Miss Marple - Le train de 16h50

Unlike with the first two instalments, "The Body in the Library" and "Murder at the Vicarage", I was slightly more cautious with my personal expectations towards this "4:50 from Paddington". The sole reason for this being that the original Christie novel already got turned into a fantastic film version, namely "Murder She Said" from 1961 and starring the unsurpassable Margaret Rutherford as the presumptuous Jane Marple.

My wariness was unnecessary, thank goodness, and the episode even turned out to be my favorite thus far! It seems to be a trademark throughout this 2004 TV-series to alter a number of plot aspects, but always in a respectable and acceptable fashion, so that the genuine Agatha Christie spirit remains intact. In this wonderfully convoluted whodunit, Miss Marple's friend swears she witnessed how a woman got strangled in a train that was on a parallel stroke of rails next to hers. There isn't any body or traces of a crime whatsoever, but Miss Marple digs deeper. She sends her gorgeous niece Lucy to work as a maid at Rutherford Hall, which is the only estate located next to the railway where the body might have been thrown out of the train. Lucy stumbles upon a complex family situation at the estate, and lots of potential murderers, but meanwhile the body still hasn't turned up.

Apart from the genius source material, this episode benefices mostly from marvelous sets and locations (the Rutherford estate is truly awesome) and stellar performances from the ensemble cast. Geraldine McEwan is terrific as Jane Marple, but this time she stands in the shadows of the stunningly beautiful Amanda Holden as her equally perceptive and sly niece Lucy. The always reliable David Warner appears as the family Patriarch, and there even is a minuscule cameo for Jenny Agutter during the opening sequence.

This isn't really too bad. But it feels so different from what one would imagine after reading the book. So I guess, those who haven't read the book would likely enjoy this movie more. Except most people probably wouldn't watch this unless one has read the book.

One thing I can't seem to get over is why is Miss Marple so perky and vivacious, almost as if she's going to break into a song and dance number or a comedy act. Is this done deliberately to appeal to a wider and modern audience? Nothing wrong with that. I do appreciate a good sense of humor. In Mrs. Christie's books, I get the impression that Miss Marple is a very "classy" lady, very genteel. There is nothing wrong with Geraldine McEwan's portrayal of an elderly lady, I do like her, but it just doesn't feel like The Miss Marple. If the series were called Geraldine McEwan Series instead, it would be more enjoyable and less irritating to be reminded how different the stories are from the books.

As a made of TV movie, I'd give it an 8. While as an Agatha Christie book made for TV, I'd give it, at most, a 4. Suddenly reminds me, how much I appreciate Mrs. Christie's writing abilities.

Attractive and enjoyable rendition based on Agatha Christie novel with snooping Miss Marple (Geraldine McEwan) investigating a strange murder takes place on board a train , but the authorities don't seem inclined to believe her . Elspeth McGillicuddy (Pam Ferris) , an old friend of Miss Marple's, witnesses a strangulation murder in a passing train through the window of her coach compartment . When a Police Inspector can't find a body along the tracks and doubts the validity of the story, Miss Marple and Elspeth locate the area where the body was probably thrown from the train, the isolated manor house of an aged, cantankerous millionaire, Luther Crackenthorpe (David Warner) , whose wife (Jenny Agutter) was some years ago dead . Miss Marple recruits a professional housekeeper , her niece named Lucy Eyelesbarrow (Amanda Holden) , to apply for a job on the estate in hopes of locating the corpse, as she goes undercover as a domestic . But her arrival becomes clouded in tragedy , another murder takes place , someone being poisoned by a drink. Then is found a strange body at a crypt , the police and Miss Marple are brought in . Police Inspector Tom Campbell ( John Hannah) takes on a renewed interest but it is left to Miss Marple to solve the mystery . Obviously someone in the large household is involved, but who? . There are various suspects , all family Crackenthorpe , such as : Niamh Cusack as Emma Crackenthorpe , Ben Daniels as Alfred Crackenthorpe , Charlie Creed-Miles as Harold Crackenthorpe , Ciarán McMenamin Ciarán as Cedric Crackenthorpe . Later on , Police Inspector Campbell and Miss Marple join forces and they set about investigating the murders , threats and a twisted intrigue associated with the case .



The plot is plain and simple : a friend of Miss Marple's, witnesses a strangulation murder in a passing train through the window of her coach compartment and dottie detective Miss Marple helped by her niece set out in investigating it ; as she recruits a professional housekeeper named Lucy Eyelesbarrow to apply for a job on the estate in hopes of locating the corpse , posing as as maid at a state near she thought the body was dropped ; as who is the killer ? ; and things go wrong when there appears another killed corpse .The episode is a detective story in which you are the detective . In the picture there is mystery , emotion , suspense , actors's interpretations are acceptable and luxurious environments.The support cast is pretty good, such as : John Hanna , Ben Daniels , David Warner , Rob Brydon , Celia Imrie ,Rose Keegan , Jenny Agutter , Pip Torrens as Noël Coward and special mention for Pam Perris as the veteran and bestest friend ever . The movie gets a lush costume design and adequate production design . Colorful and sunny cinematography by Martin Fuhrer , as well as evocative score by Dominik Scherrer . This Miss Marple episode was efficiently directed by Andy wilson .

The trustworrthy and dottie Miss Marple was firsly played in cinema by Margaret Rutherford who had made the role famous during the 1960s in classic titles as : ¨Murder she said¨ , ¨Murder at gallop¨,¨ Murder most foul¨, ¨Alphabet murders¨, and Murder ahoy¨ this one is the last and least appealing . Following Angela Lansbury with the film Crack Mirror (1980) by Guy Hamilton became the second actress to play Miss Marple on the big screen, after Lansbury was the fourth if one counts TV where Gracie Fields and Inge Langen also played Marple. Subsequently in TV was starred by Joan Hickson who played a successful series . And finally Agatha Christie's Marple series starred by Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple . Rating : Decent and acceptable , well worth watching . The flick will appeal to suspense lovers and Agatha Christie novels buffs .

One of my favourites among all Christie movies. So intense and complex. Funny, serious, tragic and still very down to earth, as always. I think this actress Geraldine McEwan does a really good job.

For an instant the two trains ran together, side by side. In that frozen moment, Mrs Mrs. McGillicuddy witnessed a murder - a man remorselessly tightened his grip around a woman's throat. The body crumpled. Then the other train drew away.

But who, apart from Miss Marple, would take her story seriously? After all, there were no suspects, no other witnesses... and no corpse.

Miss Marple soon engages the services of a young woman who goes undercover as a housekeeper to investigate. Whilst the investigations take place and the dead body is found dumped on the Rutherford Hall estate, it transpires the secrets of seemingly innocent family get revealed. But who is the murderer?

An impressive adaptation to one of my favourite Miss Marple books, which more or less follows the plot, presents the characters in fine fashion and keeps things interesting and the suspense bubbling. Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple hits her stride at this point, giving her own unique interpretation to the role and supporting her is an able cast.