
Cause Célèbre
1987, English. Directed by John Gorrie.
When the ailing husband of an adulterous wife is discovered bludgeoned to death and suspicions fall on the older woman's young lover, the newly widowed woman claims that it was she who was solely responsible for the death despite evidence that points to the contrary in this dramatic account of true-life 1935 trial that shocked all of England. Though notable evidence and strong suspicion suggests that the murder may have been of crime of passion perpetrated by the jealous lover only half her age, Alma Rattenbury (Helen Mirren) confesses to the murder of her husband and is soon brought to trial. Despite the fact that Alma is already being deemed guilty by the general public for her adulterous indiscretion alone, her lawyer, star attorney T.J. O'Connor (David Suchet), remains convinced that his client will eventually be cleared of all charges.
- Runtime
- 1h 49m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
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Cast & crew
- John GorrieDirector
- Helen MirrenAlma Rattenbury
- Harry AndrewsFrancis Rattenbury
- David SuchetT.J. O'Connor
- David MorrisseyGeorge Bowman
- Norma WestIrene Riggs
- Oliver Ford DaviesJ.D. Casswell
- Clive SwiftP.P. Croom Johnson
- Geoffrey BayldonMr. Justice Humphreys
- Gillian MartellJoan Webster
- Edmund PeggeConstable Bagwell
- David SimeonInspector Carter
- Neil JefferyChristopher
Details
- Released
- 23 August 1987
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Written by
- Terence Rattigan, Ken Taylor
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News & fan talk
What Cause Célèbre is based on
Cause Célèbre is based on a true story.
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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Cause Célèbre: quick answers
Is Cause Célèbre worth watching?
Cause Célèbre doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is Cause Célèbre?
Cause Célèbre runs 109 minutes (1h 49m).
Does Cause Célèbre have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Cause Célèbre. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Cause Célèbre parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for Cause Célèbre yet.
Which OTT platform is Cause Célèbre on?
Cause Célèbre isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free online. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like Cause Célèbre?
If you liked Cause Célèbre, try Northanger Abbey, The Magic of Ordinary Days, The Hunchback.
Who directed Cause Célèbre?
Cause Célèbre (1987) was directed by John Gorrie and stars Helen Mirren, Harry Andrews, David Suchet.
What is Cause Célèbre based on?
Cause Célèbre is based on a true story.