Tree of Hands
Tree of Hands | |
---|---|
Directed by | Giles Foster |
Written by | Gordon Williams |
Based on | The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell |
Produced by | Ann Scott |
Starring | Helen Shaver Lauren Bacall Malcolm Stoddard Peter Firth |
Cinematography | Kenneth MacMillan |
Edited by | David Martin |
Music by | Richard Hartley |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Cannon Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £2 million[1] |
Box office | £2,458 (UK) |
Tree of Hands (released in the US as Innocent Victim) is a 1989 British psychological drama film directed by Giles Foster and starring Helen Shaver, Lauren Bacall, Malcolm Stoddard and Peter Firth. It is based on the 1984 novel The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell.
Plot
[edit]Benet Archdale (Helen Shaver), a London-based best-selling author who has just written a controversial novel, lives alone with her young son. Benet's mother, Marsha (Lauren Bacall), visiting from the United States, is a manic-depressive who has psychotic episodes. When Benet's young son dies, Marsha kidnaps a local child to serve as a substitute. Benet believes she should return the child but upon investigation she finds out that the child has been severely abused by his parents. After the child's disappearance, the parents are charged with the murder.[2]
Cast
[edit]- Helen Shaver ... Benet Archdale
- Lauren Bacall ... Marsha Archdale
- Malcolm Stoddard ... Ian Raeburn
- Peter Firth ... Terence
- Paul McGann ... Barry
- Kate Hardie ... Carol
- Tony Haygarth ... Kostas
- Phyllida Law ... Julia
- David Schofield ... Detective Inspector
- Amanda Dickinson ... Molly
- Fiona McAlpine ... Neighbour
- Julie Jupp ... Neighbour's Daughter
- Sean Blowers ... Detective
- Allan Mitchell ... Consultant
- Simon Prebble ... Newscaster
- Barnaby Brown ... Jason
- Charles Pountney ... James
References
[edit]- ^ "Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing" (PDF). British Film Institute. 2005. p. 30.
- ^ BFI.org
External links
[edit]
- 1989 films
- 1980s psychological drama films
- Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios
- Films based on British novels
- British psychological drama films
- Works by Ruth Rendell
- 1989 drama films
- Films directed by Giles Foster
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s British films
- Films scored by Richard Hartley (composer)
- 1980s British film stubs