White Mischief

White Mischief

Year: 1987

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Radford

Budget: $5.3M

RomanceCrimeDramaThrillerThrillers and murder mysteries

In 1940 Kenya, a fading millionaire and his young wife join a circle of British expatriates as war looms. The group indulges in partner swapping, drugs, parties and horse racing. The wife starts an affair with a bon vivant; her husband confronts them and they agree to separate. When the bon vivant is murdered, evidence points to the husband.

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Timeline & Setting – White Mischief (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of White Mischief (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1941

The events take place during World War II, a period of global upheaval that contrasts with the tranquil opulence of the Happy Valley set. In January 1941, the Earl of Erroll is murdered, sending shockwaves through colonial society. The period’s social codes and wartime tensions shape the characters’ choices and the ensuing investigation.

Location

Kenya Colony, Happy Valley

Set in the Happy Valley enclave of the Kenya Colony, the story unfolds among private clubs, grand estates, and a lifestyle of excess. The region near Nairobi became famous for its aristocratic residents who flaunted wealth and social influence. The drama arises from the clash between outward elegance and covert desires within this exclusive enclave.

🌍 Colonial Kenya 🏛️ Elite social circle

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:27

Main Characters – White Mischief (1987)

Meet the key characters of White Mischief (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Diana Delves Broughton

A stunning, privileged wife whose pre-nuptial agreement with her elder husband buffers her from scandal yet imprisons her in convention. She pursues the Earl of Erroll with a mix of longing and defiance, risking social ruin for love. Her responses to grief, betrayal, and social scrutiny reveal both resilience and vulnerability.

💎 Aristocrat 💘 Forbidden love

Josslyn Hay, Earl of Erroll

A roguish aristocrat whose charm masks mounting debts and a restless heart. He pursues Diana with a singular focus, viewing her as both a passion and a means to escape financial uncertainty. His persona blends magnetic allure with a willingness to disregard social consequences.

🎩 Aristocrat 💸 Financially strained

Sir John Henry Delves Broughton (Jock)

Diana's much older husband whose public face masks humiliation, control, and volatility. He fakes drunkenness to hide his depth of feeling, and his later actions reveal a capacity for drastic, decisive measures. His complexity lies in being both a victim of circumstance and a participant in the scandal.

💼 Aristocrat 🥃 Intoxicated

Alice de Janzé

An American heiress drawn into the circle of Erroll’s lovers, her addiction and glamour underscore the hedonistic atmosphere of the era. Her presence intensifies the moral tension surrounding the affair and societal judgment. Her fate reflects the volatility of those who chase extravagant lifestyles.

💊 Addict 🕊️ American heiress

Nina Soames

A reserved but influential figure within the set, she becomes one of Erroll’s lovers. Her relationship with Erroll, and the implied tensions with her husband and social circle, highlights the fragility of marriages in such a world. Her role illustrates how desire disrupts traditional marital arrangements.

🌹 Lover 🕊️ Social pressure

Gilbert Colville

A plantation owner who acts as a quiet confidant to Diana, offering guidance and a shocking alternative to her marriage. His presence casts light on the personal loyalties and the sense of betrayal that underpins the unfolding events. He embodies a practical voice amid the melodrama.

🌿 Planter 💬 Advisor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:27

Major Themes – White Mischief (1987)

Explore the central themes of White Mischief (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Romance

Romance in White Mischief operates as a force that transcends formal marriage and social propriety. The affair between Diana and the Earl drives loyalties to fracture and exposes the limits of duty. Characters chase passion while negotiating expectations of class, wealth, and reputation. The tragedy reveals how love can be both seductive and destructive.

💼 Elite Privilege

The Happy Valley circle lives by codes of privilege that shield them from accountability. Wealth, status, and access to resources shape choices and conceal vulnerabilities. The film shows how such privilege can sustain scandals without real consequences, at least on the surface. Behind the social polish, debt, desire, and power dynamics simmer.

🔪 Murder & Justice

A murder catalyzes the entire narrative, transforming gossip into a legal ordeal. The lack of decisive witnesses and the circumstantial evidence make the trial feel more like a public spectacle than a conclusive verdict. The aftermath exposes the fragility of truth within a community obsessed with reputation. The ending highlights how personal betrayals continue to reverberate after the courtroom closes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:27

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White Mischief Summary

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White Mischief Summary

White Mischief Timeline

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White Mischief Timeline

More About White Mischief

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White Mischief (1987) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

White Mischief (1987) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

White Mischief (1987) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow