Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery

This movie is a departure for Miss Marple, with an unruly cast of characters in the Caribbean; far different from St Mary Mead and the other English country settings. We find out that Miss Marple's nephew has sent her off for a well needed rest after an illness. She appears at odds with the others at the resort but does strike up a friendship with one of the staff who senses her loneliness and takes her to her own village for a welcome change.

Joan Hickson, as the often underestimated but formidable Miss Marple, seems older and rather tired and the conversations lack her usual wit. She is also put off with the overtures of Frank Middlemass, who is retired from the military and goes around boring people with endless monologues from the past. Nevertheless, once the usual murder takes place, she steps into her role. She strikes up an alliance with a wealthy and ill-mannered Donald Pleasance, who realizes that she is much more than a little old woman with knitting needles in her hands. Miss Marple makes it clear that she has no use for his boorish behaviour and often ignores him until he shows some courtesy. Together, however, they make progress with a group of rather unsavoury guests at the resort. Miss Marple also has the benefit of a much better relationship with the local police than she does at home.

After this Caribbean holiday (certainly an unusual twist in Miss Marple's adventures), she is once again at home in her garden with her nephew. He apologizes for the wet weather but she tells him how glad she is to be back. I think viewers too will prefer the English countryside to this tropical setting. We feel Miss Marple is more herself in her natural habitat.