In the 1830's in northern England, Riah Millican, a widow with three children, takes a job as housekeeper to a reclusive former teacher, Percival Miller. Miller makes Riah the gift of a black velvet gown, and even educates her children. But when Riah discovers the reason behind Miller's gifts, she vows to leave his house, but Miller has a hold on her, even after his death, when he leaves his house to her on the condition that she never marry. Riah's daughter, Biddy, grows up and becomes a laundress in a large house where her education keeps her from fitting in and makes her a target. But it also catches the eye of a son of the house, and with Miller's legacies, Biddy may yet find her way to happiness.
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.
The Life and Times of David Lloyd George charts the life of the controversial Liberal politician with Philip Madoc in the titular role. The title theme, Chi Mai, was by Ennio Morricone
An Edwardian house party given by a Fabian woman, her business-man husband and assorted guests from politics and the Arts - including a young man prone to disturbing premonitions.
Newly graduated defense attorney David Kyle (Vincent Ball) is stymied by his first case: to represent youthful criminal Jimmy Fuller (Brian Smith), who refuses to explain his involvement in the murder of the revered Diana White (Angela Douglas), a probation officer seemingly devoted to her work. As he investigates, David learns that Diana's partners may not be as respectable as they appear and that Jimmy's girlfriend is in grave danger from them. [Netflix]
Paul Dixon (Dermot Walsh) is a fiercely competitive racing driver whose meteoric career is cut short after he is paralyzed in a collision. Ann, Paul's conflicted, estranged wife (Wendy Williams), tries to help her husband overcome his self-pity to become productive once again. Paul's perception of himself as a cripple is challenged by his new friend, a former dancer (Anton Rodgers), who urges Paul to strive for rehabilitation and new goals. [Netflix]
