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Rillington Place: anyone watching?

(117 Posts)
gettingonabit Wed 30-Nov-16 17:23:27

Been looking forward to this for ages. Really enjoyed the film with a very creepy Richard Attenborough and John Hurt as Evans.

Great sets-very evocative of the time, and Samantha Morton portrays the downtrodden but knowing wife very well.

Really looking forward to next week.

tanith Wed 30-Nov-16 17:29:00

I used to work in and around the area that was Rillington Place near Ladbroke Grove and although the road no longer exists I always felt a chill when I was where it used to be as I'd read the book and it was chilling to say the least.
I'm not sure I want to watch but OH probably will on catch up.

Anniebach Wed 30-Nov-16 18:02:19

Evans sister lived in the same village as my family and I lived, my uncle was on duty when Evans confessed in the police station and Evans worked for a little while in the coal mine in the village. He did have learning difficulties . I thought the Attenborough film was brilliant so hope this short series will be as good. Poor Ethel, to see a woman so manipulated was upsetting

gillybob Wed 30-Nov-16 18:17:22

I was going to watch it but decided against it as DH was away last night and I was frightened that it might have kept me awake. Real life things worry me more than stupid far fetched dramas. I might watch it on catch up though, now that DH is back.

TerriBull Wed 30-Nov-16 18:18:39

Yes I remember the film with Attenborough who was wonderfully creepy. I didn't see this new production but might catch up with it. I was in my teens when I saw the original 10 Rillington Place, I hadn't heard about Timothy Evans' execution before then, I remember feeling very affected by the miscarriage of justice, it was a salutary reminder of why we shouldn't have capital punishment. I believe the street was renamed a while back because of it's unfortunate association.

TerriBull Wed 30-Nov-16 18:31:06

No it wasn't renamed my mistake, it's as tanith has pointed out above, it's not there anymore.

Alima Wed 30-Nov-16 18:58:01

Very atmospheric isn't it? I thought the film was very good and it looks like this series will keep up the standard.

gettingonabit Wed 30-Nov-16 19:01:05

The street is not there now. As I recall, it used to be just north of Notting Hill.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Evans. The actor playing him doesn't seem to have a Welsh accent...hmm.

Anniebach Wed 30-Nov-16 19:02:22

He doesn't have a South Wales accent for sure

wot Wed 30-Nov-16 19:03:51

I loved the Richard Attenborough film. I think it was filmed in the real house. So atmospheric! How scruffy everything was in those days, our house included.

wot Wed 30-Nov-16 19:04:58

" Christie done it!" Never forget that poor bloke Evans.

Anya Wed 30-Nov-16 19:22:21

Well, there couldn't have been much on the way of lines to learn! Did people really sit there in mainly silence just uttering a few necessary sentences and leaving much much unsaid?

Alima Wed 30-Nov-16 19:28:54

Anya, I thought the sparse dialogue added to the creepiness. Christie wasn't a bundle of fun was he?

overthehill Wed 30-Nov-16 19:38:23

Apart from knowing he was a serial killer I didn't know the details. I would like it to have started further back to when he married and what happened in the lost 9 years. At the start Ethel appears to be visiting him in prison but if that were the case how come he was in the police force?

Pittcity Wed 30-Nov-16 19:54:14

He was affected by gas in WW1, hence the whispery voice, and was imprisoned several times for theft and assault between the wars. He became a special constable in WW2 when it seems they were not fussy about checking criminal records. Hope this helps overthehill

Anya Wed 30-Nov-16 19:57:40

Alima none of them were bundles of fun!!!

tanith Wed 30-Nov-16 20:01:27

The roads where the house was are Bartle Close and Andrews Square now there is a small memorial where Christie's house was originally..

Alima Wed 30-Nov-16 20:04:11

Anya, 'xactly!

Anya Wed 30-Nov-16 20:05:21

grin

gettingonabit Wed 30-Nov-16 20:05:55

I think the first instalment was supposed to be more about Ethel, so perhaps we'll have some of the gaps filled in.

overthehill Wed 30-Nov-16 20:35:05

Thanks Pittcity thats answers it.

callgirl1 Wed 30-Nov-16 22:15:47

I remember aged 10, sitting at our kitchen table, reading about the Christie case in the News of the World, then aged 12, going to Louis Tussauds in Blackpool and going into the Chamber of Horrors and seeing his waxwork there. Last night`s drama was very well done, but I think the Attenborough film was better.

Deedaa Wed 30-Nov-16 22:31:14

The Attenborough film was very good, but I'm enjoying this version too. Tim Roth is always good. Remembering my father's family I think people did spend a lot of time sitting in silence. Can't imagine Christie doing casual chit chat.

Pittcity Thu 01-Dec-16 08:43:32

Nowadays the silence is filled with TV, radio, internet etc.

Welshwife Thu 01-Dec-16 09:00:21

I remember the trail and execution of Timothy Evans and my mother answering my questions. I cannot bring myself to watch the series.