Dead Gorgeous

I just watched this on YouTube (free) and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'm always looking for "vintage British films" but I think I found this via "British mysteries" or similar. I almost didn't watch it as it's a TV film I never heard of, but was attracted to the "bump off each other's husband" scenario and gave it a go.

The sets, costumes and general ambiance were right up my street as I'm a big fan of wartime Britain (and into the rest of the 1940s). Fay and Helen were both terrific in their roles, although Helen's character went a bit OTT near the end, and I feared it was going to be a "woman suddenly goes completely insane and admits to heinous crimes" a la many other TV cop shows, but this surprised me by NOT copping out in that way.

I enjoyed this right to the end and found it surprisingly entertaining.

While this made-for-TV movie is based on a novel by Peter Lovesey, it covers the same territory as Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller, "Strangers on A Train." The acting, sets and costumes are pretty decent, but the story movies slowly and there's little real tension. Not a bad effort, but hardly a "must see."

Based on the 1989 novel On the Edge by Peter Lovesey. Dead Gorgeous owes a debt to Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train.

It is black comedy thriller set in post World War 2 Britain. Antonia Ashton (Helen McCrory) is a vixen married to dull business tycoon Hector (Ron Cook.)

Antonia finds him dull, she is cheating on him with a younger man. Only she would end up less wealthy if they got divorced.

Rose Bell (Fay Ripley) is a meek woman living almost on the breadline. Her husband is miserly civil servant, Barry. He is also a boorish drunk who abuses Rose.

Rose later discovers that Barry has been cheating on her with another woman. Hence why they are poor, he has another family to raise.

Both women knew each other during the war and reconnect. Only Antonia, a devious schemer hatches a plan to get rid of both husbands.

Antonia arranges Barry's death in a tube train accident. She expects Rose to commit an accidental death on Hector.

Maybe not original, this is a sumptuous period drama. It works as both Hector and Rose are basically decent people. Not people that should either be victims or be on the wrong side of the law.

McCrory has fun as the glamorous underhanded cheater.

I disagree with Flickman's review. I found it very intriguing and pretty tightly-woven. While there were slow moments, I thought most of the film moved at a pretty good clip and I was quite pleased with it. I found it far better than passable.

Excellent movie similar to Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train' and in some ways the more recent 'Rich Man's Wife,' this film is based on a 19th century novel and differs from these others in many respects. Lots of surprising twists and turns. Typical British style of filmmaking creates added mystery without the usual high-strung music. Its tongue-in-cheek humor makes it fun while still quite dark.