The Blue Boy
Read other reviews about this film
Cast: Emma Thompson, Adrian Dunbar, Eleanor Bron, David Horovitch, Joanna Roth, Phyllida Law, Barry Molloy, Lewis Howden, Jim Twaddale, Carol Ann Crawford , Sandy Welch, Veronica Leer, Michael Kennedy.
"Masterpiece Theatre" opens its 24th season with a ghost story about the death of a Scottish boy a century ago and how it connects with a contemporary man and his pregnant wife. No masterpiece, Paul Murton's teleplay still has an eerie touch that can raise neck hairs.
Based on a Scottish legend, the story involves Marie (Emma Thompson) and her husband, Joe (Adrian Dunbar), who's been having an affair with Beth (Joanna Roth). Marie decides she wants to go along on Joe's business trip to the country inn where, without Marie's knowing, Joe's been taking Beth.
Christine (Eleanor Bron), who works at the hotel, tells Marie the Blue Boy legend: how the lad, walking in his sleep one night, stepped into the lake and drowned. Later, small, wet footprints appeared in the hotel, leading to the room where Joe and Marie are now staying.
Beth begins causing problems by calling Joe on his car phone until Marie catches on. The present-day tale of adultery is echoed in the secrets of the Blue Boy story.
Kate Swan's production is a pip, and Stuart Wyld uses his camera to full advantage, swooping into and around the interior of the hotel, catching the cold atmosphere and tension between husband and wife. Murton's moralistic story, concerning spirits reliving their tortures, has an offbeat ending that gives Masterpiece Theatre a rare punch.
The acting, particularly that of Thompson, is first class, with Dunbar earning high marks as the weak husband. Philip Appleby supplies a good, supportive score, and writer Murton serves well as the director of the piece.
Camera, Stuart Wyld; editor, Peter Hayes; sound, Stuart Bruce; music, Philip Appleby; production designer, Graham Rose.60 MIN.
Variety is striving to present the most thorough review database. To report inaccuracies in review credits, please click here. We do not currently list below-the-line credits, although we hope to include them in the future. Please note we may not respond to every suggestion. Your assistance is appreciated.
