A distinctly British thriller, this, in which sub-standard work by a local council leads to public health issues. It's hardly the kind of plot that makes for excitement, but PRIVATE INFORMATION is about as good as it could be given the obvious constraints of the narrative and budget. It was filmed at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames, as were so many during this era, which gives it a cheap look.
I suppose if you were being kind you could say that PRIVATE INFORMATION is a precursor to the later likes of ERIN BROCKOVICH or maybe the government conspiracy films of the 1970s and the like. Certainly the story of a crusading figure battling against oppressive bureaucracy is an engaging one, which is why it's a pity the drama is so small-scale here, the climax aside. It's more like a TV than a cinematic film.
The main actress, Jill Esmond, had previously essayed the role of the queen's mother in THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST. Jack Watling, who plays her son, had a long and varied career in everything from A NIGHT TO REMEMBER to DR WHO. Carol Marsh appears in support and is best known for her turn as Lucy in Hammer's Dracula. The director of this piece, Fergus McDonell, only made short films for the rest of his career. On the plus side, PRIVATE INFORMATION is mercifully short, so doesn't have a chance to become too dull.
