Murder at the Gallop (1963)

Director:

George Pollock

Writers:

James P. Cavanagh (screenplay)
Agatha Christie (novel)

Release Date:

December 1963 (Austria)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

(The Raciest Mystery of the Season!)

Plot:

When a wealthy old man appears to have been "frightened to death" by a cat, Miss Marple suspects one of his four relatives, all heirs to his estate, of his murder.

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Heart Attack | Murder | Charity | Heart Failure

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Margaret Rutherford	...	Miss Marple
Stringer Davis	...	Mr. Stringer
Robert Morley	...	Hector Enderby
Flora Robson	...	Miss Milchrest
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Inspector Craddock (as Charles Tingwell)
Gordon Harris	...	Sergeant Bacon
Robert Urquhart	...	George Crossfield
Katya Douglas	...	Rosamund Shane
James Villiers	...	Michael Shane
Noel Howlett	...	Mr. Trundell
Finlay Currie	...	Old Enderby
Duncan Lamont	...	Hillman
Kevin Stoney	...	Doctor Markwell
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Atkinson	...	Hotel Night Porter (uncredited)
Roger Avon	...	Police Photographer (uncredited)
Jack Dearlove	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Fred Griffiths	...	Pub Landlord (uncredited)

Directed by
George Pollock

Writing credits
James P. Cavanagh		(screenplay)
Agatha Christie		(novel "After the Funeral")

Produced by
George H. Brown	....	producer
Lawrence P. Bachmann	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ron Goodwin

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Rule

Casting by
Irene Howard

Art Direction by
Frank White

Makeup Department
Eddie Knight	....	makeup artist
Pearl Orton	....	hairdressing

Production Management
Sydney Streeter	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Basil Rayburn	....	assistant director
Edward Dorian	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Barry	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Bowen	....	sound recordist
Denis Rogers	....	sound editor (as Dennis Rogers)
J.B. Smith	....	dubbing mixer
A.W. Watkins	....	recording supervisor

Special Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator
John Hardman	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maude Churchill	....	wardrobe
Charles Monet	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Masada Wilmot	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)

Music Department
Ron Goodwin	....	conductor

Other crew
Betty Harley	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios (presents) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) (as A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture also)
• George H. Brown Productions (for) (uncredited)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1963) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Turner Entertainment (1990) (worldwide) (all media)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Video (19??) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (200?) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Brazil:10 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12 | UK:U | USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #20433)

Filming Locations:

Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Trivia:

Stringer Davis, who plays Miss Marple's friend Mr. Stringer, was actually Margaret Rutherford's husband. The part of Mr. Stringer was created for him.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The stiff-legged feline which leaps past Miss Marple as she investigates Enderby's house is clearly a fake cat; this is especially evident in slow-motion.

Quotes:

Miss Jane Marple:Am I to assume that you are not going to do anything about this?
Inspector Craddock:Nothing whatever. You see, I'm a policeman, Miss Marple. I'm only interested in facts.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Murder Most Foul (1964)

Brisk Agatha Christie mystery moves at a gallop...

This is possibly MARGARET RUTHERFORD's most satisfactory excursion into Agtha Christie-land and she's helped by a delightful Ron Goodwin score that emphasizes her character with an infectious main theme and the gorgeous B&W photography, full of sinister shadows and proper atmospheric effects.

Furthermore, Miss Rutherford is surrounded by some formidable British talent, such as Stringer Davis (his Mr. Stringer is always a delight), Robert Morley (blustery but fun), and most notably, FLORA ROBSON, remarkable as the timid companion of an elderly woman.

I've seen most of these Miss Marple mysteries from the 1960s, and this has got to be one of the best. It moves at a swift gallop (unlike some of the more tedious, slow-paced BBC versions), and the accent is on the humorous characterization that Rutherford is capable of. Purists may not think it serves Agatha Christie well, but taken on its own as a piece of comedy/mystery entertainment, it stands up well in that genre.

Highly recommended.