Deadly Secret (1980)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Deadly Secret - The Adventures of Caleb Williams |
| Original title | Caleb Williams |
| Country of production |
Germany France Austria UK Italy |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1980 |
| length | approx. 361 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Herbert Wise |
| script | Robin Chapman based on the novel by William Godwin |
| production | Ted Childs |
| music | Hans Posegga |
| camera | Les Young |
| occupation | |
| |
Deadly Secret is the film title of a ZDF adventure four-parter by Robin Chapman from 1980 based on the novel "The things as they are or the adventures of Caleb Williams" by William Godwin with Mick Ford and Günther Maria Halmer in the leading roles.
action
Part 1: (ZDF: December 2nd, 1980)
England towards the end of the 18th century, towards the height of the French Revolution : the neighboring squires Tyrell and Falkland are at odds with each other. Falkland is always chivalrous, friendly and well-groomed with the aim of becoming a perfect gentleman . Tyrell, on the other hand, who hates Falklands for this reason and considers them to be aloof, is a rough and unkempt nature boy with no manners, but who nevertheless insists on his social privileges and bullies his subordinates. For example, he lets one of his tenants, Caleb Williams' father, be jailed at the next opportunity because he refused to give up his civil liberties and bowed to Tyrell when he wanted to take Caleb into forced service. Tyrell has his young cousin Emily live with him because she is orphaned and has no other family. Falkland meets Emiliy and falls in love with her. When Tyrell learns about it, he becomes enraged and has her as a debtor also thrown into prison, where she dies soon afterwards, before Falkland can help her. Meanwhile, Caleb's father manages to break out. On his escape through the forest, he comes across the body of Tyrell, who was stabbed from behind. At that moment he is discovered and arrested by Tyrell's people.
He is brought to justice and sentenced to death as a murderer. But Falkland is also suspected in public because he was humiliated by Tyrell in a duel and also had a motive for the death of his lover. But he publicly swears his innocence.
After the execution, Falkland offers Caleb to take him into service on his property, Falkland Park.
Part 2: (ZDF: December 7, 1980)
Caleb lives with Falkland, who encourages the young man in every way. But Caleb cannot get over the death of his father, who may have been innocently executed. While working in the library, Caleb finds a letter from his father to Falkland, in which he asserts his innocence and asks for help. When asked about this, Falkland reaffirmed its innocence. But Caleb distrusts his benefactor more and more, especially as he realizes that Falkland is probably driven more and more by feelings of guilt and also tries to build a homoerotic relationship with him. Falkland senses the young man's growing mistrust and that his girlfriend, the maid Jane, encourages him. Jane is released. While Caleb Falkland is a model, Falkland mentions Alexander the Great , but Caleb can only compare Alexander's deeds with murders, and they first quarrel. Falkland always carefully keeps a diary , and Caleb plans to learn the truth through this. When a small fire breaks out in Falkland Park one evening, Caleb takes advantage of the confusion and takes the diary. He learns from Falkland himself about the murder of Tyrell. Falkland presses a vow from Caleb to keep the secret to himself or he will kill him. Caleb takes flight at the next opportunity. Falkland portrays it in such a way that Caleb stole from him beforehand, which automatically means the gallows under the tough laws of the time , and sends his captors after him, led by his half-brother Forester, who is currently visiting. They manage to recapture Caleb.
Part 3: (ZDF: December 9, 1980)
In prison, while awaiting trial, Caleb Williams befriends young Jack Brightwell. He implores him to divulge Falkland's secret and thereby wash himself clean. But Caleb does not want to break the oath and is silent. Jack will be executed, Caleb will not. Falkland is using its connections to postpone Caleb's trial. He's thinking of fleeing again. The second time he manages to escape from the dungeon with the help of Falkland's brother Forester (who secretly slips him a file), who increasingly suspects the truth. Caleb is found by Grimes and his people, undressed and so injured that he almost dies. But a man can help him and bring him to himself. His wife finally sleeps with Caleb, who has to flee there too, as Grimes and his people are on his heels. Caleb poses as Irish. That was his undoing when two security guards arrested him on the assumption that he was a long wanted mugger.
Part 4: (ZDF: December 14, 1980)
Grimes finds the two manhunters who have controlled Caleb. He wants to buy it from the two of them. But just when the deal is perfect, Caleb manages to escape. He rides Grimes' horse to London, gets new clothes and rents a room. When Jane and Forester receive a letter from Caleb, they too travel to the capital. Here there is a joyful reunion between the lovers. The joy of reunification of the two is clouded by the last argument between Caleb and Falkland. They meet again in court. Falkland has now been driven insane by its guilt, which is clear to everyone involved in the process. Falkland is in the courtroom with makeup on, his furniture is hanging from the ceiling and he killed his squirrel monkey because he was delusional. Thereupon Caleb is acquitted, but he wants to settle accounts with Falkland. Falkland rides like a madman back to Falkland Park, followed by Caleb, and there kills himself with a rope. Forester finds a will from Falkland, which makes Caleb the sole heir. But Caleb renounces with the words: "I don't take it. I don't want anything. I just want Jane. We will live from what I deserve as an honest man". Hand in hand they leave the "Falkland Park" property.
Others
- William Godwin's novel is regarded as the artistic forerunner of the detective story, with props from the robber and picaresque novel, still under the influence of the horror novel. The work was published in 1794 under the title: "The adventures of Caleb Williams or things as they are". Godwin's influences can be found in Edgar Allan Poe (self-analysis) and Charles Dickens ( David Copperfield ).
- The novel is a kind of socially critical crime thriller. He almost brought the author William Godwin to court for high treason. The authorities feared that the explosive work on abuse of power and oppression could stir up the people. The then Prime Minister William Pitt took the matter more calmly. After a specially arranged cabinet meeting, he allowed the novel to be distributed. Reason: No worker has enough money to buy the book anyway. So the book isn't a threat either.
- The four-part series was shot by Herbert Wise in England and Italy at a cost of around 6 million DM in 17 weeks.
media
literature
- Oliver Kellner & Ulf Marek: Sea Wolf & Co. - The big four-part adventure series by ZDF . Schwarzkopf and Schwarzkopf, ISBN 3-89602-632-1 .