''Tree of Hands'' (released in the US as ''Innocent Victim'') is a 1989 British psychological

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Giles Foster Giles Foster has been an English television director since 1975, specialising in television dramas. He has also directed in Australia and in Germany (2012-2014). He wrote some television dramas in the 1970s. He is from Bath, Somerset and was ed ...

and starring

Helen Shaver Helen Shaver (born February 24, 1951) is a Canadian actress and film and television director. She has received Emmy and Saturn Award nominations, among other honours. Early life Shaver was born and raised, with five sisters, in St. Thomas, Ont ...

, Lauren Bacall,

Malcolm Stoddard Malcolm Stoddard (born 20 July 1948) is a British actor who has appeared in films and television. Early life He attended the all-male grammar school Chichester High School For Boys. Career His TV credits include '' The Voyage of Charles Darwin' ...

and

Peter Firth Peter Macintosh Firth (born 27 October 1953) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC One programme '' Spooks''; he is the only actor to have appeared in every episode of the programme's ten-series lif ...

. It is based on the 1984 novel ''

The Tree of Hands ''The Tree of Hands'' is a 1984 suspense novel by the author Ruth Rendell. It won the CWA Silver Dagger in 1984, and was short listed for the MWA Edgar Award upon publication in America. The book has been filmed twice. One adaptation featured ...

'' by

Ruth Rendell Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, (; 17 February 1930 – 2 May 2015) was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. Rendell is best known for creating Chief Inspector Wexford.The Oxford Companion ...

Plot

Benet Archdale (Helen Shaver), a London-based best-selling author who has just written a controversial novel, lives alone with her young son. Benet's mother, Marsha (Lauren Bacall), visiting from the United States, is a manic-depressive who has psychotic episodes. When Benet's young son dies, Marsha kidnaps a local child to serve as a substitute. Benet believes she should return the child but upon investigation she finds out that the child has been severely abused by his parents. After the child's disappearance, the parents are charged with the murder.BFI.org
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Cast

... Benet Archdale * Lauren Bacall ... Marsha Archdale *

... Ian Raeburn *

... Terence *

Paul McGann Paul John McGann (; born 14 November 1959) is an English actor. He came to prominence for portraying Percy Toplis in the television serial '' The Monocled Mutineer'' (1986), then starred in the dark comedy '' Withnail and I'' (1987), which wa ...

... Barry *

Kate Hardie Kate Hardie (born Kate Louise Oddie; 26 April 1968) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in '' The Krays'', ''Mona Lisa'' and the 2016 Channel 4 original series ''National Treasure''. Hardie's stage name is derived from those ...

... Carol *

Tony Haygarth George Anthony Haygarth (4 February 1945 – 10 March 2017) was an English television, film and theatre actor. Life and career After leaving Marlborough College, Liverpool, Haygarth worked unsuccessfully in 1963 as a lifeguard in Torquay, and a ...

... Kostas *

Phyllida Law Phyllida Ann Law (born 8 May 1932) is a British actress, known for her numerous roles in film and television. Early life Law was born in Glasgow, the daughter of Meg "Mego" and William Law, a journalist. Prior to the Second World War, her fath ...

... Julia * David Schofield ... Detective Inspector * Amanda Dickinson ... Molly *

Fiona McAlpine Fiona McAlpine is a British radio drama producer and director. Her company, Allegra Productions, is an independent production company based in Suffolk, England. Works Current Production on BBC Radio 4. Broadcast 11, 18 April April – 25 April ...

... Neighbour * Julie Jupp ... Neighbour's Daughter *

Sean Blowers Sean Anthony Blowers (born 26 January 1961) is an English actor. Blowers was born in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire. He is best known for playing John Hallam in '' London's Burning'' from 1986 until the character was killed off in 19 ...

... Detective * Allan Mitchell ... Consultant *

Simon Prebble Simon Micawber Prebble (born 13 February 1942) is an English–American narrator. Initially a stage actor, he has a wide-ranging career in television drama, was a game show announcer in Britain, and a voice-over narrator for television, and film ...

... Newscaster * Barnaby Brown ... Jason * Charles Pountney ... James

References

External links

* 1989 films 1980s psychological drama films Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios Films based on British novels British psychological drama films Works by Ruth Rendell 1989 drama films Films directed by Giles Foster 1980s English-language films 1980s British films {{1980s-UK-film-stub