Another New Marple eppy chat, They Do It With Mirrors. Book or film is fine

I agree totally with you, MC. And especially Nemesis with Joan Hickson, being one that was really an improvement on the book itself, which was rather rambling.

As we anticipate the airing of Why Didn't They Ask Evans, I was wondering whether any of you have seen the TV adaptation done in the early 1980's in England? It starred James Warwick and Francesca Annis as Bobby Jones and Frankie Derwent. It was quite charming and nicely long--more than three hours, which allowed for a leisurely production, fairly close to the original book.

The book is more like The Secret Adversary; a comic thriller as opposed to a real mystery.

I am looking forward to being appalled this Sunday.

I certainly agree with your co-worker, pgh...the words I used in my earlier post re. "Mirrors" were: disjointed, confusing and nightmar(ish).

I spoke to someone who just finished reading the entire Christie canon (!), and she said she has not been too thrilled with these latest episodes either. She pointed out - and it has probably been said already here - that "Evans" is not a Marple tale, either. Perhaps this contributes to our feeling that Miss M seems to be an afterthought in these stories. Though I do think Julia McKenzie is doing a pretty good job with the material she is handed, IMO Joan Hickson's title of "Best Miss Marple Ever" is quite safe!

I agree, pgh. In this series, MM does seem to be less involved in the stories than was the MM of the originals. It's been years since I read them, but I remember MM as being very much the central character of the books. The MM of the present film series is more removed from the thick of things, which is how I feel about Miss Silver of the Wentworth books. I've read nearly the whole Silver series now and love it, but I've thought all along that her character seems more distant than Christie's MM ever was. Sort of like a flitting shadow that you catch just a glimpse of if you turn your head quick -- and that describes the MM of these films, too.

Although stagey theatrics usually leave me cold, this time I enjoyed the playful exchange between Gina and Stephen on the deserted stage after Christian's death. Also, Mildred's reaction when she overheard them: "Blood - will - out!" Kind of made me feel like I was watching a delicious murder-mystery dinner party in progress.

And speaking of delicious, I would happily tuck into lunch with Ernest anytime - he knows how to do it right. Oysters and champagne, anyone?

Clewie, good point about the comic lines for Johnny. I especially liked the "Great White Bed" one. There seems to be less of the amusing side talk that made the earlier ones so enjoyable. Since the adaptations now are more like 80 minutes long instead of 100 minutes, something had to get cut, and it was the entertainment that got the axe.

Cute little Marple but still not

I'm going back to reading old AC's - by now I've forgotten most of the plots or had them twisted by new versions

Ha! Loved your reaction, Pinkle!

I agree, some aspects of this film were bizarre, and I found myself wondering once again if they could possibly have been written that way by Dame Agatha. For instance, the ravings of loony Edgar Lawson or the skinny-dipping scene you already mentioned or Gina's overt flirting with men other than her husband.

pgh, I'm almost sorry that Johnny Resterick didn't appear in the book. He provided two of my favorite lines in the film, delivered one right after the other:

By way of introducing himself, he said "I am the former tenant of the 'Great White Bed'"; and, thirsty for a drink, he followed that immediately with "Any chance of something moist in a glass, old man?" I can see why women would fall for him -- he seemed like a fun and witty character.

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Edited by Clewie at 07/20/2009 2:28 PM PDT

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Edited by Clewie at 07/20/2009 2:29 PM PDT