Product Details

• Actors: Helen Baxendale, Laura Fraser (II), Ian Burfield, Tracy Keating, Anna Bolt
• Directors: Chris Oxley
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: April 10, 2007
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000MR9CXM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,930 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Investigator" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Assigned to root out lesbians in the British military, a soldier turns from hunter to prey

Helen Baxendale (Cold Feet, Friends) stars as Caroline Meagher, who in the 1980s was an up-and-coming staff sergeant in the Royal Military Police. Caroline eagerly accepts a plum assignment with the Special Investigative Branch. But her task—to root out and interrogate suspected lesbians—becomes a nightmare as she gradually awakens to the truth about her own heart’s desire.

Based on a true story, this stirring drama tells a shocking tale of intolerance, of private lives invaded and careers destroyed—all carried out in the name of justice when the only crime is love.

Contains strong coarse language

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Well Acted and Told British Drama, April 10, 2007

By 

turtlex "turtlex" (PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Investigator (DVD)

A film told in four parts, this drama from the UK stars Helen Baxendale, best known in the US for her guest role as Emily in the NBC comedy "Friends".

Based on a true story, with a script developed from interviews and official documents, the plot follows an RMP (Royal Military Police) soldier through the "Witch Hunt" days of the British Military sweeps for lesbians in their ranks.

The acting here, is dead on, and those expecting a light and carefree "Emily" from "Friends" will be pleasant surprised to see some deliberate and talented acting chops displayed by Baxendale.

Like most all UK based dramas, the production values are high and the supporting cast more than effective. It is Baxendale though, who brings the story of Caroline Meagher, and the many different nuances and shadings of her career and life, to poignant meaning.

I recommend this film highly.

Running Time: 88 minutes.
Not Rated: contains nudity and adult language

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping drama, well acted, June 5, 2007

By 

Tara Kachgal - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Investigator (DVD)

I agree about the quality and impact of the film. Plus, I concur about Helen Baxendale. Her performance is excellent; you can see the progression of her character, and she's so convincing. I also like the characterization of females in the film, especially the Meagher character. It is so, so different from Hollywood/independent U.S. films, where the female characters are made to be so girly. Here's a female character who, as acted by Meagher, is disciplined and professional -- that is, realistic.

3.0 out of 5 stars A true story with consequences, October 21, 2011

By 

Diva - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Investigator (DVD)

England ended its ban on homosexuals in the military in January 2000. Male and female homosexuals are now fully integrated within the British military and same-sex partners of those killed in action receive spousal pension from the government. This made for television, four-part story of Sgt. Caroline Meagher (who makes a personal appearance in front of the camera at the end) takes place between 1979 and 1990, when the military was still investigating homosexuals and purging them from its ranks. Although this awful practice was humiliating and devastating to those who were convicted and discharged, it is also important to remember that volunteering for military service is not on the same level as a civilian job -- it means also accepting a way of life that demands a strict observance and obedience of its rules and standards. I have little sympathy for Sgt. Meagher: she knew what she was getting into and got into it enthusiastically; furthermore, she was a rat fink for investigating "homosexual crimes" committed by fellow service women while secretly indulging her own homosexual nature. Her ambition to be promoted in rank was more important than being complicit in the destruction of the lives of fellow soldiers. She was not kicked out of the military for being a lesbian because the evidence against her was not sufficient; instead, she was ultimately discharged for lying on the application that allowed her to reside off-base with her lesbian partner. Sgt. Meagher not only lived a double-life, she compounded the lie by falsifying documents in order to do it. Knowing full well the score, what did she expect the outcome of her actions to be?