Inspector Goole leaves, warning them that if people don't take care of each other, there will be fire, blood, and anguish -- an anticipation of the war that was to break out two years later. The family is baffled. Goole seemed to know everything before asking. His manner was a bit impudent. A phone call to the chief of police reveals that there is no Inspector Goole on the force and the relieved family convince themselves that it was all a hoax and now they can resume their usual personae and treat those of lesser status with the usual disdain. Except for daughter Shiela and guilty son Eric, who accept their responsibilities in the chain of events that led to the death of an attractive and highly principled young lady of no particular means. Then there's another call --

An Inspector Calls (TV Mini Series 1982) - IMDb An Inspector Calls (TV Mini Series 1982) - IMDb

Here is this stately family sitting around the dinner table in 1912. There's the pater familias, Mr. Berling, his starchy wife Sybil, his pretty daughter Shiela, his quietly drunk young son Eric, and the ambitious suitor for Shiela's hand, Gerald Croft. Then the doorbell of the mansion rings and the maids usher in a police inspector named Goole, who has come to make some inquiries about the rather nasty suicide of a poor young lady a a few hours ago. None of the diners have heard of her. But by the time the inspector is finished with his questions, the family is in turmoil and their bonds shredded. As an English student who recently read thoroughly the play this movie is based of, my main thoughts about this film is that it's a perfectly crafted piece that follows the plot of the play quite accurately, but I also consider myself quite "unexperienced" in the matter because I have only seen this adaptation and not the rest- so maybe by watching the rest of the movies my opinion on the quality of this movie may differ, but I hope that not drastically.This is a nicely presented version of J. B. Priestley's 1945 play about class distinctions, exploitation, and the nature of communal guilt.