Created by scriptwriter Robert Murphy (DCI Banks), McDonald & Dodds is a British mystery drama produced by Mammoth Screen (Endeavour) for ITV and launched last year with 2 x 90-minute episodes.
The smart and effective DCI Lauren McDonald and her deputy DS Dodds (no first name known), who dips his chips in butter and has a keen eye for details, are back for two new feature-length cases. ITV aired them in February and March (a third episode will be shown later).
« Then... a cold chip? That's a crime against nature. »
Mc Donald & Dodds is a most pleasant take on the mismatched detective duo where the
crime-solving genius isn't in the foreground. It's also an affectionate
homage to Columbo in a setting reminiscent of Inspector Morse's Oxford, the beautiful town of Bath (in the west of England). The ever brilliant Jason Watkins (The Crown, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies) is Dodds, alongside an excellent regular cast: Tala Gouveia (Cold Feet) as McDonald, James Murray (Cucumber, Primeval) as Chief Superintendent John Houseman, Jack Riddiford (DC Darren Craig) and Lily Sacofsky (Sanditon) as DC Milena Paciorkowski.
Mick Elkins, Barbara Graham, Jackie Somner and Gordon Elmwood are four wealthy friends who were famous in the 1980s. About to take a hot-air balloon trip, they're joined by a man named Frankie Marsh, who lives in the same posh building as them. A serious incident forces the group to do an emergency landing and when the police arrives on the crash scene they find Marsh dead in the forest. DCI McDonald doubts the man jumped, as Barbara pretends. Sergeant Dodds puts on his rough terrain shoes (he has a very delicate ankle) and notices deep scratches on three fingers of Frankie's left hand.
« And, er, I'm a tad put out you'd even think that. Quite a large tad, in fact. I thought tads were small. Not always. »
The detectives must collaborate with the oddly "doddsian" Roy Gilbert, from the Air Incident Investigation Agency, to discover what happened in the sky. Dodds goes to the library to learn more about the survivors. Lauren visits Marsh's expensive apartment. Written by Robert Murphy, the perfectly crafted The Man Who Wasn't There was helmed by Alex Pillai (Chiling Adventures of Sabrina, Midsomer Murders). Its good plot and its great dialogues are completed with some cultural/social satire served by a well-chosen guest cast, starting with actor and musician Martin Kemp (of Spandau Ballet fame) as Mick, the music mogul.
Actress and singer Patsy Kensit (remember Eighth Wonder?) plays ex-80s icon Barbara Graham. Former radical feminist Jackie Somner is played by Cathy Tyson. The talented Rupert Graves (Riviera, Sherlock) is very funny as the snobbish Gordon Elmwood. Comedian and actor Rob Brydon is fabulous as Roy. Also with Victor Oshin (Jason Greaves), Femi Nylander (Ollie Greaves), Vince Leigh (Frankie Marsh), etc. Dodds refers to a previous (unseen) case: the murder of an Albanian in the sewerage works. Houseman says he was a New Romantic during his youth.
« Every year, I look forward to the May weekend. Cos that means that the summer's here, and all the people, they come out... I don't like empty streets, ma'am. »
Exec produced by Preethi Mavahalli, Robert Murphy and Damien Timmer. Produced by Sarah Lewis. The soundtrack includes the music composed by Blair Mowat (Happy!) and songs from bands of the 1980s like Fantastic Day by Haircut One Hundred or Ghosts by Japan. Cinematography by Giulio Biccari. Editing by Meredith Leece. There's a new title sequence by Liquid TV. The Man Who Wasn't There mentions COVID with a certain intelligence. The final scene with Dodds and McDonald is quite moving. Made with the support of HM Treasury and DCMS' Film and TV production Restart Scheme. McDonald & Dodds is distributed by ITV Studios.
See also:
No comments:
Post a Comment