Film Analysis of The Good Dr Adams

Film Analysis of The Good Dr Adams

Dr. John Bodkin Adams was General Practitioner, whilst working in

Eastbourne in the early 1950's. He became a very prosperous and

wealthy man. He worked with both NHS and private patients, whilst

doing this; he developed strong friendships with both his nurses and

patients. Adams was held in high regard by most of these people, but

most of all his patients. He was seen to be both light hearted and

carefree, but, every coin has its flip side and Adams's was a bad

side, he was very disorganised, he did not posses a briefcase in which

to keep all his important papers, instead he kept them in his inside

blazer pocket so they would get torn, crumpled and battered. When

Doctors give out injections they are supposed to note dose, type and

time the drug was given to the patient at, but Adams did not do this

and it nearly cost him his life. Years passed as the suspicion grew,

and eventually whilst Adams was entering mid-age he was arrested and

charged with the murder of Mrs. Edith Alice Morell, his court case

began on the 19th December 1956.

After the death of Dr. Adams in the mid nineteen eighties, the BBC

produced a film that was directed by Richard Gordon called The Good

Dr. Adams. This film was neither a documentary nor reconstruction of

Adams's life but a dramatization of the events leading up to and

including both his trial for murder and the aftermath of the trial.

This film actually shows its audience Adams giving out lethal doses of

both heroine and morphine, thus putting into your head the question

"Did he kill her and the other patients that died under his care?"

The opening to this film is quite unusual. It has a row of big trees

either side of the screen and then a big, expensive Rolls Royce drives

into view, as this continues slow and mournful music begins to play

and sounds as if it is played by string instruments. From this it cuts