TV movies are often let down by their third rate cast, small budget and lack of attention to detail. This production is no exception.
As mentioned in an earlier review, the look of this production is very much 1980s instead of the intended 1960s. Why they can't put more effort into basic things such as hair cuts/styles and clothing is beyond me! It's just lazy not to.
With regards to casting, Dickinson, Plummer and Parks all needed to be at least 10 years younger. I've no problem with Quayle being 69 though - the more mature the better.
I too wondered why this version was set in 1963 and then remembered that is when the death penalty (an important part in the story) was abolished in the United Kingdom.
Also mentioned by another reviewer is the first half being far more interesting than the second. Unfortunately that is true in just about all versions of this film. The plot is plausible up to a point but by the half way point you have to wonder why the Police haven't started to think outside of the box a little more.
I actually think this story could play out better over three 1 hour episodes showing how the husband discovers his wife's affair, realising his desperate predicament, plotting to blackmail Swann and more cat and mouse between the husband and detective.
This version is watchable though and preferably at night time.
