Product Details

• Actors: Oona Kirsch, Sarah Winman, Roy Marsden, Penny Downie, Ricci Harnett
• Directors: Ross Devenish
• Writers: Michael Russell, P.D. James
• Producers: Carmel Maloney, Martyn Auty, Michele Buck, Rebecca Eaton
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 2
• Studio: Wgbh Boston
• VHS Release Date: May 1, 2001
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JHCF
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,957 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"There's no such thing as a safe haven," wrote British mystery novelist P.D. James. This is certainly the case in her mystery novel A Certain Justice, which has been given a splendid interpretation in the British TV series Mystery. Brilliant, successful defense attorney Venetia Aldridge (Penny Downie) is found murdered in her court chambers. She had been a controversial figure, not least because she was a strong woman who didn't hesitate to tell her male colleagues exactly what she thought of them. In the first episode of this three-part miniseries, Venetia piles up enemies, any one of whom might be guilty of her murder. The implacable Commander Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard (played, as always, by Roy Marsden) must discover whodunit. The show features wonderfully well-developed characters: Venetia herself, her innocent teenage daughter, Octavia (doe-eyed Flora Montgomery), and Octavia's psychopathic boyfriend, Gary Ashe (whom Venetia successfully defended in a murder trial). As Ashe, Ricci Harnett delivers a truly disquieting performance. Suspense builds inexorably until the chilling conclusion, leavened regularly by P.D. James's cheeky, sardonic humor. Gore mixed with drollery--a tone only the English can pull off. --Laura Mirsky

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another top adaptation of P D James's Books!, July 5, 2000

By 

Wendy Laing (Roxburgh Park, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: P.D. James - A Certain Justice [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This adaptation is very close to the original book and provides an insight into the 'Old Bailey' and the justice system. The series was filmed on location in the actual courts, and around the 'Lawyer's' haunts of inner London. The normally staid, conservative corridors of the members of the bar are thrust into a world of fear and horror, death and revenge, when one of their own is murdered in their chambers. The repercussions reververate further afield when the victim's daughter is also put into danger. It becomes a race against time to save her. Again, Roy Marsden portrays Alam Dalgliesh with his renowned flair. He is an accomplished actor who can portray an inner thought of Dalgliesh through a simple twitch of an eyebrow! The cast is excellent,and like Marsden, come from theatrical backgrounds, giving superb, clear diction, acting excellence and verisimilitude to the whole story. Only the English can make such a great mystery show seem so authentic. The evil murderer, Gary Ashe, and the bitchy, aloof Venetia Aldridge QC, the victim, are chillingly portrayed. Like the book, this adaptation elegantly shows the philosophical themes of the older P D James, as the story ends with a brilliant twist, that leaves the viewer wondering if justice has been served at all - or at best, only 'A Certain Justice.'

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavy Duty, August 18, 2001

By 

Noelle Eiram (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: P.D. James - A Certain Justice [VHS] (VHS Tape)

P. D. James is never afraid to tackle the dark side of human nature. In A Certain Justice, that is made apparant. It begins with the trial of Gary Ashe, an obvious psychopath who is accused of brutally killing his aunt. Venetia Aldridge, as usual, proves her expertise as a defense attourney by getting the young man off. She regrets it when she finds out that, only a week after the trial, he and her 18 year old daughter are "in love". That sends her into a slight state of hysterics. She turns to her married lover for help to find that he is dumping her. Now, throughout her lifetime, she had gathered many enemies, including her fellow lawyers. With all these terrible events in her life, she takes her anger and despair out on everyone more than ever. So it is no big surprise when she is found dead. Inspector Dagleish enters the story here. There are many likely suspects, but Dagleish thinks that this was a murder that came from the depths of someone's sorrow, not just ambition. The story also focuses on Ashe and Octavia Aldridge. Once again, an impeccably acted, very heart wrenching story is told with Inspector Dagleish. It made me read the book, and I was happy to see that it followed it very closely.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh is confronted with a puzzling murder compounded by an over abundance of suspects, November 14, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: P.D. James - A Certain Justice (DVD)

Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh (so ably played by Roy Marsden) is confronted with a puzzling murder compounded by an over abundance of suspects in this superbly crafted television adaptation of P.D. James murder mystery "A Certain Justice". Set in the Old Bailey legal community deep in the heart of London, the victim is a successful but highly unpopular female barrister who is struck down in her office. She has made a lot of enemies in her career as a ruthlessly skilled defense attorney, and this along with the enmity and envy of her associates, make for a cast of memorable characters who have a motive for murder. The plot twists and turns are everything a fan of the "whodunnit" style of British mysteries could want. The ending is particularly impressive -- and unpredictable but logically consistent. As is usual with these British productions, the casting is perfect, the settings and sets are impeccably showcased, the dialogue and direction are flawless, and the whole storytelling experience is first rate. The DVD format allows for scene selection, closed captions, and even access to the "Mystery!" web site. With an approximate running time of three hours, "A Certain Justice" can be candidly and wholeheartedly recommended for inclusion into any personal or community library DVD collection.