They Do It with Mirrors

Miss Marple visits an old friend, Ruth van Rydock, on a large country estate. Ruth lives there with some relatives and an assortment of characters. When someone is murdered, Miss Marple starts investigating, as does her old sparring partner, Detective Chief Inspector Slack.

The weakest episode of the Miss Marple series. Quite unengaging: the characters aren't particularly likeable or well-developed and, despite the cast, the performances largely seem over-acted. The plot is drawn out in the extreme: the murder doesn't happen until about the half-way mark and even after that things just crawl along.

There is still a fair degree of intrigue and this keeps it going and makes it watchable, but only just.

An old friend of Miss Marple's, Ruth van Rydock, asks her to pay a visit to her sister, Carrie Louise, a childhood friend, Ruth believes that Carrie Louise's very life is in danger, so a trip to Stoneygates is arranged.

It is perhaps fair to say that this is my least favourite of the Miss Marple adaptations, but that it is still a very good dramatisation.

The one thing I'd have to pick at is the pacing, it is a little slow to start, and more generally I'm just not a huge fan of the novel, that said the positives greatly outweigh these quibbles.

They could perhaps have made it a bit longer, and developed some of the books more intricate content, some of the important bits are missed I think it's fair to say.

The opening sequence is terrific, seeing Miss Marple captivated by an abstract dance, and I'd say that the dramatic conclusion is also terrific.

The music is great, as are the visuals, best of all however, the acting, Jean Simmons and Faith Brook are excellent, but best of all is the hugely charismatic performance from the wonderful Joss Ackland, who is marvellous.

A few flaws, bud still an adaptation I enjoy on a regular basis.

8/10.