At Bertram's Hotel

Many of my fellow reviewers seemingly hated this film and gave incredibly low scores. Even more people/IMDb-users liked it and gave favorable ratings, but apparently didn't write a comment. Shame. Of the eight TV-movies I've seen in the "Agatha Christie's Marple" series thus far, "At Bertram's Hotel" is by far my favorite! This is partially because it's based on one of the sole novels by my idol-author that I haven't read yet (so, I also couldn't get annoyed by the changes in the script versus the book), and partially because it's the first instalment where Miss Marple is the genuine heroine of the story. She's the star of the series, no doubt about that, and she always flawlessly resolves the mystery, but in a few of the previous films (notably "The Moving Finger" and "The Sittaford Mystery") she wasn't much more than a supportive character.

Here, in "At Bertram's Hotel", Miss Marple doesn't just solve an ingenious and convoluted murder plot, she also clears up another handful of vile crimes that are secretly taking place within the walls of a prestigious London hotel, and - en passant - tutors a bright chamber maid to become a genius sleuth like herself. There isn't a dull moment in this film, the finale is downright head-spinning and recreation of the post-WWII era is very impressive. The acting performances are excellent, although there aren't any really big names in the cast this time.

Don't read any of the reviews from beforehand (except mine, of course) since they might discourage you to see this massively entertaining whodunit, and I guarantee you will miss out!

This has to be once of the most unfairly maligned productions ever made. If some of the comments on here were believed too readily, nobody would watch this. Which is a pity, because the other production of this that I have watched pales into insignificance compared to this one.

Reminiscent of a 60's who done it , lots going on to keep one on their toes . Again purists would probably have an apoplectic fit but really enjoyable.

I don't remember this book. As I've said in other reviews, I haven't read the Christie books in many, many years.

In this version of "At Bertram's Hotel" from 2007, Miss Marple returns to a hotel she visited as a child and of which she has fond memories. She finds Bertram's Hotel remarkably unchanged. It's also filled with people, one of whom is known to Miss Marple, the pretty Lady Selina Hazy (Francesca Annis).

However, a maid, Tilly Rice (Hannah Spearritt) is found dead on the roof. Miss Marple gets her face right in it, and another maid, Jane Cooper (Martine McCutcheon), is interested in the case as well, as she is fascinated by detective work. Tilly, Jane Cooper says, had too many nice things for a maid, and she suspects that Tilly was blackmailing someone.

Then there is the attempted murder of a guest, Elvira Blake, and the man who tries to save her, Gorman, a hotel employee (Vincent Regan) is killed. Inspector Larry Bird is on the scene, but he's a little overwhelmed, not only by the case, but by Miss Cooper's beauty and intelligence. So it's up to the two Janes to solve the mystery.

This is a fairly complicated plot with lots of characters: twins, a young girl and their adventurer mother. along with a friend, Louis Armstrong, a jazz singer (who by the way isn't very good), a couple of Germans, and a weird man. I actually found the denouement quite interesting, and I have to admit I liked the ending. I thought it was sweet. So sue me.

It's important to remember that these movies are BASED on a novel by Agatha Christie, and that the Christie estate allowed the changes. I would be upset if I actually remembered the book, but I don't. I like Geraldine McEwan, though I don't think the Marple as portrayed is what Agatha Christie had in mind. But then, neither was the fabulous Margaret Rutherford.

At Bertram's is one of my least favorite Christie novels, and the 80s adaptation managed to be both a snooze and a mess. In short, anything would have been an improvement. And while this adaptation cannot be accused of subtlety or reserve, it packs a lot of stimulating characters and subplots into its world. McCutcheon is wonderful. I'd love for her to have her own series as an aspiring Marple figure. My jury has been out on McEwan as Marple, but this one cemented my admiration for her. The stories herein are ridiculous, improbable, and densely shuffled, but a welcome change from the austerity of the original. And for all of these idiots who keep claiming the adaptations are ruining the originals because of added homosexual characters: Give me a freaking break. Christie could only insinuate about the sexuality of her characters, or gesture very broadly. Now we have the luxury of getting fleshed out characters who in fact HAVE sexualities of their own, even if they were unconventional for the time. If 10% of the population is LGBT, then why not accept the characterization of 10% of her characters as such? Apparently some straight people squirm when close to 3-4% of Christie's characters are rendered as queer. Sad state of affairs.