Achilles Heel
1991: Adapted by Guy Hibbert from the Ruth Rendell short story.
Wexford and Burden are holidaying with their wives on Corsica when they encounter a charismatic young couple: Philip and Iris Blackstock. Wexford cuts his holiday short when Iris disappears and Philip receives a ransom note from someone claiming to be her kidnapper… Continue reading →
Background: During their stay on Corsica, the cast and crew had to endure terrible weather conditions with the Mistral playing havoc on the shoot. A stunt driver nearly went over the edge of a cliff and the director - Sandy Johnson - and his crew had some hairy moments aboard a helicopter. The hotel where Wexford and Burden stayed is the beautiful Le Maquis in Porticcio. The Corsican music featured in the film is taken from the album In Core by I Muvrini.
Audio Clip: “What are you supposed to do on a beach?”
Audio Clip: “What are you supposed to do on a beach?”
Next episode: The Speaker of Mandarin »
Cast and Crew
- DCI Wexford
- GEORGE BAKER
- DI Burden
- CHRISTOPHER RAVENSCROFT
- Dora Wexford
- LOUIE RAMSAY
- Jenny Burden
- DIANE KEEN
- Philip Blackstock
- STEPHEN DILLANE
- Iris Blackstock
- KIM BARCLAY
- Ange
- ANDRE OUMANSKY
- Anna
- JULIA LANE
- PC Stevens
- ROBERT HANDS
- Linda Blackstock
- CHARLOTTE HOWARD
- Jon Walsh
- NORMAN ESHLEY
- Cleaner
- SADIE SHIMMIN
- Lucy Rieux
- SAIRA TODD
- Jane Conway
- KATIE O’CONNELL
- Auden
- PRESTON LOCKWOOD
- Mrs Penn
- ANNA WAY
- Forensic Scientist
- PHILIP McGOUGH
- Photographer
- RICHARD STRANGE
- Script Executive
- CORINNE CARTIER
- Casting Director
- DOREEN JONES
- Original music composed by
- BRIAN BENNETT
- Corsican featured music
- TERZETTU
APPERLAMANU
CHI A VITA FACE INNO
TIMISOARA
AMARENI - Stunt Arranger - UK
- MARK BOYLE
- Stunt Arranger - Corsica
- GARETH MILNE
- Stunt Performers
- JIM DOWDALL
ANDREW BRADFORD - Corsican facilities provided by
- CORSICA FILM SERVICES
- Production Manager
- GRAEME MacARTHUR
- Location Manager - UK
- BARRY BECKETT
- Location Manager - Corsica
- NOEL COSTA
- 1st Assistant Director
- FRANCESCO REIDY
- Continuity
- ALISON BLACK
- Production Secretary
- SUSAN IRISH
- Stage Manager
- MIKE FISHER
- Graphic Design
- THE ORIGINAL GRAPHICS COMPANY
- Costume Design
- RITA ANGELL
- Production Secretary
- THERESA SMITH
- Producer’s Secretary
- CATHIE WILLCOCKS
- Make Up
- TONI HOLMES
- Production Buyer
- GRAHAM CURTIS
- Designer
- CHRISTINE RUSCOE
- Camera Grip
- ALAN IMESON
- Sound Recordist
- MAURICE HILLIER
- Camera Operator
- JULIAN BARBER
- Dubbing Editor
- PETER DANSIE
- Dubbing Mixer
- TONY CUNNINGHAM
- Film Editor
- CHRISTOPHER WENTZELL
- Lighting Cameraman
- KEN BRINSLEY BSC
- Executive Producer
- GRAHAM BENSON
- Producer
- NEIL ZEIGER
- Directed by
- SANDY JOHNSON
- A Blue Heaven Production for
- TVS
Principal Characters
Achilles Heel
Wexford and Burden are holidaying with their wives on the beautiful island of Corsica when Reg becomes fascinated with fellow holiday makers - Philip and Iris Blackstock - a glamorous young couple who own a successful manufacturing business in Hampshire.
Philip (Stephen Dillane) is a little too flamboyant for Mike Burden and Dora is dismayed at the keen interest Reg seems to be taking in Iris’ ankles. At Calvi harbour, Wexford meets Ange (Andre Oumansky) - a retired professor of English and kindred spirit - who now operates boat trips around the coast.
The Blackstocks’ return home to England and Wexford’s holiday is disrupted when Philip calls with the news that Iris ( Kim Barclay) has been kidnapped. Wexford discovers that although Iris has a widowed sister (Saira Todd) living in Provence, she was the sole beneficiary of her late father’s will and that this is being contested by her stepmother Linda Blackstock (Charlotte Howard).
Philip Blackstock believes that Iris has been kidnapped by Linda’s lover, John Walsh (Norman Eshley). Walsh is known to be desperate for money and a search of his house reveals incriminating evidence.
Background notes | Cast & crew »
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