by Craig Cabell
The Falls
What is interesting about The Falls is that Siobhan is apparently a new acquaintance of Rebus. This is where Claire Price comes into her own and wins the viewers over despite the brevity of the script. Siobhan is amazed by Rebus’s ways. This is similar to the Siobhan in the novel. Rebus works in the red, never within the constraints of the conventional side of the Police Force. Siobhan doesn’t partake or pass judgment, she observes, noting the results Rebus gets. A mutual respect starts to build on the screen. However, she isn’t endeared to him when she gets a flat and can’t drive him to the Oxford Bar for a last-chance-saloon date with an estranged girlfriend.
The Falls is mid-evening fodder but not a patch on the book.
CAST
DI John Rebus Ken Stott, DS Siobhan Clarke Claire Price, Gill Templer Jennifer Black, Mr Mayes Tony Donaldson, Philippa Balfour Natalie Dormer, Fiona Kollross Andrea Hart, Sir James Hogarth Richard Johnson, Forensic Officer James McAnerney, Miss Currie Eileen McCallum, David Costello William Ruane, Jessica Hogarth Elayne Sharling, Miranda Masterson Sharon Small, Policeman Gavin Jon Wright.
Casting Director John Hubbard, Dan Hubbard, Casting Associate Kelly Valentine Hendry, Stunt Co-ordinator Denis Ryan, Stunt Doubles Nic Goodey, Lucy Allen, Fight Arranger Raymond Short, Utility Stand-ins Claire McKay, Mark Davitt, Production Accountant Bernadette Tervit, Production Co-ordinator Michael Wilson, Assistant Co-ordinator Margaret McDonald, Production Runner Gayle Cleland, Script Supervisor Gill Humpherston, Script Editor Claire Russell, Publicist Lisa Vanoli, Picture Publicist Tracey Whitton, Unit Manager Robbie Kirkpatrick, Location Assistant Christopher Cameron, 2nd Assistant Director Simon Dale, 3rd Assistant Director Ray Kenny, Floor Runner Evonne O’Rourke, Minibus Driver Jamie Campbell, Unit Drivers Jas Brown, Dugald Anderson, Edward Carey, Euan Milne, Robert Burns, Action Vehicle Arrangers Kristian Holt, Jack Moran, Wardrobe Supervisor Susie Will, Kathryn Donaldson, Costume Assistants Joanne Leary, Lindsey Davidson, Make-up Artist Laura Hill, Make-up Assistant Alexis McDougall, Boom Operator Fiona Carlin, Sound Maintenance Engineer Fraser McFadyen, Art Director Mags Horspool, Prop Buyer Sue Morrison, Standby Art Director Fiona Gavin, Graphic Artist Frances Connell, Art Dept Runner Zoe Wight, Petty Cash Buyers David Sneddon, Christine Gibson, Prop Master Piero Jamieson, Dressing Props Stewart Cunningham, David Weatherstone, Props Driver Roddy Garden, Standby Props John Knight, Standby Rigger/Carpenter Peter Callaghan, Richard Hassall, Construction Manager Ross Balfour, Construction Department Muir Balfour, David Richmond, John Smith, Bert Ross, James Shovlin, Jane Harvey, Alex Borthwick, Julie Kirsop, James Haley, Steadycam Operators John Taylor, Roger Tooley, Focus Puller Julie Bills, Grip Iain Johnstone, Clapper Loader Julie Robinson, Camera Trainee Peter Keith, Stills Photographer Graeme Hunter, Gaffer Electrician Steve Costello, Best Boy David Moore, Electricians Grant McLean, David Wilson, Post Production Supervisor Lynn Morrison, Assistant Film Editor David Frew, Colourist Kevin Horsewood, Dubbing Mixer Cy Jack, Dubbing Editor Claire Laing, Production Sound Mixer Stuart Bruce, 1st Assistant Director Patrick Conroy, Location Manager Michael Higson, Costume Designer Gill Horn, Make-up Designer Irene Hapier, Production Manager Claire Hughes, Composer Simon Rogers, Film Editor Chris Buckland, Production Designer Andy Harris, Director of Photography Alasdair Walker, Executive Producer Eric Coulter, Script Daniel Boyle, Producer Alan J Wands, Director Matthew Evans.
Fleshmarket Close
Stott is a fine actor but perhaps not tall enough to be the perfect Rebus (not unlike Jeremy Brett and Sherlock Holmes). Couple that with much shorter episodes and therefore even greater disregard to the novels, and the series was not going to win huge acclaim. Rankin fans would always be glass half empty when it came to the TV Rebus, because the novels were so intricate and the script writers just couldn’t win.
Fleshmarket Close proved that Stott’s incarnation of Rebus would be more gritty than Hannah’s but lacked the artistry of the original series. We could forgive the complete oil theme of Black and Blue going missing because of the concentration/adaption of the major sub-plot featuring Bible John as the basis of the script; with Fleshmarket Close it was all unforgiveable.
CAST
DI John Rebus Ken Stott, DS Siobhan Clarke Claire Price, Banehall Policeman Ross Allan, Jack Hines Russell Anderson, Trudy Laing Cora Bissett, Gill Templer Jennifer Black, Maisie June Brogan, Bunny Tony Close, Jim Considine Mark Cox, Sally Williams Kate Donnelly, Muzaffer Yurgi Emilio Doorgasingh, Merlinda Kelmendi Aida Dumani, Sunburst Dolina McLennan, Si Mc Leese Stephen McCole, Sabri Demir Tahar Olabi, Barber Gary Stewart, PC Ian Henderson Anthony Strachan.
Casting Director John Hubbard, Dan Hubbard, Casting Associate Kelly Valentine Hendry, Stunt Co-ordinator Denis Ryan, Stunt Doubles Dominic Preece, Lyndal Smith, Brian Nickels, Fight Arranger Carter Ferguson, Production Accountant Bernadette Tervit, Production Co-ordinator Michael Wilson, Assistant Co-ordinator Margaret McDonald, Production Runner Gayle Cleland, Script Supervisor Gill Humpherston, Script Editor Claire Russell, Utility Stand-ins Claire McKay, Mark Davitt, Unit Manager Robbie Kirkpatrick, Location Assistant Christopher Cameron, 2nd Assistant Director Simon Dale, 3rd Assistant Director Ray Kenny, Floor Runner Evonne O’Rourke, Publicist Lisa Vanoli, Picture Publicity Tracey Whitton, Dog Handler Ian Crossan, Unit Drivers Jas Brown, Dugald Anderson, Edward Carey, Euan Milne, Robert Burns, Action Vehicle Arrangers Kristian Holt, Jack Moran, Wardrobe Supervisors Susie Will, Kathryn Donaldson, Costume Assistant Joanne Leary, Lindsey Davidson, Joyce Kayes, Make-up Artist Laura Hill, Make-up Assistant Alexis McDougall, Boom Operator Fiona Carlin, Sound Maintenance Engineer Fraser McFadyen, Art Director Mags Horspool, Prop Buyer Sue Morrison, Standby Art Director Fiona Gavin, Graphic Artist Frances Connell, Art Dept Runner Zoe Wight, Petty Cash David Sneddon, Prop Master Piero Jamieson, Dressing Props Stewart Cunningham, David Wetherstone, Prop Driver Roddy Garden, Standby Props John Knight, Tony Sheridan, Standby Rigger/Carpenter Peter Callagham, Richard Hassall, Construction Manager Ross Balfour, Construction Department Muir Balfour, David Richmond, John Smith, Bert Ross, James Shovlin, Focus Puller Julie Bills, Grip Iain Johnstone, Clapper Loader Julie Robinson, Camera Trainee Peter Keith, Stills Photographer Graeme Hunter, Gaffer Electrician Steve Costello, Best Boy David Moore, Electricians Grant McLean, David Wilson, Post Production Supervisor Lynn Morrison, Assistant Film Editor David Frew, Colourist Kevin Horsewood, Dubbing Mixer Cy Jack, Dubbing Editor Amanda McGoldrick, Production Sound Mixer Stuart Bruce, 1st Assistant Director Patrick Conroy, Location Manager Michael Higson, Costume Designer Gill Horn, Make-up Designer Irene Napier, Production Manager Claire Hughes, Composer Simon Rogers, Film Editor Chris Buckland, Production Designer Andy Harris, Director of Photography Alasdair Walker, Executive Producer Eric Coulter, Script Daniel Boyle, Producer Alan J Wands, Director Matthew Evans.
The Black Book
‘You need stability in your life, you just won’t allow it to happen,’ says Siobhan Clarke to Rebus and she’s right. Rebus starts the episode trying to apologise to his latest flame and failing miserably. He then takes his anger out on – what turns out to be – a colleague’s car.
This is an episode where Rebus is at his maverick best: angry, prejudiced and totally hysterical. Rebus receives a notebook full of ciphers, which could have clues connected to a hillside murder and an almost identical unsolved murder from Rebus’s past. With heart firmly on sleeve, Rebus stirs up enough trouble to solve the case through sheer force of will.
There is no burned out hotel, no Heartbreak Cafe, no Cafferty, no return of Rebus’s brother; just a story lost in the ghetto.
CAST
DI John Rebus Ken Stott, DS Siobhan Clarke Claire Price, DI Dalcastle Robert Cavanah, DCS Gill Templer Jennifer Black, Daniel Raeburn David Robb, Andy Bryan Lowe, Belinda Lynsey Baxter, Juliet Raeburn Sarah Collier, Colin Morton Ian Grieve, Martin Cowan Stuart McQuarrie, Eddie Raeburn John Bett, Sophie Raeburn Rowena Cooper, Joseph Cowan James Grant.
Production Accountant Bernadette Tervit, Production Co-ordinator Michael Wi
lson, Assistant Co-ordinator Anna McPherson, Production Runner Joanna Matthews, Script Supervisor Margaret Graham, Script Editor Denise Paul, Unit Manager David Hancock, Unit Manager/Location Scout Robbie Kirkpatrick, Location Assistant Christopher Cameron, 2nd Assistant Director Alison Goring, 3rd Assistant Director Marisa Carrara, Floor Runner Robin Haig, Minibus Driver/Runner Claire Hewitt, Costume Supervisor Louise Allen, Wardrobe Manager Joyce Kayes, Costume Assistant Kathryn Tart, Costume Trainee Helen Barron, Make-up Artists Mairi Morrison and Anita Anderson, Art Director Mags Horspool, Prop Buyer Sue Morrison, Standby Art Director Rhian Nicholas, Graphic Artist Frances Connell, Art Dept Runners Allan Ballany and Halla Groves-Raines, Petty Cash Buyer Christine Gibson, Action Vehicle Arranger Lee Farrell, Prop Master Piero Jamieson, Dressing Props Stewart Cunningham, David Weatherstone and Roddy Garden, Standby Props John Knight and Iain Gower, Construction Manager Phil Bowen, Standby Rigger/Carpenter John Rhymer, Richard Hassall, Construction Department Alexander Borthwick, Alex Robertson, James Shovlin and Max Davidson, Unit Advisors Jas Brown, Euan Milne and Robert Burns, Police Advisor Willie Manson, Fight Arranger James Fleming, Special Effects Nick Rideout, HAL Operator Garry Harper, DS Nitris Robert Scott, Focus Puller Julie Bills, Grip Iain Johnstone, Camera Trainee Peter Keith, Gaffer Electrician Steve Costello, Best Boy Grant McLean, Electricians Ross Grainger and Callum Milne, Boom Operator Peter Murphy, Sound Trainees Deborah Baillie and Alex Hay, Publicist Lisa Vanoli, Picture Publicist Tracey Whitton, Stills Photographer Graeme Hunter, Post Production Supervisor Lynn Morrison, Assistant Film Editor Carol MacMillan, Colourist Kevin Horsewood, Dubbing Mixer Cy Jack, Dubbing Editors Lorraine Keiller and Amanda McGoldrick, Foley Artist Donald MacLeod, Production Sound Mixer Stuart Bruce, 1st Assistant Directors David Brown, Harry Boyd and Lee Rooney, Location Manager Michael Higson, Costume Designer Gill Horn, Make-up Designer Ann McEwan, Production Manager Claire Hughes, Composer Andy Harris, Director of Photography Alasdair Walker, Executive Producer Eric Coulter, Script David Kane, Producer Alan J Wands, Director Roger Gartland.
A Question of Blood
There’s an energy that starts this episode that makes good TV but confuses the initiated. The problem is that the script is based upon a gritty and socially aware novel and the intent of the writer doesn’t come across at all. The very reason for adapting a good book to screen is to share that story with a different audience by doing it some kind of justice. There is no justification in taking the title of the book and a couple of locations and coming up with whatever you like! Stott and Price are good but the Oxford Bar scenes lack any substance and overall the story is too polite.
CAST
DI John Rebus Ken Stott, DS Siobhan Clarke Claire Price, Marty Fairstone James Cunningham, Jez ‘Peacock’ Johnson Andrew Barr, Peacock’s Solicitor Paul di Rollo, DCS Gill Templer Jennifer Black, Sergeant John McQuiston, Teri Cotter Karen Gillan, James Bell Ciaron Kelly, Lee Hartman Jack Lyons, Jack Bell John Clyde, Nurse Jaclyn Tse, Alan Renshaw Frank Gallagher, Kate Renshaw Pamela Shaw, Peacock’s Heavy Tav MacDougall, Jeff Curt Robert Stewart, T Wolf, Mark McDonnell, Robert Niles Stephen Docherty, Man-in-White Alistair Hudson, Receptionist Lesley Cook, Hotel Barkeeper Graham Dalton, Scuzzy Hotel Manager Raymond Mearns.
Casting Director John Hubbard, Casting Associate Kelly Valentine Hendry, Stunt Co-ordinator Roderick P Woodruff, Fight Arranger James Fleming, Utility Stand-in Mark Davitt, Jimmy Jib Operator Vic Kusin, Armourer Mark Shelley, Production Accountant Bernadette Tervit, Production Co-ordinator Michael Wilson, Assistant Co-ordinator Anna McPherson, Production Runner Joanna Matthews, Script Supervisor Margaret Graham, Script Editor Mike Ellen, Unit Manager Dave Hancock, Unit Manager/Location Scout Robbie Kirkpatrick, Location Assistant Christopher Cameron, 2nd Assistant Director Alison Goring, 3rd Assistant Director Marrisa Carrara, Floor Runner Robert Haig, Minibus Driver/Runner Claire Hewitt, Unit Drivers Jas Brown, Euan Milne and Robert Burns, Costume Supervisor Louise Allen, Wardrobe Manager Joyce Kayes, Costume Assistant Kathryn Tart, Costume Trainee Helen Barron, Make-up Artist Mairi Morrison and Anita Anderson, Art Director Mags Horspool, Props Buyer Sue Morrison, Standby Art Director Rhian Nicholas, Graphic Artist Frances Connell, Art Department Runner Allan Ballany, Petty Cash Buyer Christine Gibson, Action Vehicle Arranger Lee Farrell, Police Advisor Willie Manson, Prop Master Piero Jamieson, Dressing Props Stewart Cunningham, David Weatherstone and Roddy Garden, Standby Props John Knight and Ian Gower, Construction Manager Phil Bowen, Standby Rigger/Carpenter John Rhymer and Richard Hassall, Construction Department Alexander Borthwick, Alex Robertson, James Shovlin and Max Davidson, Steadycam Operators John Taylor and Kevin O’Brien, Focus Puller John Harper, Grip Lain Johnstone, Clapper Loader Chris Shaw, Camera Trainee Susan MacDonald, Gaffer Electrician Steve Costello, Best Boy Grant McLean, Electricians Ross Grainger and Callum Milne, Boom Operator Peter Murphy, Sound Trainee Deborah Baillie, Sound Trainee Alex Hay, Publicist Lisa Vanoli, Picture Publicist Tracey Whitton, Stills Photographer Graeme Hunter, Post Production Supervisor Lynn Morrison, Assistant Film Editor David Frew, Colourist Kevin Horsewood, Dubbing Mixer Cy Jack, Dubbing Editor Claire Laing and Amanda McGoldrick, Hal Operator Garry Harper, Foley Artist Donald MacLeod, Production Sound Mixer Stuart Bruce,1st Assistant Director Harry Boyd, Location Manager Michael Higson, Costume Designer Gill Horn, Make-up Designer Ann McEwan, Production Manager Claire Hughes, Composer Simon Rogers, Film Editor John Gow, Production Designer Andy Harris, Director of Photography Alasdair Walker, Executive Producer Eric Coulter, Producer Alan J Wands, Writer and Director Matthew Evans.
Strip Jack
By this time the show had firmly taken on its own parallel universe of character interpretations and storylines. Siobhan is more to the fore in this episode, which she isn’t in the original story. In actual fact she wasn’t even in the original story! But a strong supporting cast makes this a more enjoyable ride than some of the other misguided episodes. Most outstanding is Gary Lewis, who plays Gregor Jack. A great actor.
CAST
DI John Rebus Ken Stott, DS Siobhan Clarke Claire Price, DCS Gill Templer Jennifer Black, Prostitute Annette Westwood, Gregor Jack Gary Lewis, Angela Jack Emma Currie, Jeff Curt Robert Stewart, Liz Jack Leigh Biagi, Kevin Quart Andrew Clark, Gail Maitland Joanne Froggatt, Alice Alicia Devine, William Class Finlay McLean, Vincent Hawkes Gary Lamont, Waitress Jane Stabler.
Production Co-ordinator Michael Wilson, Assistant Co-ordinator Anna McPherson, Production Accountant Bernadette Trevit, Production Runner Joanna Matthews, Script Supervisor Margaret Graham, Script Editor Mike Ellen, Unit Manager David Hancock, Unit Manager/Location Scout Robbie Kirkpatrick, Location Assistant Christopher Cameron, 2nd Assistant Director Michael Queen, 3rd Assistant Director Marissa Carrara, Floor Runner Robin Haig, Minibus Driver/Runner Claire Hewitt, Costume Supervisor Louise Allen, Wardrobe Manager Joyce Kayes, Costume Assistant Kathryn Tart, Costume Trainees Helen Barron and Anna Robbins, Make-up Artist Maira Morrison and Anita Anderson, Art Director Mags Horspool, Prop Buyer Sue Morrison, Standby Art Director Rhian Nicholas, Graphic Artist Frances Connell, Art Department Runners Allan Ballany and Halla Groves-Raines, Petty Cash Buyer Christine Gibson, Action Vehicle Arranger Lee Farrell, Prop Master Piero Jamieson, Dressing Props Stuart Cunningham, David Weatherstone and Roddy Garden, Standby Props John Knight and Iain Gower, Construction Manager Phil Bowen, Standby Rigger/Carpenter John Rhymer and Richard Hassall, Construction Department Alexander Borthwick, Alex Robertson, James Shovlin and Max Davidson, Casting Director John Hubbard, Unit Drivers Jas Brown, Euan Milne and Robert Burns, Utility Stand-in Max Davitt, Police Advisor Willie Manson, DS Nitris Robert Scott, Jimmy Jib Operator Alistair Hendry, Focus Puller Julie Bills, Grip Lain Johnstone, Clapper Loader Julia Robinson, Camera Trainees Peter Keith and Steve Cook, Gaffer Electricians Steve Costello, Best Boys Grant McLean and Paul Bates, Electricians Ross Grainger and Callum Milne, Boom Operator Peter Murphy, Sound Trainees Deborah Baillie and Alex Hay, Publicist Lisa Vanoli, Picture Publicist Tracey Whitton, Stills Photographer Graeme Hunter, Post
Production Supervisor Lynn Morrison, Assistant Film Editor Martin Coyle, Colourist Kevin Horsewood, Dubbing Mixer Cy Jack, Dubbing Editors Amanda McGoldrick, Claire Laing and Lorraine Keiller, Foley Editor Donald McLeod, Production Sound Mixer Stuart Bruce, 1st Assistant Director Harry Boyd, Location Manager Michael Higson, Costume Designer Gill Horn, Make-up Designer Ann McEwan, Production Manager Claire Hughes, Composer Simon Rogers, Film Editor John Gow, Production Designer Andy Harris, Director of Photography Alasdair Walker, Executive Producer Eric Coulter, Script Robert Murphy, Producer Alan J Wands, Director Matthew Evans.
Let It Bleed
Those with an imagination will find the basis of Rankin’s original story here. Rebus moving from an all black suit to dark blue provided a taste of the Rebus/Clarke banter that has entertained the reader of the original novels. Good to see Rebus’s love-life living up to its complex level of mayhem also. One of the better Stott episodes, but unlikely to draw more people to the original novels.
CAST
DI John Rebus Ken Stott, DS Siobhan Clarke Claire Price, Sammy McNally Alan Tall, Secretary Noreen Leighton, Andrew Hamill Pip Torrens, Annie McNally Anne Louise Ross, Police Doctor Emma D’Inverno, Chemist Fergus McCann, DCS Gill Templer Jennifer Black, Elaine Molly Innes, Billy Spears Billy McColl, Gavin McManus Sean Scanlan, Amanda Morrison Anna Chancellor, Jack Gunner Ron Donachie, Sir Vivian Kirkwood Roy Marsden.