The Body in the Library (TV 1984)

Amateur detective Miss Jane Marple investigates the murder of a young woman whose body is found in the library at Gossington Hall, home of Colonel and Mrs. Arthur Bantry.

Director:

Silvio Narizzano

Writer:

T.R. Bowen (screenplay)

Stars:

Joan Hickson, Gwen Watford, Moray Watson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joan Hickson	...	Miss Marple
Gwen Watford	...	Dolly Bantry
Moray Watson	...	Colonel Bantry
Valentine Dyall	...	Lorrimer
Karin Foley	...	Mary
Raymond Francis	...	Sir Henry Clithering
Frederick Jaeger	...	Colonel Melchett
David Horovitch	...	Detective Inspector Slack
Ian Brimble	...	Detective Constable Lake
Sarah Whitlock	...	WPC
Anthony Smee	...	Basil Blake
Debbie Arnold	...	Dinah Lee
John Bardon	...	PC Palk
Anne Rutter	...	Mrs Palk
Colin Higgins	...	Malcolm

Storyline

Amateur detective Miss Jane Marple investigates the murder of a young woman whose body is found in the library at Gossington Hall, home of Colonel and Mrs. Arthur Bantry.

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Plot Keywords:

library | detective | amateur detective | friend | murder | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1984 (UK)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: The Body in the Library

Filming Locations:

Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), A&E Television Networks, Seven Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

156 min 110 min (2 parts) 156 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Moffat is no stranger to the works of Agatha Christie. He had a minor role in Murder on The Orient Express. He also played Poirot on Radio 4.

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Connections

Followed by The Moving Finger (1985)

User Reviews

Hands-Down Winner

For a Christie near-addict, I find it difficult to even watch the Geraldine McEwan versions...esp. since Hickson was so flawless! I gather Christie herself had chosen her originally. Geraldine: way to ditsy. Rutherford: trying too hard to be comical and the novels are not comedies ! Hickson is scarily CONVINCING as the amazingly shrewd, analytical "old maid" who can still flutter and cluck on occasion...but the intelligence she brings to the role should discourage others. It's like Olivier in Richard III...and possibly Henry V. Case closed; find something else to play. Also: why fiddle with the setting? Christie set it in prewar England. And the supporting cast: most of whom I gather have sadly passed on--just show how deep the "bench" was in the matter of character actors of a certain generation. I doubt you could rustle up the same caliber today.