The Good Doctor Bodkin Adams

TV Movie
1986
1h 15m

IMDb RATING

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The story of an Irish doctor in an English seaside town in the 1950s who was accused of murdering many of his elderly patients.The story of an Irish doctor in an English seaside town in the 1950s who was accused of murdering many of his elderly patients.The story of an Irish doctor in an English seaside town in the 1950s who was accused of murdering many of his elderly patients.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

YOUR RATING

3User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 nomination total

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User reviews3

5.615

Featured reviews

4FieCrier

a murderer, a euthanist, or just a bad doctor? disappointing, and a bit confusing

Based on a true story, in 1957 in the UK, Dr. John Bodkin Adams treats primarily elderly female patients. He accepts lower pay if his patients remember him in their wills. Many of them do, and he gets a sports car among other things. In most cases, he's administering large doses of morphine. He's sloppy when it comes to records

About halfway through the movie, he's put on trial for murder, and it does seem he's guilty. However, the nurses' recollections contradict some record books that have been found, and surprisingly things seem to sway in the Doctor's favor. Something that really surprised me was that after the defense rested, the judge gave rather lengthy comments to the jury giving his take on many aspects of the case. I would think in the US those sorts of comments made to the jury by a judge would be illegal, perhaps it's different in the UK.

I found this movie a bit disappointing particularly since I didn't understand how things changed around in the trial so much. But evidently the truth of the true story isn't certain either, and the movie perhaps just reflects that?

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Trivia
The trial of Dr. John Bodkin Adams caused a sensation in Britain in the 1950s, with many people convinced that he was guilty of multiple murder. The doctor was not called for cross-examination and spoke only six words ("I am not guilty, my lord") during the proceedings. His acquittal was also sensational, and he was struck off the medical register soon afterwards. He never married, and did not die until 1983, at which time many newspapers hinted that he had actually been guilty; but Richard Gordon, the author of this TV play about him, wrote a magazine article, published a few days before it was broadcast, in which he stated that Adams was innocent, and merely a poor doctor.