This is the first Miss Marple I can actually remember watching when it was first broadcast in 1985. A certain murder stuck in my mind, but for anyone who watches this it will remain in the memory for years to come. This is without doubt the peak of the Marple series. I am torn between this and Sleeping Murder for my own personal favourite, but this is easily the best adaptation they ever did.
The story begins when various villagers notice an advertisement in the local Chipping Cleghorn newspaper about a murder to take place at Miss Blacklock's house at 7pm. No one can really quite believe it - least of all the Blacklock household, which also contains companion Dora Bunner, nephew and niece Patrick and Julia Simmons, young widow Phillipa Haymes and foreign maid Hannah - but nevertheless just before 7pm half the village turn up expecting a murder game to take place. As it is, the lights go out, someone bursts open the door and shouts "Stick 'Em Up!" before three gunshots ring out - and soon after a genuine corpse lies dead on the floor. It's a great start, but it gets all the more mysterious as it goes along.
In comes Inspector Craddock (a marvellous John Castle) to investigate and initially is prepared to dismiss it as a stunt gone wrong. He discovers the dead man is Rudi Schertz, who worked at a local hotel nearby. But it is only when he goes there to check out the man's background that he encounters Miss Marple, who is staying there on a visit to see her niece, the vicar's wife Mrs Harmon. And it is her who queries the whole bizarre scenario and urges him to investigate further by questioning the waitress at the hotel (Liz Crowther), where he learns the dead man was paid to do the stunt. But why? And by who? It turns out it may of been a cover for a very sinister murder - and the killer is not finished yet.
This adaptation is sheer joy from start to finish. Everything and everyone seem on top form, and with it's 3 part format it is able to take it's time in interviewing the suspects, as well as fitting in all of the numerous incidents that occur in this absorbing mystery. But the thing that strikes you most when watching this is the sheer fun in the performances. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, and there is a lot of humour in the wordplay. I particularly loved the exchange in the tea room between Dora Bunner (Renee Asherton) and Miss Marple when they talk about the villagers. At one point Dora tells her that she's heard that Edmund Swettenham is a communist. "Well, he must be very lonely in Chipping Cleghorn," replies Miss Marple without missing a beat. And I enjoyed Patrick Simmons' (Simon Shepherd) quip when the first visitors come to the Blacklock house on seeing the advertisement in the paper. "There's somebody at the door," he announces solemnly. "Mr and Mrs Borgia from across the road."
Indeed Simon Shepherd and Samantha Bond's performances as siblings Patrick and Julia are a joy to behold. They are great fun, and they play off each other perfectly with their witty wordplay. They are just two of many who stand out in this adaptation. Others include Paola Dionisotti and Joan Sims as companions Miss Hincliffe and Miss Murgatroyd. They make a great double act, sparring off each other and their attempts to reconstruct the shooting at Miss Blacklock's house is one of the highlights in this mystery. It's also interesting that their lives can be looked upon either as a closeted lesbain couple or in more old fashioned terms as just two companions living together, but nothing is ever explicitly inferred. Ursula Howells also deserves credit for her portrayal of Miss Blacklock, but in a different way. Hers is more dramatic as the investigation becomes convinced she was the intended target for murder, and the way she gradually begins to crack with fear and grief is superb. Last but not least is John Castle as Inspector Craddock. He is without doubt my favourite out of all the inspectors that Miss Marple has to deal with, and with his monotone voice, laid back demeanour and hints of humour makes him compelling to watch. He also adds a human face to the investigation, which is crucial to the fact this is a murder investigation. What I find so wonderful about this adaptation is it's ability to mix it's humour with it's more serious aspects. There are at least two more murders (I shan't reveal who) but unlike some detective dramas their deaths are not treated flippantly. Those characters are genuinely mourned and the aftermath of one character's death (when fetching in washing) is affectingly moving and beautifully judged.
There's little else I can add to my praise. It is the pinnacle of the Miss Marple series, and shows why the series was so revered. If you are introducing anyone to this series, start them off with this. It is a sheer joy.
The story begins when various villagers notice an advertisement in the local Chipping Cleghorn newspaper about a murder to take place at Miss Blacklock's house at 7pm. No one can really quite believe it - least of all the Blacklock household, which also contains companion Dora Bunner, nephew and niece Patrick and Julia Simmons, young widow Phillipa Haymes and foreign maid Hannah - but nevertheless just before 7pm half the village turn up expecting a murder game to take place. As it is, the lights go out, someone bursts open the door and shouts "Stick 'Em Up!" before three gunshots ring out - and soon after a genuine corpse lies dead on the floor. It's a great start, but it gets all the more mysterious as it goes along.
In comes Inspector Craddock (a marvellous John Castle) to investigate and initially is prepared to dismiss it as a stunt gone wrong. He discovers the dead man is Rudi Schertz, who worked at a local hotel nearby. But it is only when he goes there to check out the man's background that he encounters Miss Marple, who is staying there on a visit to see her niece, the vicar's wife Mrs Harmon. And it is her who queries the whole bizarre scenario and urges him to investigate further by questioning the waitress at the hotel (Liz Crowther), where he learns the dead man was paid to do the stunt. But why? And by who? It turns out it may of been a cover for a very sinister murder - and the killer is not finished yet.
This adaptation is sheer joy from start to finish. Everything and everyone seem on top form, and with it's 3 part format it is able to take it's time in interviewing the suspects, as well as fitting in all of the numerous incidents that occur in this absorbing mystery. But the thing that strikes you most when watching this is the sheer fun in the performances. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, and there is a lot of humour in the wordplay. I particularly loved the exchange in the tea room between Dora Bunner (Renee Asherton) and Miss Marple when they talk about the villagers. At one point Dora tells her that she's heard that Edmund Swettenham is a communist. "Well, he must be very lonely in Chipping Cleghorn," replies Miss Marple without missing a beat. And I enjoyed Patrick Simmons' (Simon Shepherd) quip when the first visitors come to the Blacklock house on seeing the advertisement in the paper. "There's somebody at the door," he announces solemnly. "Mr and Mrs Borgia from across the road."
Indeed Simon Shepherd and Samantha Bond's performances as siblings Patrick and Julia are a joy to behold. They are great fun, and they play off each other perfectly with their witty wordplay. They are just two of many who stand out in this adaptation. Others include Paola Dionisotti and Joan Sims as companions Miss Hincliffe and Miss Murgatroyd. They make a great double act, sparring off each other and their attempts to reconstruct the shooting at Miss Blacklock's house is one of the highlights in this mystery. It's also interesting that their lives can be looked upon either as a closeted lesbain couple or in more old fashioned terms as just two companions living together, but nothing is ever explicitly inferred. Ursula Howells also deserves credit for her portrayal of Miss Blacklock, but in a different way. Hers is more dramatic as the investigation becomes convinced she was the intended target for murder, and the way she gradually begins to crack with fear and grief is superb. Last but not least is John Castle as Inspector Craddock. He is without doubt my favourite out of all the inspectors that Miss Marple has to deal with, and with his monotone voice, laid back demeanour and hints of humour makes him compelling to watch. He also adds a human face to the investigation, which is crucial to the fact this is a murder investigation. What I find so wonderful about this adaptation is it's ability to mix it's humour with it's more serious aspects. There are at least two more murders (I shan't reveal who) but unlike some detective dramas their deaths are not treated flippantly. Those characters are genuinely mourned and the aftermath of one character's death (when fetching in washing) is affectingly moving and beautifully judged.
There's little else I can add to my praise. It is the pinnacle of the Miss Marple series, and shows why the series was so revered. If you are introducing anyone to this series, start them off with this. It is a sheer joy.