Shadow of the Noose: Episode 7 - “The Camden Town Murder” (1989)

 

More crime, shocker of all shockers.  However, this miniseries eschews the more traditional detective-story format and places most of its action in the courtroom.  Each episode follows the legendary solicitor Edward Marshall Hall as he defends someone accused of a hanging offense.

 

In “The Camden Town Murder,” a harlot (it's 1907, I should mention - “harlot” isn't a word I throw around regularly) is discovered murdered in her bed.  Robert Wood, a young artist with connections to the deceased and no alibi, frantically tries to keep himself above suspicion but is soon on trial for murder.  It is up to Marshall Hall to save him from the gallows.

 

PC plays Robert.  He's a hard character to get a handle on, but in a good way.  At the start, when news about the murder spreads, he's all action and desperation.  Once he's been arrested though, he barely seems to notice.  About to go on trial for his life, and he's more interested in sketching his solicitor than in what he has to say.  

 

He's vain and pretentious, something of a dandy.  He's a bit of a twerp who's intimidated by his overbearing father.  He's charming with the ladies, and manipulative, too.  He's a little strange, and just creepy enough that I wasn't sure he was innocent.  Even when the verdict was announced, I didn't know if he did it or not.  It's some good ambiguity, and PC straddles the line very well.

 

And I have to say, Marshall Hall himself is top-notch.  I'm afraid I'm not up on my historical English barristers, so I wasn't familiar with him, but he's a blast to watch in action.  The cross-examinations in this episode are works of art.

 

Accent Watch

 

Scottish.  Since this is based on true events, I suppose the real Robert Wood was Scottish as well.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – If you like period crime stuff, this might be up your alley.  1980s BBC production values aside, it's very well made, suspenseful and entertaining.

 

PC-wise – I think so.  His scene on the stand is great.

 

Warnings

 

A grisly murder scene (by which I mean scene of the crime, not a television scene depicting the murder) and brief nudity.  There's also some discussion of prostitution, but it's in a really repressed, squeamish, Edwardian way, so they're coy with the details.