The investigation is conducted under the leadership of Detective Samuel Gorby, who soon arrests Brian Fitzgerald who had hoped to marry Whyte's betrothed, rich wool merchant Mark Fittelby's daughter, Madge.
It is an adaption of the 1886 novel of the same name,[1] created by Fergus Hume, who wrote it as an examination into the evils of the 'Big City' and the corruption that can be found inside it.
[2] Directed by Shawn Seet, with the screenplay written by Glen Dolman, The Mystery of a Hansom Cab was released on 28 October on ABC1 as an ABC-exclusive drama telemovie.
After stumbling, drunk, through the streets, Oliver eventually collapses in a stupor, where he is helped by a man who recognises him into a hansom cab before leaving.
Two weeks earlier, Oliver Whyte is attending a lavish party hosted by Mark Frettlby, where he meets Duncan Calton, a well-renowned barrister, Frettlby's daughter Margaret ('Madge'), Brian Fitzgerald, a rich wool merchant whom he offends, Felix Rolleston, a journalist and socialite.
Mark Frettlby soon after informs Madge she is betrothed to Whyte, which she is displeased with as she is in love with Fitzgerald, who promises that he “won’t let this happen”.
Upon further investigation by Calton, it is discovered that Mark Frettlby had an affair with Rosanna Moore, a famous burlesque dancer whom he married during a passionate encounter in his youth, which soon resulted in a child being produced, Sarah (Sal).
Moreland is arrested by Detective Kilsip and placed into jail, where he hangs himself before he stands trial, which would have revealed Frettlby’s disgrace.
[5] Created on behalf of ABC TV Fiction and Film Victoria, Burberry Entertainment, a multi award-winning television production company, was chosen to make the telemovie, hiring Director Shawn Seet, famous for his work on the Underbelly television series, to make the adaptation.
It is a true classic, the story keeps surprising, and the creative team at Burberry have brought together a wonderful cast.”[8] Casting decisions included John Waters, most famous for his work in the Australian Drama-Comedy Offspring, Shane Jacobson who had been in previous Australian Telemovies and Chelsie Preston Crayford and Anna McGahan of Underbelly: Razor fame.
Historical accuracy was attempted wholesale by Seet, during production, there was a major effort put “to convey a convincing sense of place and situatedness… [the telemovie] deploys a sophisticated blend of period location shooting, CGI, and precisely researched production design.” And similarly “The Mystery of a Hansom Cab team combined location work in North Melbourne with digitally altered shots of the central areas of the city that play such an important role in the narrative”, ensuring that the movie itself attained high standards of truthfulness to colonial Melbourne.
[14] The Mystery of a Hansom Cab depicts a dramatic murder taking place in Colonial Melbourne, detailing the efforts that a detective of the police force must go through in order to solve this crime, serving to inspire thought into the cultural and political context of the mid-1800s.
Many of the themes that are involved with the original novel are displayed in the telemovie itself, with the vast majority revolving around the concepts of colonialism, the ‘Big City’ and the ‘White Settler’, specifically in how they corrupt the human condition.
: Fergus Hume and the Mystery of a Hansom Cab’ examines the film adaptations of the novel itself, specifically the scenes of the telemovie which make references to the events of the 1800s as well as the symbolism inherent in these scents.