Prime Suspect (1991) (TV)

Director:

Christopher Menaul

Writer:

Lynda La Plante (written by)

Release Date:

23 January 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A female police detective investigates a series of serial murders while dealing with sexist hostility from her male comrades.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Investigation | Suspect | Prime Suspect | Murder Investigation

Awards:

11 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Helen Mirren	...	DCI Jane Tennison
Tom Bell	...	DS Bill Otley
John Benfield	...	DCS Michael Kernan
John Bowe	...	George Marlow
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Moyra Henson
Bryan Pringle	...	Felix Norman
Tom Wilkinson	...	Peter Rawlins
John Forgeham	...	DCI John Shefford
Gary Whelan	...	DS Terry Amson
Jack Ellis	...	DI Tony Muddyman
Craig Fairbrass	...	D.I. Frank Burkin
Ian Fitzgibbon	...	DC Jones
Mossie Smith	...	WPC Maureen Havers
Philip Wright	...	DC Lillie
Andrew Tiernan	...	DC Rosper
Richard Hawley	...	DC Haskons
Mark Spalding	...	DC Oakhill
Tom Bowles	...	DC Avison
Dave Bond	...	DS Eastel
Seamus O'Neill	...	DC Caplan
Marcus Romer	...	DI Caldicott
Terry Taplin	...	Cmdr. Trayner
Maxine Audley	...	Mrs. Marlow
Rosy Clayton	...	Carol
Gareth Tudor Price	...	Willy Chang
Andrew Abrahams	...	Tilly
Susan Brown	...	Linda
Jessica Turner	...	Pam
Rod Arthur	...	Sgt. Tomlins
Fionnuala Ellwood	...	Joyce
James Snell	...	Arnold Upcher
Julian Firth	...	Mr. Shrapnel
Maria Mescki	...	Lab Assistant
Martin Reeve	...	Lab Assistant
Moya Ruskin	...	Annette Frisby (as Moyra Ruskin)
Malcolm Freeman	...	Biker
Phil Hearne	...	Painter
John Ireland	...	Lab Assistant
Doug Fisher	...	Edward Harvey
Francesca Ryan	...	Marianne
Ian Hastings	...	Reg McKinney
Renny Krupinski	...	Clerk of Court
Jeremy Warder	...	Joey
Angela Bruce	...	Helen Masters
Michael Fleming	...	Major Howard
Daphne Neville	...	Mrs. Howard
Sara Thurston	...	Mother (as Sarah Thurston)
Ralph Fiennes	...	Michael
Jimmy Hibbert	...	Reporter
Julie Sumnall	...	Karen
Wilfred Harrison	...	Mr. Tennison
Noel Dyson	...	Mrs. Tennison
Owen Aaronovitch	...	Tony
Anna Savva	...	Mrs. Salbanna
Malcolm Raeburn	...	Insp. Sleeth
Peter Dennis	...	Toastmaster
Anthony Havering	...	Barman
Mark Anthony Newman	...	DS Lambton
Brian Hayes	...	TV Presenter
Sandra Butterworth	...	WPC 'Karen'
Vincent Pickering	...	Witness
Bryonie Pritchard	...	WPC Southwood
Barbara Dryhurst	...	WPC Raeburn
Anthony Schaeffer	...	Uniformed Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tegan Summer	...	Witness
Jonathan Bridge	...	Boxing Hall extra (uncredited)
Barry Purves	...	Boxing Hall extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher Menaul

Writing credits
Lynda La Plante		(written by)

Produced by
Sally Head	....	executive producer
Don Leaver	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Warbeck

Cinematography by
Ken Morgan

Film Editing by
Edward Mansell

Casting by
Doreen Jones

Production Design by
Roy Stonehouse

Art Direction by
Tom Brown

Costume Design by
Sheelagh Killeen

Makeup Department
Tracey Dilley	....	makeup assistant
Jane Hatch	....	makeup artist
Michael Moustafi	....	key makeup artist
Michael Moustafi	....	special makeup effects artist
Sian Richards	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Colin Ware	....	prosthetic fabricator
Colin Ware	....	prosthetic makeup artist

Production Management
David Meddick	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tania Norman	....	second assistant director
David Weir	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Trevor Devoy	....	production buyer
Chris Stephenson	....	design assistant
Peter Terry	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Ray French	....	sound mixer
Paul Griffiths-Davies	....	dubbing editor
Ian Hills	....	boom operator
David Rees	....	dubbing editor
John Rutherford	....	dubbing editor
Brian Saunders	....	dubbing mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer
Simon Walton	....	dubbing editor
John Whitworth	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Peter Brayham	....	fights

Camera and Electrical Department
David Bell	....	focus puller
John Camp	....	gaffer
Bob Gregory	....	grip
Graham Hazard	....	focus puller
Howard Somers	....	camera operator
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anthony Black	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jackie Ophir	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master
Craig McNeil	....	production executive
Lynne Merriott	....	location manager
Hilda Miller	....	continuity
Hilda Miller	....	production assistant
Tony Mills	....	chargehand asm
Anya Noakes	....	unit publicist
Jenny Sheridan	....	script associate
Sue Whitley	....	coordinator

Production Companies

• Granada Television

Distributors

• Granada International (1991) (worldwide) (all media)
• Independent Television (ITV) (1991) (UK) (TV)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1992) (USA) (TV)
• Castle Vision (1996) (UK) (VHS)
• 2 Entertain (1998) (UK) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Memphis Belle (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• ITV DVD (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Treasures (video)
• WGBH

Also Known As:

Mobil Masterpiece Theatre: Prime Suspect (USA) (pre-release title)
Prime Suspect 1
Prime Suspect 1: A Price to Pay (Europe) (DVD title)

Runtime:

207 min (2 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

According to Lynda La Plante, on the documentary about the making of Prime Suspect (1991) (TV), when she called the Metropolitan Police (aka 'Scotland Yard') and enquired as to how many female DCI's there were on the force, the woman who answered her call said, "Oh, quite a number! Four!" Jackie Malton appears on the same documentary, noting that she was one of three DCI's on the force at that particular time.

Quotes:

DI Frank Burkin: How'd the interview go?
DCI Jane Tennison: E D Williams is a 35 year old with history of a mental disorder who has a passion for watching trains at *Euston* station. Now either Sergeant Otley need his friggin' head seen to or he's sending me on a wild goose chase around London!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Women's Murder Club: Blind Dates and Bleeding Hearts (#1.3)" (2007)

Excellent show

Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) is in charge of the investigation to uncover a serial killer who rapes, tortures, and brutally murders prostitutes in London. Tennison is put in charge after one of her fellow DCIs has a heart attack and dies. She inherits the murder case and soon comes across the connected second murder. If trying to solve not one but two rape-murder cases is not enough, Jane's work is complicated by the hostility of her staff. The members of the male-dominated police department feel humiliated and have problems following the orders of the female boss, no matter how intelligent, tough, organized, and fit for the position she is. Tennison's obsession with the cases and fighting for credibility and respect from her colleagues don't help to her relationship with the boyfriend Peter Rawlins (Tom Wilkinson), either. Helen Mirren is superb as DCI Tennison playing the character that is sympathetic, tough, vulnerable, bright, very clever, and sexy - all at the same time. Mirren was voted the sexiest 60+ star in the world few months ago. I think she's been always incredibly attractive and desirable - and always will be. She definitely lit the screen at 46, in her first season of "Prime Suspect" (1991). Creator of the show, Lynda La Plante wrote the story that ranks among the best police procedures and it is terrific - complex, dynamic, with unexpected turns, and interesting multidimensional characters. Ralph Fiennes played one of his first roles as a boyfriend of a murdered girl and he was memorable in a very emotional scene opposite Mirren. I look forward for more DVDs with the rest of the seasons coming from Netflix.