Julia McKenzie's second episode as Miss Jane Marple was adapted by Stephen Churchett, directed by Hattie Macdonald and produced by Karen Thrussell. It was first broadcast in the UK on September 13th 2009.
Story
Miss Marple meets Lavinia Pinkerton (Sylvia Syms) on the London Train where she learns she is bound for Scotland Yard to report a murder. Pinkerton, who knows that murder is easy, as long as no one thinks it's murder, is killed on the escalator before reporting the killer. Miss Marple travels to the village of Wychwood, where with the help of Luke Fitzwilliam (Benedict Cumberbatch), she hunts a dangerous serial killer.
Miss Marple is easily inserted into the story by Churchett, it's so much like a Miss Marple mystery anyway. However, a number of changes are made. First, Pinkerton is killed by being pushed down the escalator rather than run over. Giles Ellsworthy and Gordon Whitfield don't appear, and the motive for the murders is changed. Instead of killing to try and hang Whitfield, (SPOILERS), Honoria kills everyone so that she can hide the fact she was raped by her mentally disabled brother and that she killed him to prevent anymore assaults. This is a brave move for the series to tackle rape, even more so as it wasn't in the original novel, but it does add as dark sense to the plot, especially as it is fitting with the body count of the episode.
Hattie Macdonald, who has directed Poirot: Curtain, coming out shortly, directs this episode well. She makes great use of the wonderful locations used, and makes the episode very dark. This is appropriate as so many people die and with a dark motive like rape, it certainly doesn't feel out of place. The soundtrack is very good for this episode, but has never been released. The tube station scenes were filmed at Aldwych Station on the London Underground, a closed station.
Cast and characters
Julia McKenzie shines as Miss Marple, apparently she only had a few weeks to prepare for the role before going on camera, but you wouldn't know! Although she is still developing the character, she plays her very well, different from Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwan, but that's not a bad thing. I like the fact that each actress who has played her brings a new side to the character. Margaret Rutherford was comic (not good in my opinion), Joan Hickson was very world weary, nothing would ever surprise her and Geraldine McEwan plays her more understanding with a hint of madness.
Of the guest actors, Benedict Cumberbatch (pre-Sherlock fame) plays the loyal sidekick extremely well, Shirley Henderson is convincing as the evil Honoria and Russel Tovey plays the slow but friendly Constable Reed well.
(all pictures ©ITV)
I can't agree that McKenzie shines as Marple. She is dreadful. Jane isn't a nosey, interfering ex teacher and doesn't go off investigating on her own, as in Murder is Easy (which doesn't even include Marple - why do the programme makers do this?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great if the makers of these adaptations stuck to them faithfully (or as much as they can in 90 min slot). Why change a peffectly good story, why change/add characters. Do they think they can improve on Christie's stories? Seems they have their own agenda to add, homosexual relationshios, unmarried mothers, love scenes, etc not in the book. Also, adaptations of book that DON'T include Marple should not include her (The Pale Horse, Murder is Easy, By The Pricking of My Thumbs - Tommy and Tuppence), and just adapt them true to the books. No need to stick Marple in to earn from the name. She certainly doesn't easily slip into Murder Is Easy. She doesn't belong!
ReplyDeleteMcKenzie is totally miscast as Marple She is portrayed as an interfering., nosey old busy body. She also shpeaksh like thish. Irritating. Have the programme makers read any of the books.
Agree w u totally
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