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Synopsis
Four classic Miss Marple mysteries, including: "By The Pricking Of My Thumbs", "The Moving Finger", "The Sittaford Mystery" and "The Sleeping Murder".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 28 people found the following review helpful
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This is a tricky box set to review. Put simply, if you are a 'purist' when it comes to the work of Agatha Christie, some of these will curl your hair!
On the other hand the 90 minute films are exquisite - the period detail, quality production values and cast of each is nothing short of a delight. Stars queue up to star in Christie's work and these are no exception - the cast lists are too long to detail but every popular British actor is here and clearly relishing the role.
So, what are the faults? Well Miss Marple pops up in the Tommy & Tuppence mystery 'By The Pricking of My Thumbs' - which is a bit like Sherlock Holmes stopping by to help Poirot on the Orient Express! Nonetheless, taken on face value this episode is excellent and well made, but it will annoy the real Christie fans.
'Sleeping Murder' is a mess. No fewer that 5 characters are introduced who do not appear in the book. Why are they there? To give Dawn French, Paul McGann and Martin Kemp the chance to sing and dance as a seaside touring company? There is also a sub plot of a faked death which quite simply does not pass even the most basic scrutiny! Why did the screen writer do this? We may never know!
That said, these stories do stick with the same murderer as the books, which is something. 'The Moving Finger' is excellent and 'Sitaford Mystery' - another one in which I do not think Jane Marple appeared in book form - is enthralling and very tense.
The whole series is saved by Geraldine McEwan - twinkling along with balls of wool, carpet bags and straw hats as the razor sharp lady investigator. She gives a first class performance and adds a different side to Jane from that provided by the excellent Joan Hickson.
So, if you are a purist when it comes to Miss Marple, the Joan Hickson versions are the ones for you. If, however, you just want to relax over some beautifully filmed murder mysteries with the best cast ever assembled, buy this box set.
On the other hand the 90 minute films are exquisite - the period detail, quality production values and cast of each is nothing short of a delight. Stars queue up to star in Christie's work and these are no exception - the cast lists are too long to detail but every popular British actor is here and clearly relishing the role.
So, what are the faults? Well Miss Marple pops up in the Tommy & Tuppence mystery 'By The Pricking of My Thumbs' - which is a bit like Sherlock Holmes stopping by to help Poirot on the Orient Express! Nonetheless, taken on face value this episode is excellent and well made, but it will annoy the real Christie fans.
'Sleeping Murder' is a mess. No fewer that 5 characters are introduced who do not appear in the book. Why are they there? To give Dawn French, Paul McGann and Martin Kemp the chance to sing and dance as a seaside touring company? There is also a sub plot of a faked death which quite simply does not pass even the most basic scrutiny! Why did the screen writer do this? We may never know!
That said, these stories do stick with the same murderer as the books, which is something. 'The Moving Finger' is excellent and 'Sitaford Mystery' - another one in which I do not think Jane Marple appeared in book form - is enthralling and very tense.
The whole series is saved by Geraldine McEwan - twinkling along with balls of wool, carpet bags and straw hats as the razor sharp lady investigator. She gives a first class performance and adds a different side to Jane from that provided by the excellent Joan Hickson.
So, if you are a purist when it comes to Miss Marple, the Joan Hickson versions are the ones for you. If, however, you just want to relax over some beautifully filmed murder mysteries with the best cast ever assembled, buy this box set.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Clues and red herrings galore but the journey is well worth it , true brilliance of a performance. Shows age does matter.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Agatha Christie's creation, Miss Marple, has been portrayed on screen many times and usually as a cheap comedic caricature e.g. by Margaret Rutherford, Angela Lansbury etc. My opinion, for what it is worth, is that two fine actresses have managed to give an outstanding portrayal of Miss Marple: Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwan.
Joan Hickson's version is very well known and each TV film stuck closely to the original Christie novel. Effectively therefore Hickson's has become the definitive interpretation so many people (see other reviewer here) have no time for McEwan's very different take on the part. But this new series is of the highest quality and McEwan's impish portrayal is just as valid as Hickson's. Indeed you could argue that McEwan's Marple is far more credible as a potential solver of complex murders than the Hickson Marple who was the classic spinster with no apparent world experience beyond knitting and gardening to explain her deductive powers.
The minor adaptations to the plots should not offend even a Christie enthusiast. Some minor changes make the films more worth seeing because even having read the book or seen the Hickson equivalent there are still surprises and fresh mysteries for the viewer to wonder at. The other changes give the work a more contemporary air - being more explicit about homosexuality, for example, which Christie plainly dealt with but only in a very oblique way, in keeping with the standards of the time.
All in all this is a fresh and imaginative set of films, only undermined by the producers' desire to have dozens of celebrities in each episode for us to spot when less well known actors would probably have done the job better. As the previous reviewer said, get both this and the Hickson versions - they're both highly enjoyable and there's no reason not to watch them both!
Joan Hickson's version is very well known and each TV film stuck closely to the original Christie novel. Effectively therefore Hickson's has become the definitive interpretation so many people (see other reviewer here) have no time for McEwan's very different take on the part. But this new series is of the highest quality and McEwan's impish portrayal is just as valid as Hickson's. Indeed you could argue that McEwan's Marple is far more credible as a potential solver of complex murders than the Hickson Marple who was the classic spinster with no apparent world experience beyond knitting and gardening to explain her deductive powers.
The minor adaptations to the plots should not offend even a Christie enthusiast. Some minor changes make the films more worth seeing because even having read the book or seen the Hickson equivalent there are still surprises and fresh mysteries for the viewer to wonder at. The other changes give the work a more contemporary air - being more explicit about homosexuality, for example, which Christie plainly dealt with but only in a very oblique way, in keeping with the standards of the time.
All in all this is a fresh and imaginative set of films, only undermined by the producers' desire to have dozens of celebrities in each episode for us to spot when less well known actors would probably have done the job better. As the previous reviewer said, get both this and the Hickson versions - they're both highly enjoyable and there's no reason not to watch them both!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Miss Marple with spunk
Geraldine Mcewan is a spunky interpretation of the character of Miss Marple. She is both believable and charming in an alarming way and one can believe her intelligence and knack... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rita J Taylor
New production team and star in relentless pursuit of mediocrity
I find myself in general agreement with those who look askance at this new Miss Marple series.
The simple and painfully unavoidable fact is that the new writers do not... Read more
The simple and painfully unavoidable fact is that the new writers do not... Read more
Published 21 months ago by L. E. Cantrell
Not the best Miss Marple ever but ok
This set is ok...not brilliant, definately not as good as Joan Hickson, but ok. Good for nights in. If you collect all the series then it's a "must have", but not in the top... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Mrs. C. Long
Miss Marple
This is a different Miss Marple. All came in good order... Well done!
Published 24 months ago by Cathi C. Bickley
fast pace and a sense of drama
For those who like their Christie films to closely follow the books, the 'classic' Joan Hickson version may be the best option. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2009 by Marina Brovak
rubbish
I am sorry but these are not very good. Joan Hickson is "THE" Miss Marple. Started to watch the films but was irritated by the actress and the complete disstortion of the story,
Published on 31 Aug 2008 by M. I. J. Tyers
Valiant try - falls short of mediocre
There are a lot of brilliant actresses that have played Aunt Jane in movies and TV programs. Each brought their own personalities yet they still lined up with the character from... Read more
Published on 30 May 2008 by bernie
The divine Miss M
Agatha Christie's pensioner detective has gone through various interpretations over the years, from the monochrome era of Margaret Rutherford to Joan Hickson in a sequence of... Read more
Published on 10 April 2008 by Book Wallah
Slippery Slope!
Season 2 of the McEwan Marple series was where things started to go a little wrong for me! I really enjoyed the first season and didn't mind the changes too much as they were never... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2008 by Iain C. Davidson
Are you all crazy???
Balls to the whole, moaning, pedantic lot of you. These little episodes are sparkling gems. Enjoy them by the fire on a winter's night, with a cat on your lap, a cup of tea in... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2007 by Helen Donnelly
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