From Doon with Death
Episode 14 / Series 4
First transmitted in two parts in 1991
Adapted from the novel by George Baker
Directed by Mary McMurray
Produced for ITV by Television South
I’d always wanted to write a screenplay for the Rendell Mysteries, so I was delighted to get the opportunity. I don’t think it was easier for me to write From Doon with Death because I was in it. I just tried to think of how Wexford and Burden would act in certain situations. In fact, I never thought of myself as Wexford when I was writing, although I don’t suppose anyone is as well qualified as me—apart from Ruth herself—to know how Wexford thinks by now. I was very pleased with the way it turned out. Mary McMurray and I worked well together. We never had to worry about having the writer on call because I was there all the time!
Margaret Parsons was a shy, unexceptional woman who lived a Spartan existence with her dour husband in a decrepit Victorian house. So why was she murdered in such a vicious and passionate attack?
A search of the Parsons’ attic uncovers a collection of expensive books, all dedicated to Minna
and signed with love from Doon
.
Wexford’s search to uncover the identity of the mysterious Doon takes him back to Margaret’s school days and her friendship with a group of girls who have all become successful figures in Kingsmarkham society.
Credits
- DCI Wexford
- George Baker
- DI Burden
- Christopher Ravenscroft
- Dora Wexford
- Louie Ramsay
- Jenny Burden
- Diane Keen
- Douglas Quadrant
- Geoffrey Bateman
- Helen Missal
- Amanda Redman
- Fabia Quadrant
- Elizabeth Bennett
- Mr Parsons
- Malcolm Storry
- Miss Fowler
- Petra Davies
- WPC
- Sasha Mitchell
- Sgt Willoughby
- Colin Campbell 1
- Clare Clark
- Sally Grace
- Di Stevens
- Amanda Mainard
- Peter Missal
- John Salthouse
- Dudley Drury
- Chris Fulford
- Moira
- Sandy McDade
- Margaret Parsons
- Julia Chambers
- Drury Senior
- Norman Tyrrell 2
- DS Martin
- Ken Kitson
- Janet Tipping
- Bridget Brammall
- Young Margaret
- Samantha Edmonds
- Young Fabia
- Rachel Rogaly
- Young Helen
- Eleanor Caird
- Young Clare
- Sophie Thursfield
- DCC Freeborn
- Dave Hill
- Debbie Davidson
- Amanda Walker
- Mr Burrow
- David Timson
- Bysouth
- William Ilkley
- Mrs Stibbs
- Jean Marlowe 3
- Newsagent
- Stanley Page 4
- Script Executive
- Corinne Cartier 5
- Casting Director
- Doreen Jones 6
- Original music composed by
- Brian Bennett
- Production Manager
- Lars MacFarlane 7
- Location Manager
- Martin Robinson
- 1st Assistant Director
- David Crabtree
- Continuity
- Gwen Hughes
- Production Secretary
- Sue Bailey
- Producer’s Secretary
- Cathie Willcocks
- Stage Manager
- Kerry Bignell
- Costume Design
- Rita Angell
- Makeup Supervisior
- Debbie McKinlay
- Production Buyer
- Alan Bates
- Camera Grip
- Alan Imeson
- Dubbing Mixer
- Tony Cunningham
- Dubbing Editor
- Peter Dansie
- Sound Recordist
- Maurice Hillier
- Camera Operator
- Julian Barber
- Designer
- Mark Ward
- Lighting Cameraman
- Michael D Smith
- Film Editor
- Nigel Bate
- Executive Producer
- Graham Benson
- Producer
- Neil Zeiger
Soundtrack
- Wexford’s Theme
- Love from Doon
- The Search for Mina
- Wexford’s Theme (Reprise)
Notes
The Wexford soundtrack was composed, performed, arranged and produced by Brian Bennett at Honeyhill Studios in Hertfordshire.
From Doon with Death is the first Wexford title adapted by George Baker and was nominated for a Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Award.
It took George eight weeks to write the screenplay for From Doon with Death during the winter of 1990. He started work at 5.30 am each day, writing before taking a daily six-mile walk, then returning to his study for several hours after breakfast.
I get a lot of my ideas when I’m walking. It’s the ideas that are the hard part. Once I’ve done the thinking and got an idea for a scene, the writing isn’t difficult. I discipline myself to sit down in my study and work for a certain number go hours each day, even if I only manage to write a page some days.
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