Lady Audley's Secret

Definitely not up to "Mystery"s normal standards. Low production qualities, predictable plot and scenes, and inferior acting. Want better Mystery? Try "Truth or Dare." Want good BBC in general? Try "Goodnight Mr. Tom."

Either way, this one isn't even worth watching in the background while you read a magazine.

TRACE

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, even though it's not something I would generally pick up to watch. I think it is a bit bizarre that Lady Audley was created for "Mystery" -- the mystery portion itself was the least interesting. The challenge both for actors and audience lies in trying to uncover what makes these characters tick. Especially good is Julliette Caton, as the ingenuous Alicia; the best part of the story is watching her grow up. It was also impossible to think badly of Jamie Bamber's George Talboys, who seemed like a genuinely great guy. I plan to check the library for the book, because there are complexities that cannot be explored properly in a television special.

If you are looking for Poirot, pass this by. I would place this more along the lines of a dark Jane Austen novel.

The original novel, Lady Audley's Secret, has much in common with the early detective novels that are also sensation novels by Wilkie Collins (The Woman in White, The Moonstone, etc.). This adaptation reduces the complexity of the plot (probably necessary), but also make so many unwarranted plot changes that it dilutes the intensity of the story. So, for the person who has read and has enjoyed Lady Audley's Secret, this is very disappointing.

From the point of view if production, the lighting and blocking are not as effective as they could be, and the location, while attractive, does not take advantage of the potential for creating tension between the open / superficial truths, and the hidden.

I think that the script could be much more effective with slowly unfolding flashbacks or more emphasis on the scraps of paper, pieces of evidence that are slowly uncovered / encountered by the "slacker" barrister.. and, his transformation from an unmotivated and rather indolent gentleman to a man with a purpose.

Hopefully, somebody will actually make a faithful version of this terrific gothic novel. Because this certainly wasn't one. What a big disappointment.

As an adaptation of a pretty good novel, this film sucked. It was related to the novel in only the vaguest sense of the word. There were huge plot changes and one look at Lady Audley is enough to confirm to anyone who's read the book that Lady Audley was woe-fully mis-cast.

As a stand-alone film, it sucked. It was very boring - the structure made it impossible to feel any tension at the plot. It was confusing and slow. The writing was atrocious and laughable - over-the-top speeches and ham-acting.

I implore you - avoid this film at all costs.