Wetherby (1985)
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80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
40% of users liked it
(800 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
- Directed By
- David Hare
- Written By
- David Hare
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1985 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 16, 2004
- Studio
- Palace Video
Critic Reviews
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Wetherby has a pedigree which substantially outstrips its small and undercooked story.
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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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Cast
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Vanessa Redgrave
as Jean Travers
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Ian Holm
as Stanley Pilborough
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Judi Dench
as Marcia Pilborough
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Stuart Wilson
as Police
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Marjorie Yates
as Verity Braithwaite
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Tim McInnerny
as John Morgan
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Suzanna Hamilton
as Karen Creasy
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Joely Richardson
as Young Jean Travers
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Katy Behean
as Young Marcia
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Ted Beyer
as Police Sergeant
- Penny Downie
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Christopher Fulford
as Arthur
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Matthew Guinness
as Randall
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Robert Hines
as Jim Mortimer
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Bert King
as Mr. Mortimer
- Marjorie Sudell
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Tom Wilkinson
as Roger Braithwaite
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David Foreman
as Young Malay
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Peter Martin
as Helpful Parent
- Patrick Blackwell
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Ian Bleasdale
as Neurotic Teacher
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Howard Crossley
as Police
- Brenda Hall
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Jonathan Lazenby
as Boatman
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Trevor Lunn
as Pretentious Parent
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Richard Marris
as Sir Thomas
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Norman Mills
as Drama Teacher
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Guy Nicholls
as Mr. Varley
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Stephanie Noblett
as Suzie Bannerman
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John Robert
as Page
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Nigel Rooke
as Page
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Vanessa Rosenthal
as Pretentious Parent
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Paula Tilbrook
as Mrs. Mortimer
- Diane Whitley
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Mike Kelly
as CID Policeman
