Tree of Hands

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Tree of Hands | image = | alt = | caption = | director = [[Giles Foster]] | producer = Ann Scott | writer = [[Gordon Williams (writer)|Gordon Williams]] | based_on = ''[[The Tree of Hands]]'' by [[Ruth Rendell]] | starring = [[Helen Shaver]] [[Lauren Bacall]] [[Malcolm Stoddard]] [[Peter Firth]] | music = [[Richard Hartley (composer)|Richard Hartley]] | cinematography = Kenneth MacMillan | editing = David Martin | studio = [[ITV Granada|Granada Film Productions]] British Screen Productions Greenpoint Films | distributor = [[The Cannon Group, Inc.|Cannon Film Distributors]] | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1989|3|7}} | runtime = 89 minutes |budget=£2 million<ref name="org">{{cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-back-to-the-future-the-fall-and-rise-of-the-british-film-industry-in-the-1980s.pdf|page=30|title=Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing|website=British Film Institute|date=2005}}</ref> |gross=£2,458 (UK) | country = United Kingdom | language = English }}

'''''Tree of Hands''''' (released in the US as '''''Innocent Victim''''') is a 1989 British [[psychological thriller|psychological]] [[drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[Giles Foster]] and starring [[Helen Shaver]], [[Lauren Bacall]], [[Malcolm Stoddard]] and [[Peter Firth]]. It is based on the 1984 novel ''[[The Tree of Hands]]'' by [[Ruth Rendell]].

==Plot== Benet Archdale (Helen Shaver), a London-based best-selling author who has just written a controversial novel, lives alone with her young son. Benet's mother, Marsha (Lauren Bacall), visiting from the United States, is a manic-depressive who has psychotic episodes. When Benet's young son dies, Marsha kidnaps a local child to serve as a substitute. Benet believes she should return the child but upon investigation she finds out that the child has been severely abused by his parents. After the child's disappearance, the parents are charged with the murder.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090129230402/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/423412 BFI.org]</ref>

==Cast== * [[Helen Shaver]] as Benet Archdale * [[Lauren Bacall]] as Marsha Archdale * [[Malcolm Stoddard]] as Ian Raeburn * [[Peter Firth]] as Terence * [[Paul McGann]] as Barry * [[Kate Hardie]] as Carol * [[Tony Haygarth]] as Kostas * [[Phyllida Law]] as Julia * [[David Schofield (actor)|David Schofield]] as Detective Inspector * Amanda Dickinson as Molly * [[Fiona McAlpine]] as Neighbour * Julie Jupp as Neighbour's Daughter * [[Sean Blowers]] as Detective * Allan Mitchell as Consultant * [[Simon Prebble]] as Newscaster * Barnaby Brown as Jason * Charles Pountney as James

==References== <references/>

==External links== *{{IMDb title|0099846}}

[[Category:1989 films]] [[Category:1980s psychological drama films]] [[Category:Films shot at EMI-Elstree Studios]] [[Category:Films based on British novels]] [[Category:British psychological drama films]] [[Category:Works by Ruth Rendell]] [[Category:1989 drama films]] [[Category:Films directed by Giles Foster]] [[Category:1989 English-language films]] [[Category:1989 British films]] [[Category:Films scored by Richard Hartley (composer)]] [[Category:English-language drama films]]