Tree of Hands

Tree of Hands (released in the US as Innocent Victim) is a 1989 British psychological 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.

Tree of Hands
Directed by	Giles Foster
Written by	Gordon Williams
Based on	The Tree of Hands by Ruth Rendell
Produced by	Ann Scott
Starring	Helen Shaver Lauren Bacall Malcolm Stoddard Peter Firth
Cinematography	Kenneth MacMillan
Edited by	David Martin
Music by	Richard Hartley
Production companies	Granada Film Productions British Screen Productions Greenpoint Films
Distributed by	Cannon Film Distributors
Release date	7 March 1989 (1989-03-07)
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£2 million[1]
Box office	£2,458 (UK)

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.^[2]

Cast

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