Wetherby (1985)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
42% of users liked it
(784 ratings)

In a novel and intriguing approach to storytelling, director David Hare has created an engaging mystery and human drama that ostensibly focuses on an innocent dinner party but is really about something else. Jean Travers (Vanessa Redgrave) is an old-maid schoolmarm who has lived in Wetherby, a small… More In a novel and intriguing approach to storytelling, director David Hare has created an engaging mystery and human drama that ostensibly focuses on an innocent dinner party but is really about something else. Jean Travers (Vanessa Redgrave) is an old-maid schoolmarm who has lived in Wetherby, a small town in northeastern Yorkshire, all of her life. She is still haunted by memories of a passionate love affair with a young man who was later murdered while on military duty in Malaysia nearly 35 years ago in the '50s. One evening, Jean invites a group of friends over for dinner; the group is comprised of two couples, one of which spends the time sniping at each other. A young man, John Morgan (Tim McInnerny) is also in the dinner party. Jean thinks he was brought along by one of the couples; the couples, in turn, believe he was invited by Jean -- in short, he is a total stranger that everyone assumes is a friend of someone there. As the evening progresses, political topics of the moment are brought up and chewed over; Margaret Thatcher, Richard Nixon, and other notables of the era are discussed, and various comments are made on the laziness of today's youth. The dinner party ends, and the next day John Morgan comes back to visit Jean. While she is in the midst of preparing tea for them both, he takes out a gun and kills himself. The shock waves from his senseless act later reverberate among the dinner-party guests, as the police investigator tries to piece together the man's background and the dinner party itself. Questions are raised about his motives, and viewers see the dinner party again, moment by moment, in an entirely new light. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: David Hare
Written By: David Hare
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Nov 16, 2004
Studio: Palace Video

Critic Reviews

Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
If taut and literary psychological dramas are your game, this is a fine entry...
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Wetherby has a pedigree which substantially outstrips its small and undercooked story.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A gripping psychodrama that touches on themes of loss, middle age blues, and the dangers of repressing primal emotions such as love, violence, and desire.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Exceptional cast in dark gloomy drama that moves at a glacial pace. The actors can't be faulted but it's a bit of a slog.

Cast

            Vanessa Redgrave as Jean Travers

            Ian Holm as Stanley Pilborough

            Judi Dench as Marcia Pilborough

            Stuart Wilson as Police

            Marjorie Yates as Verity Braithwaite

            Tim McInnerny as John Morgan

            Suzanna Hamilton as Karen Creasy

            Joely Richardson as Young Jean Travers

            Katy Behean as Young Marcia

            Ted Beyer as Police Sergeant

            Penny Downie
            
            Christopher Fulford as Arthur

            Matthew Guinness as Randall

            Robert Hines as Jim Mortimer

            Bert King as Mr. Mortimer

            Marjorie Sudell
            
            Tom Wilkinson as Roger Braithwaite

            David Foreman as Young Malay

            Peter Martin as Helpful Parent

            Patrick Blackwell
            
            Ian Bleasdale as Neurotic Teacher

            Howard Crossley as Police

            Brenda Hall
            
            Jonathan Lazenby as Boatman

            Trevor Lunn as Pretentious Parent

            Richard Marris as Sir Thomas

            Norman Mills as Drama Teacher

            Guy Nicholls as Mr. Varley

            Stephanie Noblett as Suzie Bannerman

            John Robert as Page

            Nigel Rooke as Page

            Vanessa Rosenthal as Pretentious Parent

            Paula Tilbrook as Mrs. Mortimer

            Diane Whitley
            
            Mike Kelly as CID Policeman
See full cast