+++++
I watched this movie without reading the 1964 Dame Agatha novel that it was based on. (Christie wrote twelve Miss Marple murder mysteries altogether.) I'm glad I did this! Why? Because it forced me to really watch the movie in order to try and deduce who the murderer was.
The movie begins with Miss Marple (Helen Hayes) arriving at an island hotel for rest and relaxation. At the hotel she meets a retired major who tells her of his past adventures. One of the last things he says to Miss Marple is:
"Like to see a picture of a murderer?"
As the major is looking at the picture and is about to hand it to the super sleuth, he unexpectedly sees the murderer at the island hotel. Miss Marple never sees the picture or sees who he was looking at and the next day the major turns up dead. This death is suspected of being a murder and Captain Daventry (Zakes Mokae) officially investigates and Miss Marple unofficially investigates.
Eventually, two more deaths and an attempted suicide occur.
Who are the people staying or working at this island hotel? They are as follows:
1) Retired Major Palgrave (Maurice Evans)
2) Retired Tycoon Jason Rafiel (Barnard Hughes)
3) Hotel owner Tim Kendall (Jameson Parker)
4) Tim's wife, Molly (Season Hubley)
5) Nurse to the tycoon, Ruth Walker (Swoosie Kurtz)
6) Flirt Lucky Dyson (Cassie Yates)
7) Lucky's husband, Greg (Stephen Macht)
8) Housewife Evelyn Hillington (Beth Howland)
9) Evelyn's husband, Edward (George Innes)
10) Dr. Graham (Brock Peters)
11) Hotel Maid Victoria Johnston (Lynne Moody)
12) Aid to the tycoon, Arthur Jackson (Mike Preston)
Hayes does a good job in her role (though not as good as the "other" Miss Marple, Joan Hickson). (Hayes was 83 years old in this movie!). Also look for the fine performances of Swoosie Kurtz as the talkative nurse and Barnard Hughes as the grumpy tycoon.
The cinematography is well done. As well there is some nice Reggae music.
Finally, hardcore British mystery fans will find this Americanized version different from what they expect. However, the movie does present the murder mystery quite well.
In conclusion, this is a fun movie even if you have read the novel it's based on!!
(1983; 100 min; made for TV; closed-captioned; full screen; color)
+++++