A riveting version of the famous socialist J B Priestly morality play by the BBC. It was originally broadcast as a three-part serial in the summer of 1982 but is much more enjoyable if viewed as a 'movie'... and a watchable version is currently available on YouTube as I write this (2018).
Set in 1912 as the build-up to 'The Great War' was in motion, it can be seen politically as a warning of what war will bring and also socially as how a young, spirited and attractive, working-class girl (who we never see) is discarded by the middle classes.
As the doors slowly open and the servants traipse out, we are invited into the world of an upper-middle-class dinner party. Things are going well... there is an engagement to celebrate and the future of better business relations between two competing families.
Capitalism is about to be put on the trail when a mysterious Detective Goole arrives and holds the members of the family up to scrutiny as it emerges that a girl has killed herself by drinking cleaning fluid. Yikes! What a horrible way to go!
The irony of the screenplay may escape some younger viewers but even if you don't 'get' every reference it's still a magnificent and captivating TV play. As each member of the wealthy family is shown to have, in some way, contributed to the demise of the poor girl, the family 'unit' quickly breaks down.
The players are all exceptional and the theatrical delivery makes for an absorbing 90 minutes.
