ash880 Reviews

Miss Marple: They Do It with Mirrors (1991 TV Movie)

Not a particularly good adaptation

[6/10 · 11 May 2008]

The novel on which this adaptation is based was not one of Christie's best works to begin with. However the way the (first) murder was carried out in the book was brilliant. In this adaptation the exact details of the crime are left out; the plan of the house shown briefly in the earlier part is not brought up again to explain how the murderer got to the victim's room, nor is the sound of running footsteps heard by Alex Restarick elaborated upon. Without these explanations I fear the casual viewer may have some unanswered questions at the end of the film.

The film does, however, have its saving grace - in the casting department. Faith Brook and Jean Simmons in particular shine in their respective roles of Ruth van Rydock and Carrie-Louise Serrocold. The two sisters' friendship with Jane Marple is best seen in the rather touching final sequence.

Miss Marple: Nemesis (1987)

An excellent adaptation

[9 May 2008]

Some have said that the Marple adaptations starring Joan Hickson as the titular spinster sleuth tend to 'plod along'. This is true of this 1987 adaptation of Nemesis as well. However the slow pace at which the mystery unravels is due more to the fact this adaptation sticks closely to the original novel - unlike the later adaptation starring Geraldine McEwan, which departs greatly from the novel. Christie fans will undoubtedly find this version more enjoyable.

The film is, however, not without its faults. The adaptor has cut out some of the characters from the novel, and introduced instead Miss Marple's godson, Lionel, as her sidekick. Needless to say, this whittles down the suspect list and makes the culprit more obvious. The latter was not helped by some questionable filming approaches.

The good news is the story itself flows quite coherently, although a lengthier explanation might have been appreciated by casual viewers. The acting is also quite stellar. I am not a great fan of Hickson's Marple, but I quite liked her in this episode.

Finally, the fact that this story is set on a tour of stately homes and historic gardens means there is often fabulous architecture to be seen in the background.

All in all, a good outing in the Marple series - I give it a 7.5 out of 10.