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.

Some have compared this film to,"Strangers On a Train", but I do not believe it should be compared at all. It is a wonderful comedy/mystery and does not have the tenseness of a pure mystery as it is a tongue in cheek comedy. The sets - clothes - hair styles, etc. are perfect to the period of 1946 London wherein two school chums meet in a queue of a Bond street store. They then set in motion the plot of ridding themselves of husbands they don't want, one probably should go,the other Hector, is standing in the way of Antonia who wants a younger college prof. I do not want to give away all of the plot - but I will say this is a very fine film that I am sending to friends - the highest compliment.

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."

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.

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.