The Orchard Walls was a stand alone period thriller entry in the Ruth Rendell Mysteries series, it is set during the second world war, when 16 year old Jenny (Honeysuckle Weeks) is evacuated from London out to her Aunt’s house in the country. She accidentally uncovers a secret that leads to tragedy.
One of the last of the Ruth Rendell’s to be made, this had excellent period production design and despite a somewhat slight plot still managed to pile on the atmosphere. Honeysuckle Weeks was very good as the young teenager struggling to come to terms with her burgeoning sexuality and discovering things probably best left undiscovered.
Series: The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Season 14 Episode 2
Cast: HONEYSUCKLE WEEKS as Jenny; MARSHA FITZALAN as Clara; JOHN McGLYNN as Daniel; SYLVIA SYMS as Mrs Thorn; FIONA DOLMAN as Ella; RUPERT PROCTOR as Tom; CHERITH MELLOR as Mrs Leithman; ALEXIS DENISOF as Dennis; JAMES BREE as Vicar; JON GLOVER as Radio/Pathe News Announcer
Writer: Jacqueline Holborough / Story: Ruth Rendell / Music: Brian Bennett / Costumes: Rita Angell / Production Design: Tim Hutchinson / Producer: Neil Zeiger / Director: Gwennan Sage
UK / ITV – Meridian – Blue Heaven – United / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 31 December 1998
