White Mischief (1988)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Michael Radford

Writers:

James Fox (novel)
Michael Radford (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

In England they were the elite, but bound by rules of society. In Kenya there were no rules, only glamour, decadence . . . and murder.

Plot:

A millionaire past his prime and his young wife arrive in Kenya circa 1940 to find that the other affluent...

Plot Keywords:

1940s | Shower Scene | Voyeurism | Beautiful Woman | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Greta Scacchi	...	Lady Diana Broughton
Charles Dance	...	Josslyn Hay: Earl of Erroll
Joss Ackland	...	Sir Henry 'Jock' Delves Broughton
Sarah Miles	...	Alice de Janzé
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Nina Soames
Ray McAnally	...	Morris
Murray Head	...	Lizzie
John Hurt	...	Gilbert Colvile
Trevor Howard	...	Jack Soames
Susan Fleetwood	...	Gwladys: Lady Delamer
Catherine Neilson	...	Lady June Carberry
Hugh Grant	...	Hugh
Alan Dobie	...	Harragin
Gregor Fisher	...	McPherson
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Idina

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Quotes:

Josslyn Hay: Earl of Erroll: Do you know what happens to a woman once she loses her looks?
Lady Diana Broughton: No. What?
Josslyn Hay: Earl of Erroll: Nothing.

Soundtrack:

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Strange, decadent, and worthwhile

Based on the book by James Fox (not the handsome English actor of a certain age) this film remains hard to pin down: it's part murder mystery, part sociological study, part history of pre-WW2 East African colonialism, part romance, part dionysian orgy (really), part Evelyn Waugh/Somerset Maughm, part romance, part.... etc. etc. And it's all true.

Yes, the actors are more spectacular looking than their real life counterparts (particularly Scacchi, seldom more stunning.) Sarah Miles' strange character wafts through as most memorable of all in a rich ensemble set of louche decadents. (And yet the actress in real life admitted she may not have gotten a handle on the real woman, just an impression. Based upon my reading of Fox's and Trzebinski's books' accounts on the Alice de Janze, I'd have to agree. Nothing like her except the memorable quips and woozy flair.) Plus, most folks who didn't swim through the primo decadence of the 1960's firsthand might be appalled at what passes for entertainment in British colonial East Africa of the 1930'/40s. But what you'll get for your treasure hunt (this is a hard film to find) is the truth of a murder mystery, weird but real characters, a slice of history, all against the gorgeous panoply of Kenya, despite all its troubles one of the most beautiful spots on the entire planet, all shot on location right where the real events unfolded.