Put On by Cunning
- Episode 11 / Series 3
- First transmitted in one part in 1990
- Adapted from the Ruth Rendell novel by Trevor Preston 1
- Directed by Sandy Johnson
- A Television South Production
- VHS
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!
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.
Credits
- DCI Wexford
- George Baker
- DI Burden
- Christopher Ravenscroft
- Dora Wexford
- Louie Ramsay
- Jenny Burden
- Diane Keen
- Sir Manuel Camargue
- Rossano Brazzi 2
- Dinah Sternhold
- Janet Maws
- Natalie Arno
- Cherie Lunghi
- Flautist
- Stephen Solloway
- Rector
- Tim Meats 3
- Ted Hicks
- Malcolm Raeburn
- Muriel Hicks
- Myra McFadyen
- John Fassbender
- Vincenzo Nicoli
- Sylvia Fairfax
- Charon Bourke
- Coroner
- David Stoll 4
- Mr Haq
- Nathan Dambuza
- Ivan Zoffany
- Malcolm Tierney 5
- Mrs Murray-Burgess
- Sally Home 6
- Jane Zoffany
- Amanda Boxer
- Phillip Cory
- Michael Bilton 7
- Mr Browning
- Peter Penry-Jones 8
- Magistrate
- Ruth Trouncer
- Kenneth Ames
- Philip Locke 9
- Mrs Mountnessing
- Beryl Reid 10
- Mavis Roland
- Eileen Maciejewska
- Mary Woodhouse
- Helena McCarthy 11
- Dobrowski
- Angus MacInnes
- Mrs Romero
- Carmen Gomez
- Davina Ilbert
- Beth Porter
- Receptionist
- Sheri Foxcroft
- Tom Sessamy
- Bob Sessions 12
- Edith Sessamy
- Valerie Colgan
- Mrs Rochford
- Ian Talbot
- Thérèse Leramy
- Amy Werbach
- Script Executive
- Corinne Cartier 13
- Original music composed by
- Brian Bennett
- Casting Director
- Doreen Jones 14
- 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
- Makeup 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 BSC
- Director of Photography (Los Angeles)
- Peter Smokler
- Designer
- Mark Ward
- Executive Producer
- Graham Benson
- Producer
- Neil Zeiger
Soundtrack
- Wexford’s Theme
- Put On by Cunning
- Wexford in L.A.
- Fassbender
- Wexford’s Theme (Reprise)
- Mozart - Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra in C, K.299 Andantino
- Franz Liszt - Flute Concerto in D Major, k314: Allegro
Notes
Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire was used as the setting for Sir Manuel’s memorial service.
The gatehouse entrance of Sir Manuel’s house, “Skerries”, was filmed at the North Lodge, Brockenhurst Park in the New Forest.
George Baker’s wife, the actress Sally Home, plays the part of the busybody neighbour Mrs Murray-Burgess.
Arnewood Court in Lymington was used as the location of Phillip Cory’s flat.
Wexford and Burden travel to Rouen to interview Thérèse Leramy.
On Location with The Ruth Rendell Mysteries. A short film from TVS featuring interviews with George Baker, Christopher Ravenscroft and Diane Keen.
Footnotes
Malcolm Tierney 1938-2014: obituary by Michael Coveney and Vanessa Redgrave, The Guardian. ↩︎
Michael Bilton 1919-1993: obituary by Anthony Haywood, Independent. ↩︎
Philip Locke 1928-2004: obituary, The Scotsman. ↩︎
Beryl Reid 1920-1996: obituary by Dennis Barker, The Guardian. ↩︎
Doreen Jones 1940-2017: obituary by Derek Granger, The Guardian. ↩︎