The pluck of the Irish

It could easily be mistaken for an episode of "Masterpiece Theater" or "PBS Mystery." But "Widow's Peak," a largely overlooked little comedy/drama from the UK that premiered in theaters back in 1994, is certainly more substantial than a made-for-TV standalone period piece. Among the observations our CineVerse group made on this film were the following:

HOW WOULD THIS FILM HAVE BEEN A SURPRISE OR UNEXPECTED TREAT TO 1994 AUDIENCES WHEN IT WAS RELEASED?

• It features Mia Farrow in her first role following her separation from Woody Allen; moviegoers were not used to seeing her in a non-Allen film; in fact, this was her first appearance in a movie not directed by Allen since 1984.

• Interestingly, Mia’s mother, Maureen O’Sullivan, was originally intended to play the part of Miss O’Hare – which went to her daughter.

• The film tries to balance carefully between a murder mystery and comedy while also tapping into uniquely Irish and British sensibilities. This results in a mixed stew of varying tonalities that perhaps keeps the viewer intrigued and curious as to how things will develop.

• To Americans watching this back in 1994, or today for that matter, the dialects and dialogue – especially how speech is contrasted among the different widows – is central to the film’s power and allure. Roger Ebert wrote: “It uses understated humor and fluent, witty speech; it’s a delight to listen to, as it gradually reveals how eccentric these apparently respectable people really are... Widow’s Peak is more about sharp-edge humor and barbed tongues and women who maintain a façade of perfect respectability while getting up to all sorts of mischief.”

• This picture arguably puts more emphasis on colorful and interesting characters than a crunchy plot; it helps that there is a strong ensemble cast that includes instantly familiar British actors like Joan Plowright, Natasha Richardson, and Jim Broadbent.

THEMES OR MESSAGES SUGGESTED IN THIS FILM:

• The dangers and repercussions of keeping secrets

• Appearances can be deceiving, and things are not always as they seem

• The damage caused by scandal and hearsay

• Class warfare

• The weight and baggage of reputations

OTHER FILMS AND TELEVISION SHOWS THAT REMIND US OF WIDOW’S PEAK:

• Enchanted April

• Hear My Song

• Waking Devine

• The Snapper

• The Remains of the Day

• Howards End