Malice Aforethought is interesting, with the usual great production values. It features a first-class performance by Ben Miller as Dr. Edmund Bickleigh. On balance, though, I think it suffers by having no sympathetic characters and a plot, which seemed so original when the novel was published in 1931, that now seems a little ho hum. There is no mystery in this mystery, so it depends on how much we can empathize, or at least smile at, the lethal doings of the doctor.

Bickleigh is a country doctor who has risen above his station in life, married well, and whose wife never lets him forget who has the money and the status in their little English town. He is a man with an inferiority complex and a passion for affairs. When he thinks he has actually fallen in love, his wife finds out and commands that it stop. His solution? Murder...which is determined by the authorities to have been an accidental drug overdose by the deceased. But Bickleigh's love leaves him for another, tongues begin to wag and it is clear he has never really been accepted by the town's upper crust. Even with this, life for the doctor is better than it has ever been when he was under the thumb of his wife. But still, a few loose ends must be taken care of. The doctor finally is accused of his wife's murder, but through a loving intervention he is acquitted. Then he is accused of another murder. This he didn't actually do, but the evidence, being a potted meat sandwich which cannot be interrogated, is incriminating. Justice triumphs in her own sweet way.

This is a black comedy with British upperclass superiority matched against Bickleigh's feelings of inferiority and his complacent belief that some murder is justified. Miller does a great job, as does Barbara Flynn as Bickleigh's wife, an upperclass, domineering shrew. Twenty years ago Flynn played an entirely sympathetic, funny and slightly skeptic co-lead in The Beiderbecke Affair, an amusing and romantic mystery which may still be available on DVD.

Dr. Edmund Brickleigh (played by Ben Miller) is living a life of quiet desperation, trapped beneath the thumb of his domineering wife, and finding little solace among the young ladies that his practice puts him in position to seduce. But, when Madeleine Cranmere (Megan Dodds) moves into town, Dr. Brickleigh falls head over heels in love with this passionate free spirit. Madeleine won't have an affair with Edmund, and wouldn't take him as a divorc??, which leaves him only one course - he must murder his wife. Oh what a tangled web Dr. Brickleigh must weave, and when his plans begin to go astray, he must contemplate even more murders. [Color, released in 2005, with a running time of 3 hours.]

I must say that my wife and I enjoyed this movie immensely! It's something of a murder mystery shot from the other side. That is to say, instead of focusing on the detective and his attempts to bring the murderer to justice, this movie focuses on the murderer and his attempts to get away with murder! I found the change of perspective quite refreshing.

Also, I must say that I enjoyed the movie for itself. The cast does an excellent job of bringing the story to life, and making me believe that they are real people caught up in this drama. Will Dr. Brickleigh be brought to justice? You will be forced to go on watching to find out.

As for the content of the movie, there are some adult situations and conversations, plus one scene with a woman in a revealing outfit. But, that outfit is certainly not less than many women wear to the beach. So, overall I did find this to be an exciting and highly entertaining mystery, one that will keep you glued to you TV. We highly recommend it!