Dead Gorgeous (2002 TV Movie) User Reviews

Really a fun watch!

[backofthevan · 8/10 · 17 November 2022]

I just watched this on YouTube (free) and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'm always looking for "vintage British films" but I think I found this via "British mysteries" or similar. I almost didn't watch it as it's a TV film I never heard of, but was attracted to the "bump off each other's husband" scenario and gave it a go.

The sets, costumes and general ambiance were right up my street as I'm a big fan of wartime Britain (and into the rest of the 1940s). Fay and Helen were both terrific in their roles, although Helen's character went a bit OTT near the end, and I feared it was going to be a "woman suddenly goes completely insane and admits to heinous crimes" a la many other TV cop shows, but this surprised me by NOT copping out in that way.

I enjoyed this right to the end and found it surprisingly entertaining.

Better than passable

[Lilibetp · 8/10 · 28 August 2003]

I disagree with Flickman's review. I found it very intriguing and pretty tightly-woven. While there were slow moments, I thought most of the film moved at a pretty good clip and I was quite pleased with it. I found it far better than passable.

A cold killer and her giant refrigerator

[kalbimassey · 8/10 · 11 April 2024]

In a grey, post war London, where continuing austerity and rationing have all but extinguished the final exuberant spark of V. E. Day, two bitterly unhappily married old friends are reunited purely by co-incidence.

The once rakish wing commander and war hero (Jonny Phillips) has, in Civvy Street, become a dour, domineering, philandering husband to subservient Fay Ripley. A boozy bully, he possesses all the charm of an unflushed loo! Her spirit broken, she seems resigned to her fate as the little woman, with nothing more than a lifetime of berating and belittling ahead of her.

Fascinated by the size of his wallet, brash, beautiful and vivacious Helen McCrory is married to wealthy, but tedious industrialist, Ron Cook. Short, stout and with some language limitations, his occasional gaffs simply draw disdain and derision from the exasperated McCrory, to whom he has gifted London's largest domestic refrigerator........The perfect acquisition for a wife who never food shops and can't cook!

Oozing pizzazz and self confidence, the ever effervescent McCrory is only too willing to rid her newly found buddy of her problem partner, creating the potential for a double whammy, with an insurance payout in the pipeline. The one good turn deserves another mantra does not sit quite so comfortably with the cautious, timid and decent Ripley. How will she respond to the expectations of her headstrong, at times overpowering friend?

Not especially suspenseful, but with a distinct nod in the direction of 'Strangers on a Train', a passing glance at 'Torn Curtain' and a fleeting glimpse of 'Saboteur', there is an undeniable, if playful, Hitchcockian flavour to 'Dead Gorgeous'.

The two superb actresses complement each other perfectly. McRory's virulent verbal outbursts and tantalizing facial expressions serve to endorse the view that a hugely gifted artist and national treasure has been lost. The talented Miss Ripley is equally impressive as the meek, mousey, toiling housewife, almost unwittingly dragged into a rolling chain of events, which at once solve a serious dilemma, while sparking a whole raft of more alarming ones.

A great comedy of two women ridding themselves of husbands

[j-f-cantrell · 10/10 · 20 December 2004]

Some have compared this film to,"Strangers On a Train", but I do not believe it should be compared at all. It is a wonderful comedy/mystery and does not have the tenseness of a pure mystery as it is a tongue in cheek comedy. The sets - clothes - hair styles, etc. are perfect to the period of 1946 London wherein two school chums meet in a queue of a Bond street store. They then set in motion the plot of ridding themselves of husbands they don't want, one probably should go,the other Hector, is standing in the way of Antonia who wants a younger college prof. I do not want to give away all of the plot - but I will say this is a very fine film that I am sending to friends - the highest compliment.

Passable update of "Strangers on a Train"

[FlickMan · 6/10 · 8 July 2003]

While this made-for-TV movie is based on a novel by Peter Lovesey, it covers the same territory as Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller, "Strangers on A Train." The acting, sets and costumes are pretty decent, but the story movies slowly and there's little real tension. Not a bad effort, but hardly a "must see."

fascinating - many surprises!

[FilmLabRat · 10/10 · 22 February 2004]

Excellent movie similar to Hitchcock's 'Strangers on a Train' and in some ways the more recent 'Rich Man's Wife,' this film is based on a 19th century novel and differs from these others in many respects. Lots of surprising twists and turns. Typical British style of filmmaking creates added mystery without the usual high-strung music. Its tongue-in-cheek humor makes it fun while still quite dark.

Good British murder mystery -- with a flawed end?

[Tony-Holmes · 7/10 · 17 April 2024]

Other reviewers have covered the broad plot, flight money mad Antonia (McCrory -- RIP) wants to shed her boring husband Hector, but without shedding all his money too!

Dowdy vicar's daughter Rose has got fed up with her ex-fighter pilot hubby, who goes out drinking, beats her up and keeps her short of money.

They're old friends, and accidentally meet -- with Antonia soon hatching a plan to get rid of both husbands, so she can swan off with her boyfriend AND keep the cash on tap!

The support cast nicely portray the degree of suspicion around the first death -- how could a pilot just fall off a Tube platform? -- but can shy Rose carry off her part of the bargain and get rid of Hector?

That gets more complicated when they meet, and get on well together -- could there be another way that Antonia can escape with the wealth she adores?

You can watch this and may think the actual ending is quite clever, and there are some nice comic touches. I'm afraid I marked the film down a little just because I thought the ending was frankly daft, if you check the details, hopefully you'll see why!

But the 2 female leads are excellent, and Ron Cook, who's been in masses of support roles, does well in his unglamorous part.

Wonderful

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 7 May 2008]

Just finished watching this, had to buy the wretched American version and then buy a multi regional playing DVD player. But in all honesty all the fuss was worth it, I bought it because i'm a massive Helen McCrory fan, she's my fave actress ever, and she does not disappoint, enjoyed this totally from start to finish, Fay Ripley is fab, but Helen as Antonia is wonderful, she has some fabulous costumes as well. Not much to say really just wonderful from start to finish. There are a few surprises along the way in this amusing tale of bumping off unwanted husbands. I see a lot of users have commented on the Hitchcock familiarity, when you seen Antonia bumping off Wing Commander at the Train station you can see why. This gets a deserved 10/10 :-)

Dead Gorgeous

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 11 April 2024]

Based on the 1989 novel On the Edge by Peter Lovesey. Dead Gorgeous owes a debt to Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train.

It is black comedy thriller set in post World War 2 Britain. Antonia Ashton (Helen McCrory) is a vixen married to dull business tycoon Hector (Ron Cook.)

Antonia finds him dull, she is cheating on him with a younger man. Only she would end up less wealthy if they got divorced.

Rose Bell (Fay Ripley) is a meek woman living almost on the breadline. Her husband is miserly civil servant, Barry. He is also a boorish drunk who abuses Rose.

Rose later discovers that Barry has been cheating on her with another woman. Hence why they are poor, he has another family to raise.

Both women knew each other during the war and reconnect. Only Antonia, a devious schemer hatches a plan to get rid of both husbands.

Antonia arranges Barry's death in a tube train accident. She expects Rose to commit an accidental death on Hector.

Maybe not original, this is a sumptuous period drama. It works as both Hector and Rose are basically decent people. Not people that should either be victims or be on the wrong side of the law.

McCrory has fun as the glamorous underhanded cheater.

I LOVE this movie..

[stoneyburke · 10/10 · 3 July 2007]

Yep...10 out of 10..This movie is FUN in spades, well-acted, and is a joy and NOT in Miracle on 34th Street way but I'm not a fluff movie watcher! I bought this flick for three of my chums and all three let me know that, "This is a great well-acted enjoyment of semi-macabre delight!" My words but combining their input! How 'bout that scene when poor Hector is unquietly moved up the stairs and THEN down! Even tho' I chose to click that Spoiler Button, I,however,refuse to be a complete joy-end-ruiner so I did not divulge same. KUDOS to PBS and their fabulous hours of entertainment! I have seen the actresses in other British productions..however, the polar opposites of their personalities and looks really work in this grand film.

TV Drama as it Should be

[crumpytv · 8/10 · 16 April 2024]

I saw this on Talking Pictures and recorded it.

The surprise was that I had seen it when originally aired but I had forgotten what it was called and who was in it and I had wanted to see it again, but couldn't find it.

So much better than contemporary drama with all its political correctness, inclusion, diversity et al.

Both Helen McCrory and Fay Ripley are excellent in the lead roles. Different personalities, one dominating the other although this does not really manifest itself until near the end.

The ending was a little clumsy there were a few things that could have been tidier, like taking the car back to where it normally was rather than dumping it.

Definitely worth watching.

A mix of black comedy and mystery thriller

[myriamlenys · 8/10 · 2 May 2024]

This review will include some spoilers, so readers beware...

The last movie I reviewed, "Mortal thoughts", dealt with subjects like female friendship, doomed marriages and deadly violence. People who believe in "contrast and compare" can do worse than organize a double bill featuring the said movie in combination with "Dead gorgeous". "Dead gorgeous", which was based on a novel by the prolific Peter Lovesey, uses many of the same ingredients but is quite different in style and feel.

"Dead gorgeous" is a well-made period piece that's as polished and sinister as a dragon's egg. Set in the dour post-war period, it deals with two ex-colleagues who meet up again and compare notes about their respective husbands. When it turns out that they're both unhappy in their marriages - though for different reasons - lethal plots arise.

The work can be read as a darkly perceptive comment on the disappointment felt by many women who grew as persons during World War II and, afterwards, had to return to highly conventional lives. No more codebreaking or nighttime dances with glamorous heroes for you, dear - here, try this crossword instead.

The movie is well-acted, with both lead actresses creating intriguing individuals. It is also well-plotted and twisty, moving into unpredictable directions. On the whole the blend between the mundane, the funny and the grisly works out well. Fine costumes help establish a good sense of time and place.

Still, there was one plot development that surprised me. In the movie, one of the two protagonists discovers that her husband is financially supporting a long-time mistress. I expected the mistress to pop up at some time - for instance in order to testify, to claim a share of the inheritance or to indulge in a bit of genteel blackmail - but no, she disappeared from the story. I'm not sure that real-life paramours would bow out so gracefully.

Viewers who'd like to see more of Peter Lovesey's work should watch the delectable "Sergeant Cribb" series. It's a treat for both history and mystery lovers.