Agatha Christie's Miss Marple - Collection 1 (1975)

 

 

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There she sits: A white-haired lady dressed in tweeds, a pair of knitting needles in her lap, more interested in village gossip than in the goings-on of the world at large -- and out of nothing, she utters sentences like that.

For more likely than not, another murder has been committed; and Miss Jane Marple, elderly spinster from the village of St. Mary Mead, just happens to find herself near the scene of the crime. And also more likely than not, while the police are still toddling around searching for clues she'll find the solution -- relying on her ever-unfailing "village parallels;" those seemingly innocuous incidents of village life that make up the sum of her knowledge of human nature, and to which she routinely turns in unmasking even the cleverest killer. "Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner -- Miss Wetherby is a mixture of vinegar and gush. Of the two Miss Marple is the more dangerous," already observes Vicar Clement, the narrator of Miss Marple's literary debut, 1930's "Murder at the Vicarage" (although in the BBC series, only her fifth adventure).

Originally airing in the 1980s, the BBC's adaptations of Agatha Christie's twelve Miss Marple novels featured Joan Hickson in the title role; quickly establishing her as the quintessential Miss Marple even in the view of the grandmother (or rather, grand-aunt) of all village sleuths and "noticing kinds of persons"'s creator, Dame Agatha herself. (After seeing Hickson in an adaptation of her "Appointment With Death," as early as 1946 Christie reportedly sent her a note expressing the hope she would one day "play my dear Miss Marple.") Prior versions, partly involving rather high-octane casts, had seen as Miss Marple, inter alia, Angela Lansbury and Margaret Rutherford, but had been decidedly less faithful to Christie's books. While Lansbury holds her own fairly well when compared to the character's literary original in 1980's "Hollywood does Christie" version of "The Mirror Crack'd" (and that movie's ageing actresses' showdown featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak is a delight to watch), the four movies starring Rutherford are only loosely based on Christie's books: Dame Margaret's Miss Marple, although itself likewise a splendid performance, has about as much to do with Agatha Christie's demure and seemingly scatterbrained village sleuth as Big Ben does with the English countryside, and of the scripts, only "Murder, She Said" is an adaptation of a Miss Marple mystery ("4:50 From Paddington"), whereas two of the others -- "Murder at the Gallop" and "Murder Most Foul" -- are actually Hercule Poirot stories ("After the Funeral" and "Mrs. McGinty's Dead," respectively), and "Murder Ahoy" is based on a completely independent screenplay.

Following the rule that ever since Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade every great private detective needs a policeman he can outwit, the creators of the BBC series inserted the character of Inspector Slack into almost all storylines -- hardly in keeping with the literary originals, which are set over a period of more than 30 years and thus, exceed the career span of a policeman already advanced on his professional path at the time of his first encounter with Miss Marple; even if the BBC's Slack is promoted from D.I. in the series's first instalment, 1984's "The Body in the Library" (where he really does appear) to Superintendent in 1992's "The Mirror Crack'd" (which is originally only an Inspector Craddock story). Yet, Hickson's and Horovitch's face-offs are a fun addition; and one is almost ready to pity Slack, who hardly ever gets a foot down vis-a-vis Miss Marple's quick rejoinders and, in the words of her friend, retired Scotland Yard chief Sir Henry Clithering, "wonderful gift to state the obvious." (During a conversation with Craddock [John Castle] in "The Mirror Crack'd," Slack -- whom Miss Marple herself, in the TV adaptation of "Murder at the Vicarage," has already likened to a railway diesel engine, or in that story's literary original to a shoe vendor intent on selling you patent leather boots while completely ignoring your request for brown calf leather instead -- unaware that he is talking to one of Aunt Jane's nephews, rather unsubtly credits her with having "a mind like a meat cleaver.")

Although Agatha Christie herself reportedly preferred Miss Marple over Hercule Poirot, her audience's demands compelled her to bring back the moustachioed Belgian with the many little grey cells much more frequently than the village sleuth from St. Mary Mead. All the greater the tribute paid to "Dear Aunt Jane" in these lovingly-executed adaptations - now, if only this set also contained the series' first three entries ...

Episodes included:

"Murder at the Vicarage" (1930, BBC 1986; Christie's first Marple story)

"The Moving Finger" (1942, BBC 1985)

"They Do It with Mirrors" (1952, BBC 1991)

"4:50 From Paddington" (1957, BBC 1987; a/k/a "What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!")

"The Mirror Crack'd" (1962, BBC 1992; title taken from Tennyson's "Lady of Shalott")

"At Bertram's Hotel" (1965; BBC 1987)

"A Caribbean Mystery" (1965, BBC 1989)

"Nemesis" (1971, BBC 1987; sequel to the above)

"Sleeping Murder" (1976, BBC 1987; Christie's last Miss Marple mystery)

Episodes not included:

"The Body in the Library" (1942, BBC 1984, the first adaptation starring Hickson)

"A Murder Is Announced" (1950, BBC 1985)

"A Pocket Full of Rye" (1953, BBC also 1985)

Joan Hickson portrays the definitive Miss Marple in this DVD series featuring 4 of the classic PBS and A & E series. With guest stars such as Donald Pleasance, Claire Bloom and Sophie Ward, this set features 4 of her many adventures. The only thing keeping this from getting a 5 star rating is the somewhat grainy prints used for this set. Nevertheless, this a fun and enjoyable mystery romp with Joan Hickson perfectly portraying the elderly, yet sharp sleuth. A must-have for your mystery collection and highly recommended.

The entire Joan Hickson Miss Marple series is superbly done in every way. Casting is excellent, acting is seamless, the music is enjoyable and appropriate to every scene and character. My wife and I view these over and over again. In all the productions there is only one we do not care for and that is in Collection 2: They Do it With Mirrors. Perhaps there the story is our problem and not the production. Otherwise we recommend every one without reservation and would suggest that others judge for themselves on the one title we, personally, avoid.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Miss Marple and her Carribean Holiday....
I bought this because all I had was a VHS of this movie. I bought it in good faith thinking that the movie was the same that I had on my VHS, when in fact it isn't. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Duchess

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Miss Marple!
Joan Hickson makes a very good Marple. This series is also very loyal to Agatha's written text, which always makes for a fan's good viewing. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Paulina Medeiros

4.0 out of 5 stars List of Movies Included
I found it extremely frustrating that the product information does not include a list of the 9 movies that are included in this set, so I'm providing them here (in alphabetical... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Glenda Marie

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Brit mystery series
If you like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Crocker, Inspector Lynley, Inspector Morse and Midsummer Murders, you'll love this too!

Published on Oct 4 2009 by Kate the Movie Buff

5.0 out of 5 stars The A&E Aunt Jane's but no CBS/Fox Aunt Jane's
In this case many people are disappointed with the quality of the recordings. I am concerned with the availability and for one am glad to get a copy while they are still being... Read more

Published on July 4 2006 by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars Agatha Christie stories come to life !
I have purchased this movie collection because of my love of Agatha Christie's Books and let me just say,it was worth every penny! Read more

Published on Jun 27 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I took a chance....
I am entering a review solely to reassure potential buyers that the DVD quality of this set is not "unviewable", and the sound quality is not "inaudible" as... Read more

Published on Jun 18 2004 by mystery lover

3.0 out of 5 stars Falsely advertised, but a good set of flicks
Because I have a hearing deficit, I always look for movies with subtitles/captions. In its technical info here at Amazon, this set is advertised to have English subtitles; it... Read more

Published on Feb 23 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars "It is dangerous to believe people. I haven't for years ..."
There she sits: A white-haired lady dressed in tweeds, a pair of knitting needles in her lap, more interested in village gossip than in the goings-on of the world at large - and... Read more

Published on Jan 8 2004 by Themis-Athena

1.0 out of 5 stars I love Miss Marple, but these DVD's don't do her justice..
I watched all the Miss Marple's as my Mother & I are big fans of Agatha Christie's many books. I watched the series when it ran years ago, and was looking forward with great... Read more

Published on Mar 25 2003 by M. Dennis Harmon

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