The Barbara Vine Mysteries
GenreMystery
Created byRuth Rendell
Written by
  • Sandy Welch
  • Jacqueline Holborough
Directed byTim Fywell
Starring
ComposerDavid Ferguson
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerRosanna Roditi
ProducerPhillippa Giles
Cinematography
  • Barry McCann
  • Rex Maidment
EditorPaul Garrick
Running time50 minutes
Production companyBBC Worldwide
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release10 May 1992 (1992-05-10) –
3 January 1994 (1994-01-03)

The Barbara Vine Mysteries is a British television mystery drama series, principally written by Sandy Welch and Jacqueline Holborough and directly solely by Tim Fywell, that first broadcast on BBC1 on 10 May 1992.[1]

Adapted from a series of novels written by Ruth Rendell under the pseudonym of Barbara Vine, the series was the BBC's attempt to rival ITV's ratings winner The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, which was set to lose its lead actor, George Baker, in the same year. Three series were broadcast, with the final episode broadcasting on 3 January 1994, shortly before The Ruth Rendell Mysteries went back into production, adapting Rendell's novels without the character of Inspector Wexford for the first time.

Certain aspects of each of the novels were modified for their television adaptations; the most notable of these being A Dark-Adapted Eye, which saw its storyline significantly altered, including the introduction of an entirely new character, an Italian lawyer played by Ciarán Hinds, who does not feature in the book.[2] All three series were released as a complete box set via 2|Entertain DVD on 31 October 2005.[3]

Cast

A Fatal Inversion

Gallowglass

A Dark-Adapted Eye

Episodes

Series 1 (1992)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"A Fatal Inversion: Part 1"Sandy WelchTim Fywell10 May 1992 (1992-05-10)
Five students who share a terrible secret vow never to see each other again, but when the bodies of a woman and child are unearthed, a twelve-year-old tragedy is revealed.[1]
2"A Fatal Inversion: Part 2"Sandy WelchTim Fywell17 May 1992 (1992-05-17)
Rufus' chilling words echo across the twelve years that separate him and Adam as they prepare to confront their terrible past.[4]
3"A Fatal Inversion: Part 3"Sandy WelchTim Fywell24 May 1992 (1992-05-24)
The police investigation into the murder closes in on Adam and Rufus. Both have everything to lose, but are powerless to stop events as the appalling truth begins to unfold.[5]

Series 2 (1993)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"Gallowglass: Part 1"Jacqueline HolboroughTim Fywell10 January 1993 (1993-01-10)
Joe's attempt at committing suicide by throwing himself in front of an oncoming tube train is prevented by the handsome and charming Sandor, who then insists that Joe's life now belongs to him. Now a 'gallowglass', Joe is forced to assist Sandor with the kidnapping of a wealthy married woman, Nina, whom Sandor is obsessed with. Sandor's adopted sister, Tilly, also assists with the plot, kidnapping the daughter of Nina's bodyguard.[6]
2"Gallowglass: Part 2"Jacqueline HolboroughTim Fywell17 January 1993 (1993-01-17)
Paul ignores the demands of the kidnappers who are out to get the "princess", believing he can handle the situation himself.[7]
3"Gallowglass: Part 3"Jacqueline HolboroughTim Fywell24 January 1993 (1993-01-24)
The kidnappers are holding Jessica but still want Nina, forcing Paul to choose between his daughter and the woman he is in love with. When the ransom is finally paid, Nina and the child are both released; forcing Sandor to take his own life by jumping into the path of an oncoming train, as Joe watches on. Nina is then lured to her death by Gianni, a former gay partner of Sandor, and her body is found buried in woodland a few days later. Sandor's mother, who had no other children, then accepts Joe as her second son, and he begins a relationship with Tilly.[8]

Series 3 (1994)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"A Dark-Adapted Eye: Part 1"Sandy WelchTim Fywell2 January 1994 (1994-01-02)
Faith is evacuated from London to live with her aunts Vera and Eden in idyllic rural Suffolk, but behind the village's picturesque facade lies a history of hatred that finally explodes into violence.[9]
2"A Dark-Adapted Eye: Part 2"Sandy WelchTim Fywell3 January 1994 (1994-01-03)
The smouldering tension between sisters Vera and Eden escalates to a murderous climax. And the older she becomes, the more Faith realises she must confront the dark secrets of a family that will never bare its soul.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "A Fatal Inversion - 10 May 1992". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Tracie Cooper (2007). "A Dark Adapted Eye (1994)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Barbara Vine - A Fatal Inversion / A Dark Adapted Eye / Gallowglass [1992-1994]". Amazon. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. ↑ "A Fatal Inversion - 17 May 1992". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "A Fatal Inversion - 24 May 1992". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "Gallowglass - 10 January 1993". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Gallowglass - 17 January 1993". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "Gallowglass - 24 January 1993". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "A Dark Adapted Eye - 2 January 1994". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "A Dark Adapted Eye - 3 January 1994". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
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