planktonrules

Nazi! Nazi hunters all-knowing maid stolen vermeer Mutti--odd man LARRY BIRD live with him==not appropriate for time period convoluted

Of the two Miss Marple series, I think the Joan Hickson one is superior in most every way. This earlier series sticks much closer to the Agatha Christie stories and Miss Marple herself is closer to Christie's version of Marple. I mention all this because of all the episodes I've seen so far, this one seems the most removed from the Agatha Christie story and the Hickson stories.

This story finds Miss Marple staying at London's exclusive Bertram Hotel. Apart from that, pretty much EVERYTHING is different...with Nazis and all sorts of other strange details not in the original. But that isn't the main problem...it's that everything but the kitchen sink is tossed into the story. There are so many different elements it's all very confusing...with not just a thief, but a jazz singer, a maid who acts more like Miss Marple than Miss Marple and the actual plot involving he hotel being a den of thieves almost entirely missing....and it's none for the better because of the many changes.

Overall, watchable but a real headache for Christie fans and a very confusing set of MANY plots...too many.

Igor Gouzenko (Harry Townes) has defected from the Soviet Union and is hiding in Canada. He's been very helpful by giving information to the Canadian authorities and the Soviets are furious about this. So, they've placed a contract out on him and have brought an agent in to find and kill Gouzenko. At the same time, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are trying to protect him and are concerned about assassination. Can they manage to stop this killer or will Gouzenko soon be the victim of the old USSR.

This is just an okay film. It's because you expect a lot more action and excitement from such a movie and its pace is pretty slow. However, it does make it more realistic...just not as cinematic. Watchable but it sure could be better.

This is the first episode of "Jonathan Creek"...a most unusual sort of amateur detective show. And, as such, much of the show sets up who the characters are and how they get to know each other....so it's not at all surprising it's a double-length episode.

A famous artist (Colin Baker...one of the 1980s Dr. Whos) who loves to paint nudes and has a reputation for boinking his models is found dead. His model is found trussed up and with duct tape over her eyes and mouth. The most obvious suspect is the artist's wife...who surely is tired of his super-overactive libido. But it appears as if the wife was at work and couldn't have done it. So a nosey reporter seeks out Jonathan, as he earns a living inventing magic tricks for stage magicians...and together they investigate the crime.

I found the solution to the killing a bit difficult to believe and the chemistry between the leads isn't quite there yet...but the show was enjoyable and makes you want to see more.