Cause Célèbre
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Cause Celebre 1987 Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-12-31
Top Cast
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Helen Mirren
Alma Rattenbury
Harry Andrews
Francis Rattenbury
David Suchet
T.J. O'Connor
David Morrissey
George Bowman
Norma West
Irene Riggs
Oliver Ford Davies
J.D. Casswell
Clive Swift
P.P. Croom Johnson
Geoffrey Bayldon
Mr. Justice Humphreys
Gillian Martell
Joan Webster
Edmund Pegge
Constable Bagwell
David Simeon
Inspector Carter
Neil Jeffery
Christopher
Joe Anderson
Little John
Adam Blackwood
Ewan Montagu
Alan Rowe
E. Marshall Harvey
Timothy Kightley
Lewis Manning
Wendy Williams
Edith Davenport
Paul Greenhalgh
Clerk of the Court
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Gorrie
- Screenplay & Story
- Terence Rattigan, Ken Taylor
- Original Score
- Richard Harvey
- Original Title
- Cause Célèbre
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 49m
- Production Studios
- ITV, Anglia Television
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Gorrie
Terence Rattigan, Ken Taylor
Richard Harvey
Trevor Vaisey
Kevin Waters
John Rosenberg
Department Leadership Roster
John Gorrie
Director
Terence Rattigan
Writer
John Rosenberg
Producer
Prue Handley
Costume Design
Ken Taylor
Writer
Kevin Waters
Editor
Trevor Vaisey
Director of Photography
Jon Pusey
Production Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Cause Célèbre.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Cause Célèbre.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cause Célèbre
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Cause Célèbre about?
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.
Who directed Cause Célèbre?
Cause Célèbre was directed by John Gorrie.
Who stars in Cause Célèbre?
The principal cast of Cause Célèbre includes Helen Mirren, Harry Andrews, David Suchet, David Morrissey, Norma West.
When was Cause Célèbre released and how long is it?
Cause Célèbre was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 1h 49m.
Who composed the musical score for Cause Célèbre?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Cause Célèbre was composed by Richard Harvey.