Sir Manuel Camargue, the celebrated flautist, is discovered drowned in the grounds of his country estate. The death is believed to be a tragic accident but Wexford’s suspicions are aroused when Sir Manuel’s young fiancée claims that his estranged daughter—Natalie, who returned from Los Angeles to see her father shortly before his death—is an impostor…

  • Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire was used as the setting for Sir Manuel’s memorial service.
  • George Baker’s late wife, the actress Sally Home, plays the part of the busybody neighbour Mrs Murray-Burgess.
  • Sandy Johnson: All the Los Angeles dialogue scenes were shot in Southampton apart from the reverses of George in the doorways which were matched to the studio interiors. So he’s in LA and the other actors are back in the UK!

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Book jacket image
  • Published by Hutchinson in 1981
  • The title, Put On by Cunning, is taken from a quote by Horatio in Hamlet.
  • Put On by Cunning was published as Death Notes in the US.

Cast + Credits

  • DCI Wexford

    George Baker

  • DI Burden

    Christopher Ravenscroft

  • Dora Wexford

    Louie Ramsay

  • Jenny Burden

    Diane Keen

  • Sir Manuel Camargue

    Rossano Brazzi

  • Dinah Sternhold

    Janet Maw

  • Natalie Arno

    Cherie Lunghi

  • Flautist

    Stephen Solloway

  • Rector

    Tim Meats

  • Ted Hicks

    Malcolm Raeburn

  • Muriel Hicks

    Myra McFadyen

  • John Fassbender

    Vincenzo Nicoli

  • Sylvia Fairfax

    Charon Bourke

  • Coroner

    David Stoll

  • Mr Haq

    Nathan Dambuza

  • Ivan Zoffany

    Malcolm Tierney

  • Jane Zoffany

    Amanda Boxer

  • Phillip Cory

    Michael Bilton

  • Mr Browning

    Peter Penry-Jones

  • Magistrate

    Ruth Trouncer

  • Kenneth Ames

    Philip Locke

  • Mrs Mountnessing

    Beryl Reid

  • Mavis Roland

    Eileen Maciejewska

  • Mary Woodhouse

    Helen McCarthy

  • Dobrowski

    Angus MacInnes

  • Mrs Romero

    Carmen Gomez

  • Davina Ilbert

    Beth Porter

  • Receptionist

    Sheri Foxcroft

  • Tom Sessamy

    Bob Sessions

  • Edith Sessamy

    Valerie Colgan

  • Mrs Rochford

    Ian Talbot

  • Thérèse Leramy

    Amy Werba

  • Script Executive

    Corinne Cartier

  • Original music composed by

    Brian Bennett

  • Casting Director

    Doreen Jones

  • Stunt Arranger

    Sean McCabe

  • Production Manager

    Graeme MacArthur

  • Location Manager

    Philip Hartley

  • French Location Co-ordinator

    Mary Bennett

  • 1st Assistant Director

    Jon Older

  • Continuity

    Sian Prosser

  • Stage Manager

    Mike Fisher

  • Production Secretary

    Sue Bailey

  • Production Assistant

    Jill Mumford

  • Graphic Designer

    John Hamon

  • Costume Designer

    Rita Angell

  • Make Up Supervisor

    Toni Holmes

  • Production Buyer

    Alan Bates

  • Dubbing Mixer

    Tony Cunningham

  • Dubbing Editor

    Peter Dansie

  • Camera Grip

    Alan Imeson

  • Sound Recordist

    Maurice Hillier

  • Camera Operator

    Julian Barber

  • Film Editor

    Christopher Wentzell

  • Lighting Cameraman

    Ken Brinsley

  • Director of Photography (Los Angeles)

    Peter Smokler

  • Designer

    Mark Ward

  • Executive Producer

    Graham Benson

  • Producer

    Neil Zeiger

  • Directed by

    Sandy Johnson

  • A Television South Production