| The Brides in the Bath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Screenplay by | Glenn Chandler |
| Directed by | Harry Bradbeer |
| Starring | Martin Kemp Tracey Wilkinson Charlotte Randle Emma Ferguson |
| Theme music composer | Richard Taylor |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | David Reynolds Alan Dossor |
| Cinematography | Robin Vidgeon |
| Editor | David Aspinall |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Production company | Yorkshire Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 31 December 2003 |
The Brides in the Bath is a 2003 television film by Yorkshire Television for ITV, based on the life and trial of British serial killer and bigamist George Joseph Smith, the "Brides in the Bath Murderer". Martin Kemp plays the role of Smith, and Richard Griffiths plays barrister Sir Edward Marshall-Hall. The film was directed by Harry Bradbeer, and written by Glenn Chandler.[1][2]
Production
Set to portray coastal Weymouth, filming took place in Yorkshire locations of Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough from June to mid-July, 2003.[3] Bradford City Hall in Bradford, doubled for the court room and holding cells of the Old Bailey in the City of London.[4][5][6]
Plot
The film focuses on the trial of George Smith and flashbacks showing how he met each of his wives. Smith is married to his wife Edith. He often goes away on the pretext of business. Whilst he is away he meets wealthy women, marries them within a few weeks, insures their lives and then drowns them in the bath. He returns with the insurance money (sometimes he brings the latest victims' possessions to Edith as gifts). He is eventually arrested and ultimately hanged for his crimes. At the trial it is revealed that his marriage to Edith is bigamous; in total he had eight wives, most of whom he left after stealing all of their possessions.[7]
Cast
- Martin Kemp as George Joseph Smith[1]
- Richard Griffiths as Sir Edward Marshall-Hall
- Charlotte Randle as Bessie Mundy
- Emma Ferguson as Alice Burnham
- Jennifer Calvert as Caroline Thornhill
- Susan Brown as Mrs Crossley
- Carolyn Backhouse as Margaret Lofty
- Tracey Wilkinson as Edith Smith
- Peter Wight as Charles Burnham
- Joanna David as Elizabeth Burnham
- James Woolley as Mr Archibald Bodkin
- Howard Gay as Montague Shearman
- Philip Voss as Mr Justice Scrutton
- Lisa Ellis as Maisy Crossley
- Alan McKenna as DI Arthur Neil
- Ian Connaughton as Travers Humphreys
- Anthony Calf as Howard Mundy
- Timothy Kightley as Mr Wilkinson
- Philip Bowen as Dr French
- Ian Barritt as Dr Billing
- Helen Ryan as Mrs Farraday
- Joanna Wake as Louise Blatch
- Stephanie Fayerman as Miss Rapley
- Naomi Allisstone as Ellen Stanley
- Ed Waters as DS Page
- Robert Calvert as Police Constable
- Tim Beasley as Clerk of the Court
- John Banfield as Jury Foreman
- Joanna Booth as Bessie's Companion
- Corinne Handforth as Bessie's Companion
References
- ^ a b "The Brides in the Bath". BFI Collections. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ Lavery, Mark (31 December 2003). "A Role to Die For". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ "Filming in Old Town". Bridlington Free Press. 29 May 2003. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- ^ "EastEnders' villain filming in City Hall". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 27 June 2003. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ Clayton, Emma (20 March 2014). "Tour Bradford's movie hot spots through the eyes of location director". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "City Hall makes killing with soap murder trial". The Yorkshire Post. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "Brides in the Bath". Radio Times. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
External links
- The Brides in the Bath at IMDb
- The Brides in the Bath at the British Film Institute[better source needed]
- The Brides in the Bath DVD at Amazon
