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Guy Fosters life is about to fall apart, when his wife Melissa
is found murdered. Reeling against the event Guy starts to
realise that his marriage may be a tissue of lies, worse still
he is the main suspect, who is finding it difficult to substantiate
an alibi. Paranoia sets in when a psychiatrist tells the police
that he had seen Guy, though Guy has no memory of this. While
trying to find out what happened to his wife Guy discovers
that people are not what they seem and as his investigation
proceeds more bodies start turning up...
Melissa
(1974) is a television thriller in three parts. Directed by
Peter Moffatt, who had a long career as a television director,
Moffatt also directed half a dozen Doctor Who stories
as well as All Creatures Great and Small. The thriller
was written by Francis Durbridge who found fame with his creation
of gentleman sleuth Paul Temple. The basic story was successful
enough to be made, with some changes, a further two times,
first in 1964 and then in 1997.
The
first thing you notice about the program is that the staging
makes it look like it was an adaptation of a stage play. Although
Durbridge was a playwright Melissa did not start life
as such. It's not just that the majority of the action happens
indoors, but rather the overuse of a static camera which gives
this impression.
Guy
Foster is played by Peter Barkworth (1929 - 2006) who is well
known for playing middle class characters. He plays Guy with
great reserve, displaying a man who attempts to remain stoic
while all around him his life turns into a nightmare. Every
time Guy thinks he's worked out what is happening the plot
takes another turn, making him appear the guiltier. Poor Moira
Redman (1928 - 2006) who plays Melissa hardly gets to make
a mark on the show as she is killed off in the opening episode.
Ronald Fraser (1930 - 1997) does a little better as the cuckold
friend, Felix, with an indeterminate job whose wealthy wife
Paula, played by Joan Benham (1918 - 1981) seems to spend
her time in a long party.
There
is a certain amount of disbelief to suspend here. The action
takes place amongst a group of upper middle class friends
and, given when the show was made, there are more than a few
things which may jar a modern audience. Some of the language
has become anachronistic, indeed there is one chap who appears
to be incapable of saying "yes" preferring to reply
with "ya" which has become such a derisive mode
of speech associated with the upper classes that it seems
all the odder. Also, people are terribly pleasant with each
other, even when they are attempting to engage in murder.
The
disc is presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio and to
be honest the print has held up quite well - the picture is
a little on the soft side and there are noticeable artefacts
but little print damage. Audio in mono, with the option for
subtitles, and the extras are limited to text filmographies
and a biography of the writer.
As
a story both the performances and the script still have the
power to grip the audience, though the pace may seem a little
leisurely, I didn't find myself getting impatient or bored.
Of course there is still the problem of the anachronistic
speech patterns and modes of behaviour, but you soon forget
about those while you try to work out who killed Melissa and
why.
Charles
Packer
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