The Brides in the Bath

The Brides in the Bath is a 2003 television film by Yorkshire Television for ITV, based on the life and trial of British serial killer and bigamist George Joseph Smith, the "Brides in the Bath Murderer". Martin Kemp plays the role of Smith, and Richard Griffiths plays barrister Sir Edward Marshall-Hall. The film was directed by Harry Bradbeer, and written by Glenn Chandler.

Production

Set to portray coastal Weymouth, filming took place in Yorkshire locations of Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough from June to mid-July, 2003. Bradford City Hall in Bradford, doubled for the court room and holding cells of the Old Bailey in the City of London.

Plot

The film focuses on the trial of George Smith and flashbacks showing how he met each of his wives. Smith is married to his wife Edith. He often goes away on the pretext of business. Whilst he is away he meets wealthy women, marries them within a few weeks, insures their lives and then drowns them in the bath. He returns with the insurance money (sometimes he brings the latest victims' possessions to Edith as gifts). He is eventually arrested and ultimately hanged for his crimes. At the trial it is revealed that his marriage to Edith is bigamous; in total he had eight wives, most of which he left after stealing all of their possessions.

Cast

Martin Kemp as George Joseph Smith

Richard Griffiths as Sir Edward Marshall-Hall

Charlotte Randle as Bessie Mundy

Emma Ferguson as Alice Burnham

Jennifer Calvert as Caroline Thornhill

Susan Brown as Mrs Crossley

Carolyn Backhouse as Margaret Lofty

Tracey Wilkinson as Edith Smith

Peter Wight as Charles Burnham

Joanna David as Elizabeth Burnham

James Woolley as Mr Archibald Bodkin

Howard Gay as Montague Shearman

Philip Voss as Mr Justice Scrutton

Lisa Ellis as Maisy Crossley

Alan McKenna as DI Arthur Neil

Ian Connaughton as Travers Humphreys

Anthony Calf as Howard Mundy

Timothy Kightley as Mr Wilkinson

Philip Bowen as Dr French

Ian Barritt as Dr Billing

Helen Ryan as Mrs Farraday

Joanna Wake as Louise Blatch

Stephanie Fayerman as Miss Rapley

Naomi Allisstone as Ellen Stanley

Ed Waters as DS Page

Robert Calvert as Police Constable

Tim Beasley as Clerk of the Court

John Banfield as Jury Foreman

Joanna Booth as Bessie's Companion

Corinne Handforth as Bessie's Companion

References

External links

The Brides in the Bath at the British Film Institute

The Brides in the Bath DVD at Amazon

2003 television films

2003 films

British television films

ITV crime shows

Television series by Yorkshire Television

Television series by ITV Studios

Films directed by Harry Bradbeer

Films shot in Bradford

Television shows shot in Bradford

Films shot in Bridlington

Television shows shot in Bridlington

Films shot in Scarborough

Television shows shot in Scarborough