The first adaptation of Agatha Christie's detective novel Ordeal by Innocence.
Released 1984, it stars Donald Sutherland as Dr. Arthur Calgary, a paleontologist who finds out he is the alibi needed to prove the innocence of a dead man. Two years ago, Jacko Argyle supposedly stuck his mother dead with a fire poker the same night he hitched a ride with Dr. Calgary. Intending to clear both Jacko's name and his own conscience, Dr. Calgary starts his own investigation. But the Argyle family has put the affair behind them and are not interested in dredging up the past - especially since one of them must be the real killer, ready to strike again.
In addition to the tropes applying to the novel, the film adaptation has examples of:
- Adaptational Badass:
- Gwenda is a crack shot in this version, which she demonstrates by shooting a coin out of the air one-handed.
- Philip's reason for being in a wheelchair is changed from polio to a war injury.
- Adaptational Karma: Kirsten is Drive To Suicide after being discovered, and doesn't try to escape like in the novel.
- Adaptational Nationality: Dr. Calgary is now an american, which further highlights his role as the unwanted "outsider" that the Argyles want gone.
- Adaptation Distillation: Rather than shifting the point of view between different characters, the film limits the focus to Dr. Calgary's investigation. Almost every scene takes place between him and a member of the Argyle family. The novel focus a lot more on the relationships in the family and especially the growing sense of paranoia and distrust among them.
- Adaptation Explanation Extrication: Due to Philip being Demoted to Extra, the reason for his murder is more ambigous in this version. The novel makes it clear that Kirsten felt threatened by Philip’s sleuthing and decided to silence him. It can be inferred that she thought Philip overheard her and Jacko in the movie version, but since Philip only appears alive in a single scene his knowledge of the murder is not explored in as much detail.
- Age Lift: Hester is de-aged about 10 years compared to the novel, going from early twenties to a young child.
- The Alibi: Calgary realizes who the murderer is when their alibi doesn't hold up: Hester had snuck out to watch a movie at the time of the murder, and was therefore not with with Kirsten like she claimed. Thus, there is nobody to confirm where Kirsten was at the time.
- Better Manhandle the Murder Weapon: Dr. Calgary walks in just as Mickey picks up the wrench that killed Tina. He then attacks Calgary with it and becomes the prime suspect.
- Death by Adaptation:
- Tina does not survive the attempt on her life in this version. The attack also happens earlier, about a day before Philip's death, instead of immediately afterwards like in the novel.
- Kirsten commits suicide at the end of the film, unlike in the novel where she escapes.
- Demoted to Extra: Most of the Argyles since they are no longer viewpoint characters, but especially Philip who only appears in two scenes: he has one conversation with Dr. Calgary and later appears as a corpse.
- Downer Ending: Jacko turns out to be behind the murder of his mother after all, meaning Dr. Calgary's investigation was All for Nothing. Likewise, Tina and Philip died for nothing and everyone - including the real murderer - blames Calgary for their deaths. He admits that he was wrong and leaves town guilt-ridden and defeated.
- Dramatic Irony: After Tina's murder, the viewer is treated to a shot of Kirsten Lindstrom burning some evidence, all but confirming that she killed her. Later she is seen picking up a scalpel with a grim expression on her face, and Philip dies shortly afterwards. While the viewer has every reason to think that Kirsten is the murderer, Calgary doesn't realize the truth until later.
- Film Noir: The film takes many cues from the genre, such as the gloomy atmosphere and the jazzy sountrack. Dr. Calgary also looks and behaves like a Hardboiled Detective in this version.
- Foreshadowing: Inspector Huish suggests that Jacko may have tried to use Calgary as an alibi after committing the murder. While he didn't do the deed himself, he is otherwise completely right.
- Gun Struggle: Kirsten reaches for a gun after being found out. Dr. Calgary tries to stop her and a struggle ensues. Unusually for this trope, the gun goes off but nobody is hurt.
- Monochrome Past: All the flashbacks that take place before the movie begins are in black-and-white.
- Never My Fault: Kirsten blames Calgary for the deaths of Tina and Philip, even though she was the one who killed them. Her argument can be summed up as "If you hadn't tried to expose me as a murderer, I wouldn't have had to commit more murders!" Surprisingly, both Leo and Gwenda seem to agree with her.
- Naked First Impression: Mickey answers the door with neither pants nor trousers, just a shirt long enough to cover his groin. He invites Calgary inside where Tina is naked in her bed, covered by a Modesty Bedsheet. Neither character seem embarrased by this.
- Not What It Looks Like: An underdressed Mickey introduces Tina as his sister while she is lying naked in their bed, resulting in an awkward look from Dr. Calgary. Tina eventually reveals that they are Not Blood Siblings.
- Phoney Call: The killer lures Mickey away with a phone call in order to kill Tina while she is alone.
- Promoted to Love Interest:
- Downplayed with Jacko's wife Maureen. In the novel she remarried after Jacko's death. Here she tries to seduce Dr. Calgary, but he turns her down.
- Downplayed with Mickey and Tina. They both have feelings for each other in the novel, and it's stated that they will probably become a couple in the future. Here they are already living together, and it's made very obvious that the relationship is sexual.
- Inverted with Hester, whose Age Lift to a young child means there is no Last-Minute Hookup with Dr. Argyle at the end.
- Race Lift: Tina, who was of mixed ancestry in the original, is played by a white actress.
- Ready for Lovemaking: Calgary returns to his hotel room, only to find a naked Maureen lounging on his bed.
- Vehicular Assault: Calgary is chased by a car while walking home at night and barely escapes getting run down.
- Wrench Whack: Tina Argyle is killed with a wrench. Her own wrench, to be exact.
- You Are Too Late: Dr. Calgary realizes that Tina knows something about the murder and tries to contact her. Unfortunately, the murderer has caught up as well and is already there to hang up the phone. Calgary rushes to find her, but she is already dead when he arrives.
