Cause célèbre 36 years old

When the ailing husband of an adulterous wife is discovered bludgeoned to death and suspicions fall on the older woman's young lover, the newly widowed woman claims that it was she who was solely responsible for the death despite evidence that points to the contrary in this dramatic account of true-life 1935 trial that shocked all of England. Though notable evidence and strong suspicion suggests that the murder may have been of crime of passion perpetrated by the jealous lover only half her age, Alma Rattenbury (Helen Mirren) confesses to the murder of her husband and is soon brought to trial. Despite the fact that Alma is already being deemed guilty by the general public for her adulterous indiscretion alone, her lawyer, star attorney T.J. O'Connor (David Suchet), remains convinced that his client will eventually be cleared of all charges.

Credits

Cause célèbre Cast

Name Character
Helen Mirren She was 43, now 78 years old as Alma Rattenbury
David Morrissey He was 24, now 59 years old as George Bowman
David Suchet He was 42, now 77 years old as T.J. O'Connor
Norma West She was 45, now 80 years old as Irene Riggs
Harry Andrews He was 77, 77 years old when he died as Francis Rattenbury
Oliver Ford Davies He was 49, now 84 years old as J.D. Casswell
Clive Swift He was 52, 82 years old when he died as P.P. Croom Johnson

Cause célèbre Crew

Name Department
Richard Harvey as Music. He was 35 (now 70) years old Sound
John Rosenberg as Producer. He was 36 (38) years old when He died Production
Terence Rattigan as Writer. He was 77 (66) years old when He died Writing
John Gorrie as Director. He was 187 (53) years old when He died Directing
Ken Taylor as Writer. He was 66 (88) years old when He died Writing
Cause célèbre poster
Cause célèbre (36 years)

  • Release day: Sunday, August 23, 1987
  • Runtime: 109 minutes