'Agatha Christie's Marple' is a fantastically directed, wonderfully filmed, all-round SUPERB TV series that retains both the atmosphere and irresistible charm of the author's source material, even when it deviates from the strict plots. As Joanna Lumley says in the 'Behind the Scenes on Series 5', as long as people will read and enjoy things, they will read Agatha Christie, and as long as people watch things, they will enjoy productions of her work. She is one of the best authors to have ever lived. I think it's something of a shame that BBC have regained the rights to her work because ITV and Agatha Christie are a match made in heaven. They nailed it with David Suchet's Poirot and they nailed it with Miss Marple too.
Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie are both phenomenal as Miss Marple. Miss Marple generally has been very well-served by performers over the years. I loved it when the character was played by Margaret Rutherford in the '60s, as I did when she was played by Angela Lansbury in 'The Mirror Crack'd' (although they are incredibly different interpretations!). Every actress brings something different. Geraldine McEwan is our pixie-like, eccentric, but oh-so-loveable Miss Marple (probably the closest to the books) and Julia McKenzie is like your lovely grandma down the road. Whenever I watch one of them, I think, "no, THIS is the best Marple," and then I change my mind when I watch the other.
As I have now finished every single episode, here's a very brief breakdown:
The Body in the Library - amazing. Fantastic. Brilliant. It retains the novel's atmosphere superbly (even after they changed a killer).
The Murder at the Vicarage - wonderful.
4:50 From Paddington - very good.
A Murder is Announced - another good one, with Zoe Wanamaker (or Ariadne Oliver, as I know her) playing Letitia Blacklock.
Sleeping Murder - this film's great! It makes a few creative changes to the novel - maybe the writers wanted to play around? - but they don't feel out of place. Even as a fan of the novel, the changes meant I could be surprised by the twists too, which was wonderful. It has great dialogue and vivid characters.
By The Pricking of my Thumbs - Miss Marple meets Tommy and Tuppence! Perfect for Halloween, very creepy, and lots of fun, if you're willing to overlook some minor plot contrivances.
The Sittaford Mystery - this is an eccentric, weird but still unique film which makes a great watch if you're in just the right mood. It bears no resemblance whatsoever to the novel.
The Moving Finger - an eccentric and slightly bonkers production. James d'Arcy is wonderful, as is Frances de la Tour. The back projection is appalling in the 'cycling' scenes, but if you don't mind that, it's a great watch.
Towards Zero - BRILLIANT. Surprisingly faithful to the source material, even with the addition of Miss Marple.
Nemesis - NO. This is pretty much Geraldine McEwan's only rubbish one. It botches the novel and makes the whole thing ridiculous.
At Bertram's Hotel - my favourite episode in the whole series. It stays fundamentally true to the book's murder plot - even if everything else is different! I didn't mind the alterations because the new plot still comes together perfectly.
Ordeal By Innocence - good film, with a brilliant performance from Juliet Stevenson, though not one I return to again and again.
A Pocket Full of Rye - Julia McKenzie shines in her debut, one that translates the novel almost verbatim. A masterpiece with a very moving ending!
Murder Is Easy - this is nowhere near as good as A Pocket Full of Rye, but is still satisfying Christie comfort food.
They Do It With Mirrors - this one's rubbish. Only watch it if you're a completist: dull, convoluted, and makes no sense. (Although maybe it's a tad better than Nemesis.)
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? - Again, rubbish! This was such a brilliant book and they botched it. This could have made a wonderful Marple episode had the writers stuck more to Christie's plot. What makes it doubly annoying is that it starts deceptively well. By the end, it's gone downhill.
The Pale Horse - fantastic! Julia McKenzie and J. J. Feild are superb, as well as pretty much every other actor.
The Secret of Chimneys - despite bearing no resemblance to the novel whatsoever, this is a truly phenomenal film which ranks very highly. It still feels very Christie-esque...just a different plot altogether from the original Secret of Chimneys. :)
The Blue Geranium - an effective and highly enjoyable embellishment of the short story.
The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side - one of the very best episodes; a true and emotionally heartfelt adaptation of the novel.
A Caribbean Mystery - fine. This story works better as a book, but it's certainly a decent film.
Greenshaw's Folly - massively convoluted but still good. Again, it's great Christie comfort food, and McKenzie is always fabulous.
Endless Night - a horribly bleak and disturbing one, but then that's not out of keeping with the book. Superb performances and a great adaptation.
Bravo! Nemesis, They Do It With Mirrors, and Why Didn't They Ask Evans? Are the only truly awful ones. The question now is...having loved ITV Marple...do I now need to watch its rival: BBC Marple with Joan Hickson?
