AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MISS MARPLE COLLECTION [1961 / 1963 / 1964 / 1964 / 1969] [DVD] [UK Release] All Aboard For Murder and Mystery! Dame Margaret Rutherford Debuts as Agatha Christie’s Miss Jane Marple!
Dame Margaret Rutherford is the quintessential Miss Jane Marple. These four films are totally classic British Murder Mystery films and Dame Margaret Rutherford is in sparkling form!
FILM FACT: From 1961 until 1965, Dame Margaret Rutherford appeared in the role of Miss Jane Marple in a total of five films. Her first appearance was in 1961 in the film, ‘MURDER, SHE SAID,’ followed in 1963 by ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP.’ In 1964, Dame Margaret Rutherford played Miss Jane Marple in ‘MURDER MOST FOUL’ and ‘MURDER AHOY!’ While her final time in the role came via a cameo in ‘The Alphabet Murders’ in 1965. Stringer Davis (4th June, 1899 – 29th August, 1973), who was an English character actor on the stage and in films, and was a British army officer who served in both world wars. Stringer Davis was married to actress Dame Margaret Rutherford and Stringer Davis was the sleuthing partner in helping Miss Jane Marple to solve all the crimes in all four brilliant British classic films in this exceptional Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Home Video DVD Box Set.
MURDER, SHE SAID [1961] Paddington Station. Next Stop . . . murder! Dozing in her train seat, elderly English gentlewoman Miss Jane Marple awakens just in time to witness a dreadful strangulation aboard a passing train. “Murder,” cries Miss Jane Marple. “You were dreaming,” the police reply. Undaunted, Miss Jane Marple sets out to uncover the truth, even if it means uncovering an extra body or two.
Dame Margaret Rutherford made her first appearance as Agatha Christie’s beloved detective Miss Jane Marple in ‘MURDER, SHE SAID,’ based on Agatha Christie’s best seller “4:50 from Paddington” (also published as “What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!). Dame Margaret Rutherford, who had risen to movie fame playing dotty old darlings in such classics as ‘Blithe Spirit’ and ‘The Importance of being Ernest,’ was an instant hit in the role. With her remarkable looks and even more remarkable talent, she delighted audiences as she sleuthed through and England awash in corpses, clues and posts of tea. ‘MURDER, SHE SAID’ is the cinematic equivalent of curling up with a favourite murder mystery novel!
Cast: Dame Margaret Rutherford, Arthur Kennedy, Muriel Pavlow, James Robertson Justice, Thorley Walters, Charles Tingwell, Conrad Phillips, Ronald Howard, Joan Hickson, Stringer Davis, Ronnie Raymond, Gerald Cross, Michael Golden, Barbara Leake, Gordon Harris, Peter Butterworth, Richard Briers, Lucy Griffiths, Olive Gregg (voice) (uncredited), Aileen Lewis (uncredited), Ned Lynch (uncredited) and Nadia Pavlova (uncredited)
Director: George Pollock
Producer: George H. Brown
Screenplay: Agatha Christie (novel), David D. Osborn (adaptation), David Pursall (screenplay) and Jack Seddon (screenplay)
Composer: Ron Goodwin
Cinematography: Geoffrey Faithfull, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
German: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, German, German SDH, Português, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Romanian, Hungarian, Polish and Turkish
Running Time: 82 minutes
Region: PAL
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
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MURDER AT THE GALLOP [1963] When wealthy old Mr. Enderby dies, his not-so-bereaved relatives gather for the reading of the will. There, amid the money and mahogany, Aunt Cora asks, “He was murdered, wasn’t he?”
The family tut-tuts such a distressing notion – until Aunt Cora is murdered and the tut-tuts turn to “Who’s next?” Dame Margaret Rutherford is back on form and on the trail as sleuthing Miss Jane Marple in this witty whodunit based on Agatha Christie’s novel “After the Funeral” and also published as “Funerals Are Fatal.”
As in all Dame Margaret Rutherford as Miss Jane Marple’s mysteries, she is ably supported by Stringer Davis who of course is her real life husband, as the town librarian Mr. Stringer and Charles Tingwell as Inspector Craddock. But ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP’ has an extra attraction – Robert Morley [‘The African Queen’ and ‘Topkapi’], who plays Hector Enderby heir. Dame Margaret Rutherford and Robert Morley are an engaging comic pair, whether riding on horseback, gliding around the dance floor, where Dame Margaret Rutherford does the Twist, or trying to outdo each other. Enjoy!
Cast: Dame Margaret Rutherford, Stringer Davis, Robert Morley, Flora Robson, Charles Tingwell, Gordon Harris, Robert Urquhart, Katya Douglas, James Villiers, Noel Howlett, Finlay Currie, Duncan Lamont, Kevin Stoney, Frank Atkinson (uncredited), Roger Avon (uncredited), Wallace Bosco (uncredited), Tony Castleton (uncredited), Jack Dearlove (uncredited), Charles Gilliard (uncredited), Fred Griffiths (uncredited), George Holdcroft (uncredited), Joan Ingram (uncredited), Pat Lewis (uncredited), Jack Mandeville (uncredited), Bess Rogers (uncredited), Paddy Smith (uncredited) and Guy Standeven (uncredited)
Director: George Pollock
Producers: George H. Brown and Lawrence P. Bachmann (uncredited)
Screenplay: James P. Cavanagh (screenplay) and Agatha Christie (novel)
Composer: Ron Goodwin
Cinematography: Arthur Ibbetson, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
German: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, German, German SDH, Português, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Romanian, Hungarian, Polish and Turkish
Running Time: 78 minutes
Region: PAL
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
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MURDER AHOY [1964] There’s something fishy about HMS Battledore, a training ship designed to give young hoodlums a chance at new lives. When Miss Jane Marple goes aboard to investigate, she discovers it’s a training ship, alright: someone’s training the delinquents to be good thieves instead of good citizens. And that someone would kill to keep the fact quiet!
Murder maybe at sea, but Miss Jane Marple is in this sparkling mystery starring Dame Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie’s endearing old lady sleuth Miss Jane Marple. ‘MURDER AHOY’ features a rogue’s gallery of suspects and ingenious means of dispatching victims, including strychnine-laced snuff, a noose from a yard-arm and a poisoned mousetrap. But Miss Jane Marple navigates these puzzling shoals and correctly deduces the identity of the killer . . . who promptly decides to make her the next victim. Will Miss Jane Marple prevail? Well, let’s just say it was a good thing she was Ladies’ National Fencing Championship of 1931!
Cast: Dame Margaret Rutherford, Lionel Jeffries, Charles Tingwell, William Mervyn, Joan Benham, Stringer Davis, Nicholas Parsons, Miles Malleson, Henry Oscar, Derek Nimmo, Gerald Cross, Norma Foster, Terence Edmond, Francis Matthews, Lucy Griffiths, Bernard Adams, Tony Quinn, Edna Petrie, Billy Dean (uncredited), Roy Holder (uncredited), Henry B. Longhurst (uncredited), Colin McKenzie (uncredited), Desmond Roberts (uncredited), Ivor Salter (uncredited), Arnold Schulkes (uncredited) and Paddy Smith (uncredited)
Director: George Pollock
Producers: Ben Arbeid and Lawrence P. Bachmann
Screenplay: David Pursall (original screenplay/ interpretation of Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple"), Jack Seddon (original screenplay/ interpretation of Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple"), Agatha Christie (character) (uncredited)
Composer: Ron Goodwin
Cinematography: Desmond Dickinson, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
German: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, German, German SDH, Português, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Romanian, Hungarian, Polish and Turkish
Running Time: 89 minutes
Region: PAL
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
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MURDER MOST FOUL [1964] When Miss Jane Marple auditions for a spot in a repertory company, she lets rip with “The Shooting of Dan McGrew!” Miss Jane Marple gets the job because the manager thinks she has the cash to invest in this floundering troupe, but she’s not giving up sleuthing for grease paint and applause. Miss Jane Marple is convinced one of her fellow actors is playing the part of a murderer for real.
Dame Margaret Rutherford, who was Best Supporting Actress Oscar® winner for the 1963 film ‘The VIP’s, makes her fourth appearance as the redoubtable Miss Jane Marple in ‘MURDER MOST FOUL,’ a mystery most fun. Ron Moody, who was Fagin in the film ‘Oliver!,’ joins her in this sly film based on Agatha Christie’s popular whodunit novel “Mrs. McGinty’s Dead.” The story is a vintage baffler brimming with red herrings and tangle motives. Three murders occur before Mis Jane Marple can pinpoint the killer and set her trap – and a jolly good one it is! But on the pening night of “Out of the Stwepot,” it’s Miss Jane Marple who will be in the firing line if the trap doesn’t work. Curtain going up!
Cast: Dame Margaret Rutherford, Ron Moody, Charles Tingwell, Andrew Cruickshank, Megs Jenkins, Ralph Michael, James Bolam, Stringer Davis, Francesca Annis, Pauline Jameson, Annette Kerr, Alison Seebohm, Windsor Davies, Neil Stacy, Maurice Good, Stella Tanner, Dennis Price, Terry Scott, John Adams (uncredited), Jack Armstrong (uncredited), Sydney Arnold (uncredited), Joe Beckett (uncredited), Tony Castleton (uncredited), Billy Cornelius (uncredited), Fred Davis (uncredited), Reggie de Beer (uncredited), Eric Francis (uncredited), Lucy Griffiths (uncredited), Bill Hibbert (uncredited), Arthur Howell (uncredited), Gerry Judge (uncredited), Ross Parker (uncredited), Susan Richards (uncredited), Michael Segal (uncredited), Alecia St Leger (uncredited) and John Wilder (uncredited)
Director: George Pollock
Producers: Ben Arbeid and Lawrence P. Bachmann (uncredited)
Screenplay: David Pursall (screenplay), Jack Seddon (screenplay), Agatha Christie (novel) and Robert W. Service (writer: extract of the poem "The Shooting of Dan McGrew") (uncredited)
Composer: Ron Goodwin
Cinematography: Desmond Dickinson, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
German: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, German, German SDH, Português, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Romanian, Hungarian, Polish and Turkish
Running Time: 87 minutes
Region: PAL
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
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Andrew’s DVD Review: CLASSIC MYSTERY AGATHA CHRISTIE COLLECTION [1961 / 1963 / 1964 / 1964 / 1969] Never mind purists who bemoan Dame Margaret Rutherford's incarnation of Agatha Christie's celebrated spinster sleuth. These four brilliant British films, produced between 1961 and 1964, are really jolly good, regardless of their tenuous connection with Miss Jane Marple as written, or with Agatha Christie herself. One of the films, in fact, ‘MURDER AHOY,’ is an original screenplay credited as “an interpretation of Miss Jane Marple.” And the two others, ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP’ and ‘MURDER MOST FOUL’ were based on books featuring Agatha Christie's other famed detective Hercule Poirot," but no matter. The redoubtable Dame Margarete Rutherford indelibly makes Miss Jane Marple her very own style of sleuth, or, as she proclaims to Inspector Craddock [Charles Tingwell], with whom she locks horns throughout all four films, “I am always myself.” Dame Margarete Rutherford makes a formidable first impression in ‘MURDER, SHE SAID,’ and is based on the Agatha Christie's novel “4:50 from Paddington,” in which the armchair sleuth goes undercover as a servant after witnessing a murder on a train. In ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP,’ based on the novel “After the Funeral,” where there's a will, there's murder. In ‘MURDER AHOY,’ Miss Jane Marple discovers a ship of thieves. In ‘MURDER MOST FOUL,’ Miss Jane Marple deadlocks a jury and joins a theatrical troupe to prove the defendant's innocence. So here is a synopsis of the four brilliant films you get to view and they are as follows:
MURDER, SHE SAID [1961] is the story where we find Miss Jane Marple [Dame Margaret Rutherford] on a train from Paddington station. Miss Jane Marple suddenly wakes up from dozing in her train seat; just in time to spot a murder occur on board another train. A man strangles a woman to death. Miss Jane Marple reports her witness to the police, saying that it was murder. The police say she was dreaming. But Miss Jane Marple is determined to discover who committed this murder, no matter what.
Now to address the differences featured in this film from this book, Miss Jane Marple is the one who spots the murder taking place. In the book, it was her friend Mrs. McGillicuddy who saw the murder. It’s clear that the film has Miss Jane Marple taking centre stage for most of the story with doing the investigating and going undercover. It also sees her take the job of being a maid at the manor house.
A criticism is laid on the film for focusing on light-hearted humour as opposed to suspense and underlying darkness. This I can understand, as it takes away from the tone of Agatha Christie’s novels. But I quite prefer it that way by having a comedic flavour in a murder mystery film, by adding humour in a murder mystery.
The manor house’s name gets changed in the film. Originally it was called Rutherford Hall in the book. This got changed into Ackenthorpe Hall to avoid confusion with Dame Margaret Rutherford’s name. The family featured in the manor house is also called Ackenthorpe instead of Crackenthorpe as featured in the book. I don’t think it makes much of a difference as the plot sounds similar anyway.
I really liked Dame Margaret Rutherford as Miss Jane Marple in the film, who I thought with the best Agatha Christie sleuth. I know it’s not like the passive version Agatha Christie envisaged as it’s more formidable. But I believe Dame Margaret Rutherford was the true Miss Jane Marple here.
The film also features Arthur Kennedy as Dr. Paul Quimper. He comes to Ackenthorpe Hall to check on Luther Ackenthorpe’s [James Robertson Justice] medical condition. He seems very mild-mannered, but is he the murderer? There’s also Muriel Pavlow as Emma Ackenthorpe, the daughter of Ackenthorpe Hall. Emma Ackenthorpe seems a timid soul, who’s easily afraid of her father and is very much in love with Dr. Paul Quimper. But is she the murderer?
Again, there is also James Robertson Justice as Luther Ackenthorpe, the head of his house and he is an invalid; gets easily grumpy; irritable and does not get on well with Miss Jane Marple and is he the murderer? There’s Stringer Davies, Dame Margaret Rutherford’s real-life husband, who plays Mr. Jim Stringer, a role made especially for him in the film. Stringer is a librarian who assists Miss Jane Marple during her investigations.
The film also features Joan Hickson as Mrs. Kidder. Joan Hickson would later goes on to star as Miss Jane Marple in the popular BBC “Miss Marple” TV show. How ironic that Joan Hickson happens to be in this film? There’s also Peter Butterworth, who played the Meddling Monk in “Doctor Who” as a Ticket Collector. There’s also a really young Richard Briers as “Mrs. Binster” of Mrs. Binster’s Employment Agency.
‘MURDER, SHE SAID’ is a really good beginning to the Dame Margaret Rutherford film era as the incomparable sleuthing “Miss Jane Marple” always solves the case in her inimitable style. I really enjoyed this film, even though I know it’s comedic in places, but it has this charm all of its own that is so irresistible to like and I found with repeat viewing it gets even better and it is a most enjoyable viewing experience.
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MURDER AT THE GALLOP [1963] is the second film of the Dame Margaret Rutherford “Miss Jane Marple” series, ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP’ is based on the original Agatha Christie novel, “After The Funeral.” This film is actually an adaptation of a Hercule Poirot book, published in 1953. I know the book’s title changed to “Murder at the Gallop” in 1963.
The film has Miss Jane Marple and her library friend Mr. Jim Stringer [Stringer Davis] visiting the house of Hector Enderby [Robert Morley] to collect donations for charity. Mr. Enderby falls down the stairs upon their arrival as he tragically dies. Miss Jane Marple investigates, since it turns out a suggestion is made that Mr. Enderby was murdered. Miss Jane Marple goes to the Gallop Hotel/riding school where Mr. Enderby’s not-so-bereaved relatives are there.
There’s also the murder of Cora Lansquenet, old Mr. Enderby’s sister, who was killed after a hearing of his will. It was done by a hairpin in the back of her chair in her house. Is there a big connection here? I must mention that Agatha Christie’s name gets mentioned early on in the film when Miss Jane Marple speaks to Inspector Craddock [Charles Tingwell] about Mr. Enderby’s death. Miss Jane Marple reads Agatha Christie, how ironic!!!
There is also a moment when Miss Jane Marple uses the phrase “murder most foul” in the film. Again, how ironic, that’s the title for the last film of this series. Shouldn’t she have said “murder at the gallop” for this film, just a thought?
Again, Miss Jane Marple takes centre stage for most of the story of the film. Dame Margaret Rutherford returns as Miss Jane Marple and is on fine form. Dame Margaret Rutherford retains her formidable presence in the film whilst balancing that with the humour that features so prominently throughout the film.
Stringer Davis also returns as Mr. Jim Stringer, the librarian Miss Jane Marple befriends in the town she lives in. Dame Margaret Rutherford and Stringer Davis once again share many scenes, since the two are married in real-life. There’s also Charles Tingwell who returns as Inspector Craddock and first appeared in ‘MURDER, SHE SAID’ and of course the sleuth Miss Jane Marple helps Inspector Craddock in his investigations.
The film’s cast also includes Robert Morley as Hector Enderby, who is dead old Mr. Enderby’s nephew. Hector Enderby is a pompous English gentleman that likes riding horses, who also takes a fancy to Miss Jane Marple. It’s clear from watching the film that Dame Margaret Rutherford and Robert Morley got on really well with each other and formed a marvellow comedic pair. It was fun seeing how they rode horses, danced at balls and such.
There’s Robert Urquhart as dead old Mr. Enderby’s fourth cousin George Crossfield. There’s also Katya Douglas as old Mr. Enderby’s niece Rosamund Shane. There’s also Flora Robson as Miss Milchrest, who was Cora Lansquenet’s companion of many years. She seems a timid person, although she did accuse Miss Jane Marple of killing Cora Lansquenet when she found her. There’s also James Villiers as Michael Shane, Rosamund Shane’s husband; Gordon Harris as Sergeant Bacon (who was also in ‘MURDER, SHE SAID’) and a young Kevin Stoney as Doctor Markwell, who was in BBC TV series “Doctor Who” as Dr. Markwell.
I really enjoyed ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP’ very much. Yes it’s comedic in places, but it is suspenseful as you’d expect in murder mysteries. The balance’s present and this is a fun murder mystery featuring horses!
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MURDER AHOY [1964] with the third film of the Margaret Rutherford ‘Miss Marple’ series, ‘MURDER AHOY’ is probably my favourite British classic murder mystery film out of the collection. Surprisingly though, this is not based on an Agatha Christie book. It’s actually based on certain “motifs” of Agatha Christie’s work. The film’s credit claims this film to be based on Agatha Christie’s interpretation of Miss Jane Marple, though that claim is somewhat debatable.
In the film, Miss Jane Marple [Dame Margaret Rutherford] has become a member of a Trust for the rehabilitation of young criminals. During her first meeting with the Trust, a fellow trustee is instantly killed after a return trip to a ship.
Miss Jane Marple notices that the fellow trustee who died has had his snuff poisoned. What’s more, the snuff was stolen from the deceased’s snuff box without anybody noticing it and the lady gets suspicious. Soon, Miss Jane Marple investigates further as she visits the HMS Battledore ship where the fellow trustee member visited before his sad death. Will the culprit from a gallery of suspects be revealed?
The film also works as an interesting experiment in telling a story that’s original and not actually based on an Agatha Christie novel. The filmmakers took some artistic licence in developing the story. Apparently the film is derived from Agatha Christie sources like “They Do It With Mirrors” and “The Mousetrap.”
Stringer Davis returns as Mr. Jim Stringer, Miss Jane Marple’s librarian friend. I like how Mr. Jim Stringer gets actively involved in the murder mystery solving with Miss Jane Marple, especially in using a torch at night. The aspects of the film that highlighted it for me were the sailing ship and the sailors.
Charles Tingwell also returns as Inspector Craddock in this film. It’s amazing how Inspector Craddock’s become popular in these films and it is funny when he and the lady clash during their investigations. Lionel Jeffries stars as Captain Sydney De Courcy Rhumstone in the film and I enjoyed his character. I wasn’t sure whether he was guilty of something. He did not like Miss Jane Marple around aboard his ship.
There are two stars from the BBC TV sitcom series “All Gas and Gaiters,” in this film. There’s William Mervyn as Commander Breeze-Connington and also Derek Nimmo as Sub-Lieutenant Eric Humbert. William Mervyn also appeared in an episode of “Doctor Who” story, entitled “The War Machines.” There’s also Joan Benham as Matron Alice Fabriad, who had been seen in an episode of the BBC TV sitcom, “Terry and June.”
There’s also Gerald Cross as Brewer (aka Lt. Commander Dimchurch) and Francis Matthews as Lieutenant Compton. There’s Norma Foster as Assistant Matron Shirley Boston who has an affair with someone on the ship. There’s a very young Nicholas Parsons as Dr. Crump in the film. I found it funny when after checking on a murdered body, he was always in a rush to deliver a baby.
I like how Dame Margaret Rutherford’s Miss Jane Marple gets investigative and takes matters into her own hands, despite risking breaking the law. There is even a scene where she conducts a “scientific”’ experiment. I can tell you, I did not know what to expect when I was watching the film. I had no idea who the murderer was throughout the film and I was very surprised and stunned by the villain’s true identity.
I’ve really become quite taken with these Miss Jane Marple films with Dame Margaret Rutherford. They may not meet Agatha Christie’s approval, but they do at least honour the spirit of the author’s original books. I also like how Dame Margaret Rutherford’s version of Miss Jane Marple takes centre stage in these films. I find it better than some other interpretations of Miss Jane Marple in films with the likes of Geraldine McEwan.
The film’s climax was very exciting as it features a swordfight between Miss Jane Marple and the murder culprit at the end. Wow! That’s rarely done in a Miss Jane Marple story! I wish it happened more often.
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MURDER MOST FOUL [1964] with this fourth and final film of the Dame Margaret Rutherford “Miss Jane Marple” series, ‘MURDER MOST FOUL,’ is a pretty good entry. However, once again, this is not based on a Miss Jane Marple book by Agatha Christie. This film is based on the book, “Mrs. McGinty’s Dead.” I can’t understand why they didn’t base all of the ‘Miss Jane Marple’ films with Dame Margaret Rutherford in the “Miss Jane Marple” Books?
The film’s title, ‘MURDER MOST FOUL’ also comes from the William Shakespeare play “Hamlet.” Apparently Miss Jane Marple had said the phrase in the second film ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP’ of this series.
This film has Terry Scott…yes and he’s in this as Police Constable Wells finding barmaid and former actress Margaret McGinty hanged in her house. Well this might have to do with the fact he had a pint whilst on duty. Anyway inside the house, Terry Scott’s character finds Margaret McGinty’s lodger, Harold Taylor, caught at the scene and is found guilty here.
During the trial of Harold Taylor days later, everyone believes it to be an open-and-shut case. However, among the jury, there’s one person who disagrees with all this. Guess which person that is. That’s right, Miss Jane Marple is the jury member who’s convinced that Harold Taylor is innocent. Miss Jane Marple begins to prove her case, with Mr. Jim Stringer [Stringer Davis] and Inspector Craddock’s assistance throughout the film.
Again like with the previous film, I had no idea that the murderer was and it one of the actors I recognised from another TV show I’ve seen. It was a complete surprise and made it even more delightful. Speaking of Dame Margaret Rutherford, delivers an excellent performance as ever as Miss Jane Marple. In this, Miss Jane Marple’s investigations lead her to audition as an actress and to participate in the theatre.
I like how Miss Jane Marple conducts her investigations early on when posing to take donations for a jumble sale with Mr. Stringer’s help. Miss Jane Marple also becomes convinced that one of the theatre actors is the murderer.
Stringer Davis, Dame Margaret Rutherford’s real-life husband, returns as Jim Stringer. I found it amusing when Mr. Jim Stringer was running about in shorts when meeting up with Miss Jane Marple and assisting her. Again, Stringer Davis as Mr. Jim Stringer helps out with carrying out favours for Miss Jane Marple during her murder investigation. The same is applied to Charles Tingwell who returns again as Inspector Craddock.
Inspector Craddock is very against Miss Jane Marple taking matters into her own hands with solving a murder investigation, especially after her jury service. As ever, he and she work together in this film. The film features Ron Moody as the actor/manager H. Diffold Cosgood of the repertory Cosgood Players. Ron Moody of course is known for playing Fagan in the musical film, ‘Oliver!’ He is so different here and plays his part as well as a real sleazy character.
The film also features James Bolam (who was in the “The Likely Lads” BBC TV sitcom series) as actor Bill Hanson. There’s also young-looking Francesca Annis as actress Sheila Upward, Bill Hanson’s fiancée. There’s also Windsor Davies as Sergeant Brick in this film. Windsor Davies played Sgt-Major Williams in the BBC TV sitcom “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.” I was stunned and surprised to see Windsor Davis here. There is also Alison Seebohm as premonition-prone Eva McGonigall and Maurice Good as George Rowton. Annette Kerr as Dorothy; Neil Stacy as Arthur and Stella Tanner as landlady Mrs. Florrie Harris are also in this film.
I know I’ve said it before in my previous reviews, but it’s true when you consider some of the modern day film adaptations of Agatha Christie’s works are not so true. I know how frustrated I sound when I wish they had adapted more from Miss Jane Marple’s books than Hercules Poriot’s books. But at least we have a version of Miss Jane Marple who seems active compared to other versions.
I’ve greatly enjoyed this “Miss Jane Marple” series with the incomparable Dame Margaret Rutherford. I’m sad it’s come to an end here. They may not be the most faithful film adaptations of Miss Jane Marple, but they have been great fun and worthy of repeat viewing.
‘MURDER MOST FOUL’ is a great film with Dame Margaret Rutherford’s Miss Jane Marple and a decent way to end this film series. It’s a shame that it ended and especially as there are only four films, but I enjoyed the twists in this film. This collection of ‘Miss Jane Marple’ films starring Dame Margaret Rutherford is extremely good and very entertaining. The four films have been well-directed by George Pollock and I love the theme music accompanying these four films for Dame Margaret Rutherod’s Miss Jane Marple by the wonderful Ron Goodwin.
These four films may not be accurate adaptations of Agatha Christie’s work for Miss Jane Marple and most of the stories were originally for Hercules Poriot instead of Miss Jane Marple in book form. But Dame Margaret Rutherford stands out so well in all four Miss Jane Marple films, since Dame Margaret Rutherford takes centre stage and is not being an observer. These four films you will definitely get a lot of viewing joyment!
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DVD Image Quality – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Home Video presents us the films ‘MURDER, SHE SAID;’ ‘MURDER AT THE GALLOP;’ ‘MURDER AHOY’ and ‘MURDER MOST FOUL’ and gives us a wonderful Black-and-White 1080p image that you think you are watching a Blu-ray disc and is of course enhanced with a 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The four films overall look really sharp and clear. The DVD discs was sourced from the M-G-M master and it is a decent master, and really looks excellent for a DVD disc, especially when each of the cinematographers pulls out all the stops and makes the Black-and-White image presentation is nicely detailed and only occasional is grain evident and mostly in optically enhanced shots, such as the opening titles and closing credits and a few "special effect" shots. Blacks are absolutely solid and the image is nicely balanced with good highlights and a finely delineated grey fall-off. No edge-enhancement or compression artefacts mar the presentation. So Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Home Video definitely get a five star rating for the stunning image presentation with all four films. Please Note: Playback PAL: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
DVD Audio Quality – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Home Video brings us the four films with just one standard 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio experience. The audio is nicely rounded and also gives us a good dynamic range and is also very clear, well-modulated sound with no distortion or age-related surface noise, pops, or crackles. Subtleties, such as the delicate chirping of birds and especially the steam trains you hear in the first film, are nicely rendered, while sonic sounds like gunfire, thunder, and the slamming of doors provide some good audio presentation. While still limited in their frequency response, the audio presentation is never overly harsh and nicely brings back the lively theme of all four films. The robust and dramatic film music score for all four films by the brilliant Ron Goodwin fills the room with great ease, and all the soft-spoken dialogue throughout all four films is very easy to understand. So Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Home Video definitely get a five star rating for the stunning audio experience with all four films.
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DVD Special Features and Extras: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Home Video decided that no special features were worthy to add to this amazing DVD collection, which is such a shame.
Finally, this amazing AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MISS MARPLE COLLECTION is totally awesome and you have four equally spectacular amazing films that will give you endless hours of murder mystery enjoyment and pleasure, especially working out who is the murder. It is hard not to be taken in by the charm and atmosphere of these films and Dame Margaret Rutherford's wonderful performance as Miss Jane Marple is outstanding and especially with the help of her sleuthing friend Mr. Jim Stringer, Stringer Davies, Dame Margaret Rutherford’s real-life husband. These films may be old, but that's what makes them so attractive and whimsical. They are my favourite Agatha Christie adaptations, hands down, and I am very grateful that these films have found such a good home on the amazing DVD’s thanks to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Home Video. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
