Suspect

This television film was written and directed by Mike Hodges, who two years later would go on to direct Get Carter.

The story centres around a wealthy woman played by Rachel Kempson, who husband's disappearance is shrouded in mystery.

At the same time a local schoolgirl goes missing.

The camera techniques used to make this drama are excellent, and so are the performances of the actors.

Both Rachel Kempson and Dorothy White, who plays the mother of the missing schoolgirl are excellent.

While Russell Hunter is good as the seedy garage mechanic.

The actors who dominate this film are George Sewell, Michael Coles and Roger Rowland, as the police officers in charge of the investigation of the missing girl.

It is interesting to note that George Sewell and Roger Rowland, would later play similar characters in SPECIAL BRANCH.

Worth watching.

Found this on YT mis-titled as 'armchair cinema2 Suspect'. Moody menacing tone in service to low key assortment of characters on location settings. Writer director Mike Hodges goes on to direct Get Carter a memorable showcase for Michael Cane and industrial northern England blight.

Plays like "I.T.V Playhouse" presented a new and fresh approach to British television. Every single camera shot and scene was made on film and on location, the confines of the studio were cast aside. "Suspect" from 1969 is an ideal example. It really feels as though I'm watching a mini film but also, the story in this play is great. We have thought-provoking drama brought to life by a talented cast and film crew. I'm not surprised that "Euston Films" were influenced by the look of these plays. The plot concerns the disappearance of a local girl who fails to return home one night. The police from Scotland Yard are on the case as they comb the local countryside, questioning the residents and the girls school. A local wealthy woman seems to know more about the disappearance of the child than she is letting on. At the same time, her 50 year old husband has vanished and the wealthy wife is decidedly uneasy about it. The opening scene is something that is open to interpretation: at a railway station, the woman in question anxiously awaits someone who doesn't arrive. When her family come to stay at her house, her son is completely in the dark regarding his fathers disappearance. There are a few clues that lead the police to question the wife and more than once....... The play has a documentary feel to it as when the police interview some of the locals, the camera remains on that particular person and we only hear the police talking to them. George Sewell plays a "Special Branch" type character as the police officer in charge of the case. I thoroughly enjoyed this play and television nowadays ought to take note.

Suspect is a fine piece of drama from yesteryear, and although some of the content will naturally be unpalatable to audiences now, it must be remembered that this was made back in 1969. A time when dramas were confined to studios, the sets shook, boom shadows, fluffed lines etc, this was very much not the case with Suspects, real quality throughout, it actually defies the time it was made. The story is simple, but clever, Phyllis Segal desperate to avoid any hint of scandal desperately tries to hide the fact that her husband has left her, lying at every turn, even unwilling to let the disappearance of a School Girl stop her facade. It's well acted, Rachel Kempson and George Sewell were each very good I thought.

It's packed with intrigue, you don't quite know who, what or why, but you're given answers at the very end. I imagine the aim was to keep you on your guard, never boring, this is a very good watch. 8/10