| When our eyes are otherwise occupied, or even closed, and we have a liking for a good thriller or murder mystery, there is nothing better than listening to one or other of the Paul Temple cases reissued from the BBC archives. At least four components account for this. They were written by Francis Durbridge, they were produced by Martyn C Webster, the theme music was "Coronation Scot" by Vivian Ellis, and the part of Steve, Paul Temple's wife, was played for more than twenty years by Marjorie Westbury. Durbridge kept to a reliable formula: a mystery somehow comes to the notice of journalist/writer Paul Temple, and solving it will bring numerous visitors to his Mayfair flat, including Scotland Yard personnel, and involve Paul and his wife Steve in numerous lucky escapes from drowning, bombs, decapitation, kidnapping, poisoning, car crashes and being shot. Sounds absurd? Well, the theme music will somehow carry you willingly and innocently into this elegant but dangerous world and the high production values established by producer Martyn C Webster will stamp it with quality. Much of the magic derives from the work of Marjorie Westbury. This diminutive lady, already in her 60s when "The Geneva" Case" was first broadcast, convinces you that Steve is a vivacious young woman of about half that age. Her every word, and every inflexion will enable you to "see" the scene, "touch" her feelings, and believe in it all. The case Paul Temple investigates in "The Geneva Mystery" is the apparent death in Geneva of the brother-in-law of a wealthy financier, Maurice Lonsdale. Mr Lonsdale's sister, presumably a widow, becomes increasingly certain that her husband is still alive. The Temples travel to Switzerland, encountering further drama and mystery when crossing the Channel, in a wagon-lit express, and when having a sleigh ride. About ten radio dramatizations of the Paul Temple mysteries have survived in the BBC archives. This is the second last, dating from 1965. |
