MaryLois40 This production brought to bear some of the finest English talent of its day, and captures a bygone time and place in a way I would say only the English could. Michael Kitchen is gentle and always personally appealing, and he has realized a heart and soul here--a good man driven to do truly bad things out of a desperation he dared not face and a wife no sane man could bear. The wife is wretched, cruel, and self-centered; dutiful on the surface but the very picture of a ball-breaking witch, and a mother bent on ruining everyone's life around her while feeling herself the victim and thinking she has the whole world fooled. I halted after the first segment, feeling no desire to watch it all, but I read accounts of the real story and the next day saw the rest of the show. It is beautifully done, and Michael Kitchen is always mesmerizing. Chloe Tucker--an actress I had not seen--is a wonderful surprise, turning in a totally believable performanc as the oldest Armstrong daughter, and all the cast rises beautifully to the material. DANDELION DEAD will haunt you.

fudge_factory I really enjoyed the film, I felt that each character was well portrayed and (for want of a better word) fairly portrayed. I often find that in this kind of film it is all to easy to lay blame at a single character, in this case the Major. Instead the case is shown evenly and without bias, the audience can see "whodunit" but are also left to conclude for them selves who the real culprit was, this prompted a very long discussion in our house!The major is shown a good man with a dreadful wife, who after 20 (I think) years of marriage he'd had enough of being bullied, controlled and embarrassed in front of his peers and clients. Who, whether he did kill his wife or not, was arguably justified in his act. However he was also well shown to lose the plot a little between the first and second parts of the film. His decision to kill Martin was far more calculated and inexcusable.Martin ( by David Thewlis) was well acted - shown as a nervous and insecure young man who only gains any confidence after his marriage, and is most secure at work. This makes him a direct threat to Armstrong's business, and in line as the next victim.I really enjoyed the film - and would whole heartedly recommend the film to everyone - be aware though it's very moreish, and the 2 halves together make 3 1/2 hours of telle - we all got cramp from sitting down for the whole lot - but perhaps your more patient than us!

Hans C. Frederick This story,if it is really based on truth,suggests one of the greatest miscarriages of justice imaginable.But,not,you might think,for the same reasons most people would imagine.I happen to have my own points of view.Consequently,in my opinion,Sarah Miles is one of the biggest catastrophes to every appear on screen.She can't act,looks like a horror,and has no sex appeal at all.I can't understand what anybody sees in her.And hanging a man who poisoned her is a true crime.He should have been declared a hero,been awarded a medal,had stamps struck in his honor,and had a holiday declared for his gallant action.

lons2002 I watched this film knowing nothing about the case, or Major Armstrong before, and found it engaging, and very well acted - but still a bit cold and distant.The story follows Major Armstrong, a lawyer with a shrewish wife who plots to murder her and a business rival with arsenic. Michael Kitchen does excellent work as Armstrong, playing him as extremely conniving, but also horribly pathetic and weak. David Thewlis does a great turn as well as terminally shy fellow lawyer Oswald Martin, whom Armstrong attempts to murder because of a real estate deal gone south.These performances are worth watching "Dandelion Dead" alone, as well as the interesting true-life story, but director Hodges fails to really delve into the psychological thriller aspects of the material, which seem so apparent, so the whole experience fails to really connect with the viewer emotionally.