The Speaker of Mandarin
Series 5 / Episode 17 of 23
First transmitted in three parts in 1992
Directed by Herbert Wise 2
A Blue Heaven Production for TVS
The main difficulty in filming was the sheer number of people. We ended up hiding the camera to avoid attracting any more. The weather hampered filming too. The crew clambered to the top of the Hong Kong Sheraton Hotel for fabulous views over Victoria Harbour. But, within seconds, the fog came down, and we couldn’t see a thing.
Chief Superintendent Howard Fortune sends his Uncle Reg on an official police visit to China. On his return to England, the Chief Inspector is called to the scene of a murder. The victim is a local woman who has been found shot in her own home. The killing forces Wexford to relive his experiences in China, and eventually, the memory of one particular event helps solve the case.
Credits
- DCI Wexford
- George Baker
- DI Burden
- Christopher Ravenscroft
- Dora Wexford
- Louie Ramsay
- Milborough Lang
- Virginia McKenna
- Chief Supt Howard Fortune
- Patrick Drury
- Adam Knighton
- Norman Rodway 3
- Adela Knighton
- Denyse Alexander
- Irene Bell
- Annette Crosbie
- Zhong Sung Lao
- Lim Kay Tong
- Lewis Fanning
- Michael Carter
- Hilda Avery
- Marjorie Yates
- Janine
- Maggie Stead
- Lois Knox
- Frances Cuka 4
- Gordon Vinald
- Dominic Jephcott
- Pandora
- Helena Mitchell
- Margery Bauman
- Fiona Walker
- Angus Norris
- Matthew Marsh
- Jennifer Norris
- Olivia Williams
- CID Officer
- Stephen Jameson
- Burnett
- David Conville 5
- Shop Assistant
- Christine Collins 6
- Jack Heyward
- Ian Eastwood 7
- Mrs Fanning
- Arbel Jones
- DS Martin
- Ken Kitson
- Dr Len Crocker
- John Burgess 8
- Kevin Smith
- Alex Leppard
- Silver Perry
- Barry Lowe 9
- Bingley
- Dave Atkins 10
- Sgt Willoughby
- Colin Campbell 11
- Miss Elf
- Annabelle Lanyon
- Bank Manager
- Ian Barritt
- Mrs Thompson
- Mary Jo Randle
- Dobson Flint
- Frederick Treves 12
- Original music composed by
- Brian Bennett
- Production Associate
- George Baker
- Casting Director
- Marilyn Johnson
- Production Manager
- Graeme MacArthur
- Location Manager
- Ian Strachan
- 1st Assistant Director
- Phil Hartley
- 2nd Assistant Director
- Stephanie Sullivan
- 3rd Assistant Director
- Sarah Baker
- Production Co-ordinator
- Catherine Bolwell
- Producer’s Secretary
- Lesley Courley
- Costume Design
- Rita Angell
- Wardrobe Mistress
- Sheryl Brittain
- Wardrobe Assistant
- Erika Pharoah
- Makeup
- Toni Holmes, Deborah McKinlay
- Production Buyer
- Graham Curtis
- Art Director
- Peter Bull
- Design Assistant
- Heather Gibson
- Graphics
- John Hamon
- Camera Operator
- Julian Barber
- Focus Puller
- Bruce Barraclough
- Camera Grip
- Alan Imeson
- Sound Recordist
- Maurice Hillier
- Boom Swinger
- Liam Ryan
- Gaffer Electrician
- John Donoghue
- Best Boy
- Steve Philps
- Electricians
- Mick Lay, Roy Robberts
- Prop Master
- Paul Kearney
- Construction
- Colin Bradbury, Mike Swanston
- Standby Prop men
- Kenny Palmer, Lee Rogers
- Standby Craftsman
- Max Grant
- Assistant Film Editors
- Jim Lownie, Steve Crabb
- Dubbing Editor
- Peter Dansie
- Assistant Dubbing Editor
- Mark Newson
- Dubbing Mixer
- Dave Fallon
- Production Accountant
- Peter Harvey
- Assistant Accountant
- Gay Huse
- Music recorded by
- Dick Plant at Honeywell Studios
- Film shot on
- 16mm Eastmancolor
- Processed by
- Rank Film Labs
- Lighting equipment supplied by
- Michael Samuelson Lighting Limited
- Grip Equipment supplied by
- Snowdonia Films
- Film Editor
- Christopher Wentzell
- Production Designer
- Mark Ward
- Director of Photography
- Ken Brinsley BSC
- Executive Producer
- Graham Benson
- Producer
- Neil Zeiger
Soundtrack
- Wexford’s Theme
- Premonition
- The Speaker of Mandarin
- Schubert: String Quartet in D minor, Death and the Maiden: ii. Andante con moto
- Wexford’s Theme (Reprise)
Notes
- The Chinese hotel and restaurant interiors were filmed at Botley Park Hotel in Southampton.
Footnotes
Herbert Wise 1931-2016: obituary by Philip Purser, The Guardian. ↩︎
Norman Rodway 1926-2018: obituary by Anthony Haywood, The Guardian. ↩︎
Frances Cuka 1936-2020: obituary by Michael Coveney, The Guardian. ↩︎
David Conville 1929-2018: obituary by Michael Coveney, The Guardian. ↩︎
Ian East 1939-2016, Theatricalia. ↩︎
John Burgess 1933-2010: obituary by Mike Leigh, The Guardian. ↩︎
Dave Atkins 1940 - 2008: obituary by Gavin Gaughan, The Guardian. ↩︎
Frederick Treves 1925-2012: obituary by Gavin Gaughan, The Guardian. ↩︎