Dead Gorgeous

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.

Other reviewers have covered the broad plot, flight money mad Antonia (McCrory -- RIP) wants to shed her boring husband Hector, but without shedding all his money too!

Dowdy vicar's daughter Rose has got fed up with her ex-fighter pilot hubby, who goes out drinking, beats her up and keeps her short of money.

They're old friends, and accidentally meet -- with Antonia soon hatching a plan to get rid of both husbands, so she can swan off with her boyfriend AND keep the cash on tap!

The support cast nicely portray the degree of suspicion around the first death -- how could a pilot just fall off a Tube platform? -- but can shy Rose carry off her part of the bargain and get rid of Hector?

That gets more complicated when they meet, and get on well together -- could there be another way that Antonia can escape with the wealth she adores?

You can watch this and may think the actual ending is quite clever, and there are some nice comic touches. I'm afraid I marked the film down a little just because I thought the ending was frankly daft, if you check the details, hopefully you'll see why!

But the 2 female leads are excellent, and Ron Cook, who's been in masses of support roles, does well in his unglamorous part.

Just after the end of the Second World War, two women, unhappy in their marriages, meet up and discover a potential answer to both of their 'problems.'

I've just finished watching this; I wanted to see it so badly that I had to buy the American release and then buy a multi-regional playing DVD player. But in all honesty, all the fuss was worth it. I bought it because I'm a massive Helen McCrory fan; she's a favourite actor of mine, and naturally, she does not disappoint.

Fay Ripley is great, but Helen McCrory steals the show as Antonia; she's much missed.

Visually, it's great; historically, it's on point. McCrory has some fabulous costumes to wear. Not much to say, really-just wonderful from start to finish. There are a few surprises along the way in this amusing tale of bumping off unwanted husbands.

I see a lot of users have commented on the Hitchcock familiarity. When you see Antonia bumping off Wing Commander at the train station, you can see why. It's a great one-off drama, it deserves to be repeated on ITV sooner rather than later.

10/10.

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.