P.D. James - The Murder Room (2004)

A different Dalgleish

I won't recap the plot as I would just be repeating what others have said here. Just say that Martin Shaw brings a different dimension to Adam Dalgleish and I see nothing wrong with it. Those who rant that only Roy Marsden can play the role are short-sighted. Would you reject all other Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot portrayers but the very first? That would leave you with Margaret Rutherford but not Helen Hayes, Joan Hickson and others. As for Poirot, you'd miss the definitive David Suchet portrayal in lieu of Austin Trevor (who?) It's a different Dalgleish, but no less enjoyable. August 29, 2008

My worst failure comes back to me in flames of fire

The Murder Room by P. D. James is a classic whodunit featuring Lady James' franchise character, Adam Dalgliesh. Viewers of Anglia TV's 1980s and 1990s adaptations will remember actor, Roy Marsden, as the analytical, poetry-loving commander in the Metropolitan Police Service of New Scotland Yard. In the more recent BBC productions, actor Martin Shaw is the new Dalgliesh.

The story opens with a heated discussion among siblings Neville, Marc, and Caroline, all trustees of the Dupayne Museum established by their father. The deceased Max Dupayne's will stipulated that the museum would close if his children do not unanimously renew its lease. Marc and Caroline are intent on keeping the museum open. Neville, a psychiatrist, would like to see it sold and his share of the proceeds go toward funding his clinic. A portion of the museum is dedicated to a macabre exhibit of notorious murders in the interwar years thus, the title. Not long after, Neville is found burned to death in a car lock-up and the body of a young model is discovered in a tin trunk inside the museum. Adam Dalgliesh is assigned the investigation while he's attempting to rekindle a romance with Cambridge lecturer, Emma, who he met in a previous case.

I read the book years ago and I actually prefer the film version. But like the book, the initial challenge here is the sheer number of characters, most of whom are suspects, and there are flashbacks that do not make sense until later. As it progresses, though, pieces begin to fall into place and over three hours, we get to know the characters well enough to be engaged in the story. This is a lavish production as we've come to expect with BBC. The actors, especially Samantha Bond as Caroline, are excellent as always. As a long-time viewer of the Roy Marsden versions, it's taking me awhile to get used to the new face of Martin Shaw in the Dalgliesh role, but this, in no way, reflects on Shaw's superb performance. The DVD extras include an interview with P. D. James, a must-see for fans such as myself.

As I mentioned, this story has an overwhelming number of characters we're introduced to rather rapidly. For those interested, I've provided a list of the significant characters, which I hope will be helpful to future viewers.

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Dupayne Family:
Dr. Neville Dupayne - dedicated psychiatrist; at odds with siblings over museum's future
Caroline Dupayne - Neville's wealthy and snobbish sister who harbors a secret involving the rich and powerful
Marcus Dupayne - pushed out of his firm and abandoned by his wife, he`s adamant on keeping the museum and running it himself
Sara Dupayne - Neville's daughter who's desperate for her share of the museum's sale

Museum Staff:
Muriel Godby - sees to the everyday running of the museum; will lose her job if museum is sold
Tally Clutton - housekeeper; discovers Neville's body in flames; will lose her job and cottage if museum is sold
James Calder-Hale - curator; same concerns as Muriel and Tally
Marie Strickland - volunteer calligraphist; has a long history with the Dupaynes
Ryan Archer - former car thief; handyman at museum and prime suspect in the murders

Scotland Yard:
Adam Dalgliesh
Kate Miskin - DI on Dalglieh's team
Piers Tarrant - DI on Dalgliesh's team
Bruno Denholm - MI5 agent intent on covering up possible involvement of powerful people

Others:
Emma Lavenham - Dalgliesh's love interest
Clara - Emma's friend who thinks Emma deserves better than Dalgliesh
Angela Faraday - Neville's married assistant; distraught over the break-up of her affair with Neville
Lord Marthesham - married politician implicated in Neville's death
Celia Mellock - second victim; young model having an affair with Marthesham
Alfred Arthur Rouse - (only in flashback) a 1930s murderer whose modus operandi is duplicated by Neville's killer May 11, 2008

The Murder Room an external appreciation

Super movie,great story & Samantha Bond is a knockout.Don't hesitate to get this;worth watchig over & over. December 18, 2007

quintessential James and Dalgliesh

James is inspired by places to create her works and in the isolated time-worn DuPayne museum she has created yet another eerie atmosphere of people trapped in a bubble away from real life.
In this story Dalgliesh pursues Emma, the Emma who captivated him in A Death In Holy Orders, and there are two urgencies here: the urgency of solving the murders and the anxiety of wondering if the aloof Dalgliesh is finally ready to move on in life. September 14, 2007

A Real Who Done It!

Very good interpretation of P.D. James's book, The Murder Room. Good casting and movement of plot. Kept the viewer guessing. July 12, 2007

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