hussy Hussy
    5. Where Angels Fear to Tread Where Angels Fear to Tread

    ASIN: B00007M5HT
    Release Date: 2004-09-21

    Amazon.com

    The magnificent Helen Mirren soars through British TV movie Cause Célèbre, a true-life story of a scandalous murder in 1930s England. Soon after Alma Rattenbury (Mirren) hires an 18-year-old named Bowman (David Morrissey) to help around the house, she falls into an affair with the much younger man. Madly in love with her and jealous of her much older husband, Bowman rashly murders the elderly man. When the lovers are put on trial, the tabloids rant less about the murder and more about the sin of Alma's middle-aged passion. The storyline of Cause Célèbre contains few surprises, but it's skillfully written--the mordant wit of Alma's and Bowman's lawyers blithely discussing how each intends to blame the other's client is delicious--and wonderfully acted by Morrissey; David Suchet as Alma's celebrated lawyer, T. J. O'Connor; and especially Mirren, whose intelligence, sexiness, and empathy make her every scene fascinating. --Bret Fetzer

    Description

    It's 1935. The headlines scream "murder most foul." All England is boiling with fury - scandalized by "the crime of the decade." CAUSE CÉLÈBRE is an emotionally complex real-life drama of love, betrayal, guilt and obsession spun hopelessly out of control. Did Alma Rattenbury (Helan Mirren) - as she confessed - bludgeon her ailing husband to death? Or, was it Bowen, her 18-year-old-lover. Whatever the truth, as an upper class wife and mother, she is already condemned by an outraged public for the unforgivable crime of loving a boy only half her age. Into this maelstrom of emotion, facing Alma's confession and the public's wrath steps T.J. O'Conner (David Suchet) the distinguished, brilliant attorney for the defense fiercely determined to save his client. Helen Mirren weaves a spellbinding web as Alma Rattenbury, a fragile, free-spirited woman caught in a passion she is helpless to control.

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Uneven is the Keyword.......2006-02-10

    Helen Mirren can always dazzle; all these Brits are so well trained but this vehicle is not up to their talents. David Morrissey looks promising, but is uneven in this part. He's good playing innocent but I didn't buy his character's evil side. It may be the fault of the screen play. They managed to take an interesting (true) story and totally muddle it. I'd love to see this re-made for the big screen.

    2 out of 5 stars NOT a murder "mystery" as such.......2005-10-16


    If you are thinking about watching this movie, just be aware that it is NOT a murder "mystery" as such. Unfortunately, I got it thinking it was more of an Agatha Christie type story, and spent the entire time trying to figure out who really "done it." I was very disappointed when the typical twists and turns of a true mystery didn't materialize.

    If my expectations had been different, I might have enjoyed this movie more. The set design was superb, as was most of the acting and the dialog (although, without subtitles, the British accent was a bit difficult for me to understand at times). But, on the other hand, I might have been disappointed anyway, since the story is somewhat disjointed and I never bought into the relationships between the characters (the two mismatched lovers, the husband and wife, the wife and 'companion' etc.)

    The story might have been true, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good movie.

    Cause Celebre
    Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    • Uneven is the Keyword
    • NOT a murder "mystery" as such
    		 Cause Celebre
    Starring: Helen Mirren , David Morrissey , Harry Andrews , Norma West , and Oliver Ford Davies
    Director: John Gorrie
    Manufacturer: Lance Entertainment
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
    Andrews, HarryAndrews, Harry | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Davies, Oliver FordDavies, Oliver Ford | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Mirren, HelenMirren, Helen | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Suchet, DavidSuchet, David | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Swift, CliveSwift, Clive | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Gorrie, JohnGorrie, John | ( G ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
    ( C )( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997) Masterpiece Theatre - Painted Lady (1997)
    2. The Passion of Ayn Rand The Passion of Ayn Rand
    3. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
    4. Hussy Hussy
    5. Where Angels Fear to Tread Where Angels Fear to Tread

    ASIN: B00005R5H1
    Release Date: 2002-01-29

    Amazon.com

    The magnificent Helen Mirren soars through British TV movie Cause Célèbre, a true-life story of a scandalous murder in 1930s England. Soon after Alma Rattenbury (Mirren) hires an 18-year-old named Bowman (David Morrissey) to help around the house, she falls into an affair with the much younger man. Madly in love with her and jealous of her much older husband, Bowman rashly murders the elderly man. When the lovers are put on trial, the tabloids rant less about the murder and more about the sin of Alma's middle-aged passion. The storyline of Cause Célèbre contains few surprises, but it's skillfully written--the mordant wit of Alma's and Bowman's lawyers blithely discussing how each intends to blame the other's client is delicious--and wonderfully acted by Morrissey; David Suchet as Alma's celebrated lawyer, T. J. O'Connor; and especially Mirren, whose intelligence, sexiness, and empathy make her every scene fascinating. --Bret Fetzer

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Uneven is the Keyword.......2006-02-10

    Helen Mirren can always dazzle; all these Brits are so well trained but this vehicle is not up to their talents. David Morrissey looks promising, but is uneven in this part. He's good playing innocent but I didn't buy his character's evil side. It may be the fault of the screen play. They managed to take an interesting (true) story and totally muddle it. I'd love to see this re-made for the big screen.

    2 out of 5 stars NOT a murder "mystery" as such.......2005-10-16


    If you are thinking about watching this movie, just be aware that it is NOT a murder "mystery" as such. Unfortunately, I got it thinking it was more of an Agatha Christie type story, and spent the entire time trying to figure out who really "done it." I was very disappointed when the typical twists and turns of a true mystery didn't materialize.

    If my expectations had been different, I might have enjoyed this movie more. The set design was superb, as was most of the acting and the dialog (although, without subtitles, the British accent was a bit difficult for me to understand at times). But, on the other hand, I might have been disappointed anyway, since the story is somewhat disjointed and I never bought into the relationships between the characters (the two mismatched lovers, the husband and wife, the wife and 'companion' etc.)

    The story might have been true, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good movie.

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