Wicked Women

1 9 7 0 (UK)
6 x 54 minute episodes

This drama series from London Weekend Television was based on true-life cases of women who made the headlines of Victorian newspapers. The six episodes aired as part of Saturday Night Theatre (1969 – 1971), a compendium of dramas produced for ITV by a variety of companies.

Episodes

Alice Rhodes

This story of Alice Rhodes (Joanna Dunham), a woman who systematically starved her lover’s dull-witted and plain wife, Harriet (Gillian Raine) to death in an attic was an unpleasant one but made far worse by a good deal of gloating over the poor woman’s scabs and excrement, and a flip application of sexual sadism.

The cool beauty of the murderess, her wish to make love after her visits to the attic to whip her victim, and the amount of hovering camera work made this an unattractive stomach-turning hour.

Alice Rhodes
Joanna Dunham
Louis Staunton
Ralph Bates
Patrick Staunton
David McKail
Mrs Downes
Hazel Bainbridge
May Staunton
Rosemary McHale
Harriet Staunton
Gillian Raine
Mrs Wallace
Jean Anderson
Clara
Di Seaney
Evans
James Ottaway
Inspector Hamilton
Henry McCarthy
Sergeant Mence
David Webb
Lizzy Evans
Philippa Urquhart
Doctor Longrigg
Christopher Banks
Tom Carter
Raymond Barry

Christiana Edmunds

This story of Christiana Edmunds (Anna Massey), a mad girl who was prepared to murder at random to gain the love of a handsome doctor. The case made headlines in the heatwave summer of 1870.

The episode was well-constructed and enjoyably harrowing as it looked behind the genteel facade of a seemingly respectable house in Brighton where the young Christiana was kept virtually a prisoner by her mother and the forbidding housekeeper, Mrs Boding (Sonia Dresdel).

Escaping briefly, the girl lights on the handsome Dr Beard (Richard Gale) and instantly conceives an obsessive passion for him.

Christiana Edmunds
Anna Massey
Mama
Mona Washbourne
Mrs Boding
Sonia Dresdel
Parsons
Joan Knowles
Tweeny
Sarah-Jane Ladbrook
Mr Bartlett
Paddy Ward
Doctor Beard
Richard Gale
Doctor Lovat
Charles Lloyd Pack
Miss Wagstaff
Suzanne Vasey
Mrs Wagstaff
Ann Martin
Bertha
Una Brandon-Jones
Mrs Beard
Gillian Lewis
Inspector Gibb
Rex Graham

Augusta Fullam

Played by Vivien Merchant, Augusta Fullam is the shy, reserved, Anglo-Indian wife of a government official in Imperial India at the turn of the 20th century. They live in a tight little expatriate British society, as enclosed as a village in which everybody knows everybody else’s business.

“In London, lovers are all the rage,” remarks one of the mem-sahibs.

The touch of envy does not make the ladies less resentful of the man who steps out of line, the incorrigible womaniser Dr Harry Clark (Edward De Souza). They primly agree that he must be taught a lesson, and Augusta is chosen to give it. But it is a plan that badly misfires.

Augusta Fullam
Vivien Merchant
Dr Harry Clark
Edward De Souza
Mrs Skinner
Iris Russell
Mrs Bushman
Suzan Farmer
Lady Arkwright
Elaine Garreau
Mrs Tufnell
Effie Morrison
Edward Fullam
Preston Lockwood
Mr Tufnell
Arthur Pentelow
Salmaan
Albert Moses
Kate Clark
Clare Kelly
Doctor Fisher
Roger Hammond
Mary Fullam
Verna Harvey

Anne-Maria Moody

Anne-Maria Moody (Jane Asher) is the young and passionate mistress of Major Murray (William Lucas) – a cold, mean, humourless man. Plunged hopelessly into debt by her desires and extravagance, she turns in desperation to a money-lender who soon becomes infatuated with his flirtatious client.

Seeing a chance of happiness with the moneylender’s attractive son, Anne-Maria persuades the usurer to murder her protector, Major Murray. But one of those cruel, ironic twists of fate cheats her of everything she longs for.

Anne-Maria Moody
Jane Asher
Major William Murray
William Lucas
Andrew Roberts
John Stratton
Alice Campbell
Eve Pearce
Dominic Roberts
Derek Steen
Mary Lines
Barbara Keogh
Preston-Lumb
Terence Soall
Trent
David Cargill
Reverend Forbes
Michael Burrell
Richard Timms
Tony Jackson
Doctor Canton
John Devaut
Chef
Michael Earl
Nurse
Judith South

Florence Maybrick

The fifth in this series of plays concerns 20-year-old Florence Maybrick (Nicola Pagett). Lost, lonely and frightened, Florrie is a bride of only a few months, bound to a man twice her age.

James Maybrick (John Carson), already an adulterer, flaunts his escapades in his young wife’s face, knowing that the drunken orgies revolt her. But the role of the Victorian wife was one of submission and when lust drives James to demand his rights, Florence is left in no doubt that she must submit.

Revulsion, fear and terror drive her to a desperate solution.

Florence Maybrick
Nicola Pagett
James Maybrick
John Carson
Doctor Macrae
James Hayter
Mrs Pilbeam
Ingrid Hafner
Lottie Saunders
Pauline Stroud
Hugh Pentecost
Henry Moxon
Alice Yapp
Sally Geeson
Mr Mercer
Arnold Peters
Alfred Brierley
Paul Shelley
Mrs Mercer
Mary Rennie

Madeleine July

Madeleine July (Billie Whitelaw) is a failed showgirl and part-time trollop who is offered security and marriage by a tradesman – she takes it and is driven to murder.

An old lover, a malicious neighbour, a demanding husband – and passion – all play their parts.

It is not surprising that this story is set in France. The year is 1897.

Madeleine July
Billie Whitelaw
Madame Bonheur
Mary Morris
Jacques Libersat
John Collin
Corsair
Fraser Kerr
Gaby
Marjie Lawrence
Fifi
Suzanne Heath
Colette
Samantha Birch
Elaine
Shirley Stelfox
Charmaine
Patricia Clapton
Andre
Geoff Cheshire
Rene Hauck
Pitt Wilkinson
Natalie
Sally Thomsett
Puget
Erik Chitty