Pale Horse, The (ITV 1997, Colin Buchanan, Jayne Ashbourne)

The Pale Horse was based on an Agatha Christie novel. In the early 1960’s sculptor Mark Easterbrook comes across the body of a dying priest, before he dies he hands over to Mark a list of names. The police of course have Mark down as prime suspect for the priest’s death, determined to clear his name he teams up with Kate Mercer whose best friend has also just died in suspicious circumstances. Convinced the two deaths are linked the duo determine to get to the bottom of the mystery. It seems that the former inn, The Pale Horse, is at the heart of things. It is now run by a trio of sinister elderly black magic practicing women and it is clear they know more than they are letting on…

The music and the costumes put the year that The Pale Horse is set in as around 1964, although it is never specified in the drama. The general vibe is really good though with quite a bit of cash lavished on the production, Buchanan does well, he is a good actor and he really hasn’t done enough outside of his Dalziel and Pascoe series for our liking.

There are some notable guest stars too that includes the likes of Andy Serkis, the legendary Leslie Phillips, Jean Marsh as the leader of a Coven of witches and Ruth Madoc as one of her followers.

production details
UK / ITV Network – Anglia – United Film and TV – A&E / 1x120m-e / Broadcast 23 December 1997 @ 9.00pm

Writers: Adrian Bate, Guy Slater / Novel: Agatha Christie / Script Editor: Vicky Featherstone / Costumes: Judy Pepperdine / Production Design: Robin Tarsname / Music: Colin Towns / Producer: Adrian Bate / Executive Producers: Delia Fine, Guy Slater / Director: Charles Beeson

cast
COLIN BUCHANAN as Mark Easterbrook
HERMOINE NORRIS as Hermia Redcliffe
JAYNE ASHBOURNE as Kate Mercer
JEAN MARSH as Thyrza Grey
RUTH MADOC as Sybil Stamfordis
LESLIE PHILLIPS as Lincoln Bradley
LOUISE JAMESON as Florence Tuckerton
MICHAEL BYRNE as Venables
ANNA LIVIA RYAN as Tilly Tuckerton
ANDY SERKIS as Sergeant Corrigan
TREVOR BYFIELD as Inspector Lejeune
TIM POTTER as Dr Osborne
CATHERINE HOLMAN as Poppy Tuckerton
RICHARD O’CALLAGHAN as Donald
MAGGIE SHEVLIN as Bella
BRETT FANCY as Ricky Flood
GEOFFREY BEEVERS as Father Gorman
WENDY NOTTINGHAM as Eileen Brandon
TRICIA THORNS as Jessie Davis
JOHANNA KIRBY as Mrs Coppins
KIERAN CUNNINGHAM as Barman
MARTIN OLDFIELD as Desk Sergeant
MARTIN MILMAN as Dr Wylie
SAM BOND as Doctor
STEVE WESTON as Ned Thackeray
MARTIN KENNEDY as Tate