A Murder of Quality (1991): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1991, A Murder of Quality is a thriller, drama, mystery and tv movie film directed by Gavin Millar, running about 103 minutes.

What it’s about. At the request of his old war time colleague Ailsa Brimley, George Smiley agrees to look into the murder of Stella Rode. Brimley had only just received a letter from her saying she feared for her life at her husband's hand. The husband, Stanley Rode teaches at Carne School, but Smiley is doubtful that he had anything to do with his wife's death. As Smiley investigates, he learns that Stella was a nosy busybody who loved to learn other's little secrets and then gossip about them - or possibly blackmail them. When a student is killed and Smiley unearths a secret, he has the evidence to name the killer.Based on John Le Carré's 1962 thriller (his first) in which George Smiley is brought out of spy retirement to solve a murder in a British public school. The setting is based on Le Carre"s own schooldays in Sherborne and his brief experience teaching at Eton.

Who’s in it. A Murder of Quality stars Denholm Elliott as George Smiley, Joss Ackland as Terence Fielding, Glenda Jackson as Alisa Brimley and Billie Whitelaw as Mad Janie, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, A Murder of Quality has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Murder of Quality page.

If you liked it. Fans of A Murder of Quality tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.