DVD/150: WIDOWS 2 (Paul Annett, 1985, tv)

Filmed two years after WIDOWS, producer Linda Agran, writer Lynda La Plante and stars Ann Mitchell (Dolly), Fiona Hendley (Shirley) and Maureen O'Farrell (Linda) had a new director and a new 'Bella'.

Sadly WIDOWS 2 cannot escape the shadow of Eva Mottley, the original 'Bella'.  Due to repeat her role, Mottley left claiming sexual and racial abuse from the production team.  Two months before WIDOWS 2 was broadcast, she died from an overdose.  While Debby Bishop is bearable, she has none of Mottley's sharpness.

Six months after escaping to Rio after their heist, Dolly has returned to London for a facelift, Shirley is in LA, Bella is engaged to a wealthy landowner, but Linda is bored and drinking.

But Dolly's husband Eddie Rawlins is on their trail and terrorizes Linda into revealing Dolly is in London and where the money is hidden.

The Widows reunite to face their deadly nemesis...

Shelf or charity shop?  The widows are standing their ground on the shelf.  Lynda La Plante's script is at times overly-plotted and unevenly-paced, moments of high drama stranded by several slow scenes.  But while she created memorable characters in Linda, Bella and Shirley, once again Ann Mitchell brings almost a sense of Greek tragedy to the basiliske-stare of Dolly Rawlins.  Pain and anger burn inside her and she is quite magnificent.  Giving them a run for their stolen money is the wonderful Kate Williams as Shirley's mother, funny and heart-breaking sometimes in the same scene.  Maurice O'Connell is excellent as the dangerous Harry Rawlins, one of the great TV villains.  Among the gritty supporting cast, there are fine contributions from David Calder as the hospitalized but still-obssessed Detective Inspector Resnick, and Stephen Yardley as the private eye who tries to get closer to Dolly; Mike Felix, Peter Lovstrom, Richard Kane and Peter Jonfield are all given moments to shine as assorted dodgy geezers.  The drawbacks are some truly ghastly 80s frocks and a god-awful Gerard Kenny pop-rock song over the end credits."Hungry - women - crying / Now they're only crying out for more..." *boke*