Agatha Christie's Marple (TV 2004)
"Agatha Christie Marple: The Body in the Library" (original title)

Dolly Bantry calls upon her old friend Miss Marple when the strangled corpse of an unknown blonde girl is found in the library of her home, Gossington Hall.

Director:

Andy Wilson

Writers:

Kevin Elyot (screenplay), Agatha Christie (novel)

Stars:

Geraldine McEwan, Ian Richardson, Tara Fitzgerald

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geraldine McEwan	...	Miss Marple
Ian Richardson	...	Conway Jefferson
Tara Fitzgerald	...	Adelaide Jefferson
Jamie Theakston	...	Mark Gaskell
Giles Oldershaw	...	Edwards
Florence Hoath	...	Pamela Reeves
Joanna Lumley	...	Dolly Bantry
James Fox	...	Colonel Arthur Bantry
Simon Callow	...	Colonel Melchett
Ben Miller	...	Basil Blake
Emma Cooke	...	Dinah Lee
Robin Soans	...	Dr. Haydock
Bruce Mackinnon	...	Scamper (as Bruce MacKinnon)
Jack Davenport	...	Superintendent Harper
Mary Stockley	...	Josie Turner

Storyline

A young woman's corpse is dumped in the library of Gossington Hall, home of Jane Marple's friend Dolly Bantry and her husband Arthur. Pompous Chief Constable Melchett suspects a connection with Basil Blake, an arty young man who lives locally but Blake is dismissive when Melchett visits him. Then Superintendent Harper rings from the coastal town of Danemouth. Ruby Keane, a young girl employed as a dancer at the Majestic Hotel there, has gone missing, and her cousin Josie Turner identifies the corpse as Ruby's. Ruby is in favour with millionaire Conway Jefferson, whose own son and daughter were killed in a wartime air raid, and he wants to adopt her. His son-in-law Mark Gaskell, and daughter-in-law Adelaide react variously to the news. Miss Marple is convinced that the solution to Ruby's murder may be found at the hotel and she and Dolly book into a suite to investigate. There is no shortage of suspects, not only family members but the handsome Raymond Starr, another of the hotel's ...

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Plot Keywords:

library | miss marple | murder | schoolgirl | resort hotel | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Marple

Filming Locations:

Dorney Court, Dorney, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada, WGBH Boston, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The producers of this series of Miss Marple TV dramas have set her home village of St Mary Mead in Oxfordshire. From clues given in the Agatha Christie books, if a real county was guessed at, Hampshire would be the likely location for St Mary Mead.

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Quotes

Basil Blake: [introducing his wife to Colonel Melchett] Dinah Lee, minor actress, major slut!

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Connections

Followed by Agatha Christie Marple: A Murder Is Announced (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Blue Moon"
(uncredited)
Written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
(dance music)

User Reviews

Good, but don't mess with the stories

The acting was very good and McEwan made a charming Miss. Marple. I admire Miss. Marple. She is always an engaging character that exemplifies genius and the importance of paying attention to the details. Miss. Marple solves crimes by tying together clues that no one else pays attention to. It is comical to watch her frustrate the inspectors in charge of the investigations by always outsmarting them, but in the end the inspectors are thoroughly impressed and befriend Miss. Marple. Seeing intelligent women in literature and film inspire me, and hopefully other women.

The scenery was lovely and the plot twist sensational. Overall, a good movie. My only problem is that the ending was changed from the book. Why a lesbian angle? If a lesbian relationship had been included in the book, fine, but it wasn't, so why change it? Don't change the murderer and then call it Agatha Christie. It just isn't right.