The Murder at the Vicarage (1986) (TV)

Director:

Julian Amyes

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
T.R. Bowen (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 December 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery

Plot:

Faced with two false confessions and numerous suspects after a despised civil magistrate is found shot in the local vicarage, Detective Inspector Slack reluctantly accepts help from Miss Marple.

Plot Keywords:

Miss Marple | Church | Vicarage | Painter | Vicar

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Joan Hickson	...	Miss Jane Marple
Paul Eddington	...	Rev. Leonard Clement
Cheryl Campbell	...	Griselda Clement
Robert Lang	...	Colonel Protheroe
Polly Adams	...	Ann Protheroe
Tara MacGowran	...	Lettice Protheroe
James Hazeldine	...	Lawrence Redding
Christopher Good	...	Christopher Hawes
Norma West	...	Mrs. Lestrange
Michael Browning	...	Dr. Haydock
David Horovitch	...	Detective Inspector Slack
Ian Brimble	...	Detective Sergeant Lake
Jack Galloway	...	Bill Archer
Rachel Weaver	...	Mary Wright
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs. Price-Ridley

Also Known As:

Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage (UK) (series title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

7 Network

Quotes:

Detective Inspector Slack: I thought it was looking too good to be true. I shoulds known better! Soon as I saw that nice looking, gray-haired cobra sliding about, I shoulda known better
Detective Sergeant Lake: Hunh?
Detective Inspector Slack: The Marple woman sticks to this sort of business like chewing gum to the cat.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Moving Finger (1985) (TV)

Half agree with 'hbs', except......

Quote 'hbs': "Hickson is by far the best Miss Marple on screen"

Ooooh! there's a debatable point. Though I accept heartily ones opinions, I can't help thinking that's got the members of the Margaret Rutherford fan club ruffling their pillows in a disgruntled manner. Joan Hickson just doesn't do it. I don't know what it is, but she comes over leaving me thinking 'no wonder your a spinster. SMILE for gods sake'. MR I could have happily passed off as my eccentric grandmother and liked. JH does it her way, but I can't help wonder if she had her beady-eyes on this role while filming with MR in 'Murder, She Said'. Unconvincing seems to be a word that, although harsh, crops up every time JH plays this role. Watchable, for sure, but not eager for more. I also consider that I am a victim of choice here. The plots and plans are all immovable if adapting Agatha Christie. This film is no exception, so the only real ways in adapting to difference are the choice of the actor/actress, or time shift it, as with the recent 'Romeo Must Die'. JH is a superb actress I have seen many times and her talents are so easily on show here as a 'tight' Miss Marple, by which I mean non-expressive. MR was more full-on and in yer' face. 'Filo doth compare too much'. As I said, it's choice.