Tree of Hands
Tree of Hands (also known as Innocent Victim) is a 1989 British psychological drama film directed by Giles Foster and starring Helen Shaver, Lauren Bacall, Malcolm Stoddard and Peter Firth. It is based on the 1984 novel The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell.
Tree of Hands | |
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Directed by | Giles Foster |
Produced by | Ann Scott |
Written by | Gordon Williams |
Based on | The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell |
Starring | Helen Shaver Lauren Bacall Malcolm Stoddard Peter Firth |
Music by | Richard Hartley |
Cinematography | Kenneth MacMillan |
Edited by | David Martin |
Production company | Granada Film Productions British Screen Productions Greenpoint Films |
Distributed by | Cannon Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £2 million[1] |
Box office | £2,458 (UK) |
Plot
Benet Archdale (Helen Shaver), a London-based best-selling author who has just written a controversial novel, lives alone with her young son. Benet's mother, Marsha (Lauren Bacall), visiting from the United States, is a manic-depressive who has psychotic episodes. When Benet's young son dies, Marsha kidnaps a local child to serve as a substitute. Benet believes she should return the child but upon investigation she finds out that the child has been severely abused by his parents. After the child's disappearance, the parents are charged with the murder.[2]
Cast
- Helen Shaver ... Benet Archdale
- Lauren Bacall ... Marsha Archdale
- Malcolm Stoddard ... Ian Raeburn
- Peter Firth ... Terence
- Paul McGann ... Barry
- Kate Hardie ... Carol
- Tony Haygarth ... Kostas
- Phyllida Law ... Julia
- David Schofield ... Detective Inspector
- Amanda Dickinson ... Molly
- Fiona McAlpine ... Neighbour
- Julie Jupp ... Neighbour's Daughter
- Sean Blowers ... Detective
- Allan Mitchell ... Consultant
- Simon Prebble ... Newscaster
- Barnaby Brown ... Jason
- Charles Pountney ... James
References
- "Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing" (PDF). British Film Institute. 2005. p. 30.
- BFI.org