White Mischief

PëRMBLEDHJE

The less-than-wholesome traits of Kenya's scandal-ridden "Happy Valley" crowd in the 1940s are nicely delineated here in all their dissolute, gin-swilling, servant-barking, expat glory by director Michael Radford, who has a flair for showing community life, warts and all. It's based on a true story about the murder of a promiscuous aristocrat who was servicing half of the valley's bored ladies, but there is simply no one in this rather over-egged drama who elicits any sympathy. Charles Dance makes a believable stud, however, and Greta Scacchi is gorgeous, even if Joss Ackland overacts horribly as her cuckolded husband. There's also a truly bizarre performance from Sarah Miles, even by her wacky standards.