An Inspector Calls

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Aisling Walsh directs. Martin Fuhrer behind the camera. Dominik Scherrer scores. Alex Mackie cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
• 2Released 11 years ago.
• 3Directed by Aisling Walsh, shot by Martin Fuhrer. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Dominik Scherrer. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Alex Mackie shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6David Thewlis and Ken Stott and Finn Cole carry the top of the cast.
• 7IMDB entry: tt4271918 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Classified under 10 themes, including "suicide", "england", "inspector", "based on play or musical".

The technical file

Cinematography

Martin Fuhrer

Original score

Dominik Scherrer

Editing

Alex Mackie

Production design

Maurice Cain

Costume design

Amy Roberts

Runtime

88 min · 1h 28m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

12

IMDB

An Inspector Calls (2015) ↗

Also by

Aisling Walsh

• 
  Joyriders

  1988 · ★ 10.0
• 
  Maudie

  2016 · ★ 7.8
• 
  Sinners

  2002 · ★ 7.5
• 
  Elizabeth Is Missing

  2019 · ★ 7.3
• 
  Song for a Raggy Boy

  2003 · ★ 7.3
• 
  Roughnecks

  1994 · ★ 7.3

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  An Inspector Calls: Trailer - BBC One

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2016-08-04
  ★ 9/10

  A chain of events involving a family. Just a month ago I saw 'Maigret Sets a Trap', and this is another terrific BBC film. Based on the JB Priestley's play of the same name made for television. I never saw other versions nor I knew the story, so that's the reason I loved it. I don't know the difference, the changes between this and the original material, but I think a screenplay like this should have been a big screen product. Surely one of the best films of the year with a great suspense and twists. I expected a crime solving drama, like a detective use his brainpower to nab a suspect in a style, but this was complete an unexpected narration with various angles of briefing involving a family and their individual link to a woman. This is a story about the chain of events that could happen for us in real life. But what this film's specialty is that makes realise for its characters that how their part influenced a woman's life. It's the year 1912, during a wealthy Birling family celebrating their daughter's engagement, a mysterious inspector interrupts them to question on a woman who committed suicide on that evening. In the hours long interview, some unexpected truth comes out and corners the family from their celebration. With the outcome of a surprise encounter with the inspector, how the family outcome from it is what the rest of the film was focused on. "We don't live alone upon this earth. We are responsible for each other." I don't know the most of the actors, but their performances were simply outstanding. Not just leaned on one or two, but everyone had their turn fairly equal. The character played by David Thewlis as Goole was effortless, but very important among others in the film, so it is impossible moving away without praising his contribution. Among all, the young woman role as well very impressive. Alongside JB Priestley, this screenwriter, as well as the director must be appreciated for their incredible job. The film was a one night based narration, but due to the quick flashbacks, the layers formed, hence creates a lot of curiosity for the viewers. Being a detective film, it had those special moments, but with its own style. It reminds me a couple of films, but I can't name them, because of the spoiler alert. Even though this is a very unique from its similar films. Obviously it leaves many questions regarding the last 10-15 minutes of the film. But the reasons are very clear, and you might get it in the second viewing, or maybe from the discussion boards on the online platforms. I strongly suggest that you to learn more about it on its hidden stuffs rather simply finished watching it and forgetting it forever. Like always, the BBC did not disappoint me or maybe I always chose the better ones. Either way I benefited and I recommend this for those who are interested in murder mysteries, though it is not a homicide theme. I hope you will love it as I did. 8.5/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Drama Republic

  GB

• 

  BBC

  GB

Key crew

• Executive ProducerLucy Richer
• Set DecorationMickaela Trodden
• CastingShaheen Baig
• Art DirectionDan Mucklow
• Executive ProducerGreg Brenman
• Executive ProducerRoanna Benn
• Costume DesignAmy Roberts
• Art DirectionAdam Tomlinson
• Production SecretaryRob Yeomans
• Theatre PlayJ. B. Priestley
• ProducerHoward Ella
• Production DesignMaurice Cain
• Sound RecordistReg Mills
• EditorAlex Mackie

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• suicide
• england
• inspector
• based on play or musical
• family dinner
• woman director
• meditative
• 1910s
• suicide investigation
• euphoric

Release history · US

When it landed

• Digital2019-11-15
• Physical2019-11-1512· Pandastorm, DVD
• Physical2021-11-1912· Pandastorm, Blu-ray

Also known as

International titles

• 检察官来访CN