Marple: What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw (TV 2004)
"Agatha Christie Marple: 4.50 from Paddington" (original title)

Miss Marple investigates the wealthy Crackenthorpe clan, believing a body to be hidden on their estate after a visiting friend witnesses a brutal strangling murder occurring on a passing train.

Director:

Andy Wilson

Writers:

Stephen Churchett (screenplay), Agatha Christie (novel)

Stars:

Geraldine McEwan, Griff Rhys Jones, David Warner

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geraldine McEwan	...	Miss Marple
Griff Rhys Jones	...	Dr. David Quimper
David Warner	...	Luther Crackenthorpe
Niamh Cusack	...	Emma Crackenthorpe
Ben Daniels	...	Alfred Crackenthorpe
Charlie Creed-Miles	...	Harold Crackenthorpe
Ciarán McMenamin	...	Cedric Crackenthorpe
Pam Ferris	...	Elspeth McGillicuddy
Tim Stern	...	Attendant
Michael Landes	...	Bryan Eastley
Kurtis O'Brien	...	Alexander Eastley
Toby Marlow	...	James Stoddard-West
Rob Brydon	...	Inspector Awdry
Rose Keegan	...	Lady Alice
Pip Torrens	...	Noël Coward

Storyline

Miss Marple investigates the wealthy Crackenthorpe clan, believing a body to be hidden on their estate after a visiting friend witnesses a brutal strangling murder occurring on a passing train.

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Plot Keywords:

last will and testament | ballerina | inheritance | murder | christmas | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw

Filming Locations:

Eltham Palace, Court Road, Eltham, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada, WGBH Boston, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Lucy is checking some documents, she looks through a passport. The photo has clearly simply been stuck onto the page and there is no official stamp overprinted on it.

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Quotes

Miss Jane Marple: I'm an old friend from childhood days. His, not mine.

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Connections

Version of Uso o tsuku shitai (2006)

User Reviews

Not too bad but...

This isn't really too bad. But it feels so different from what one would imagine after reading the book. So I guess, those who haven't read the book would likely enjoy this movie more. Except most people probably wouldn't watch this unless one has read the book.

One thing I can't seem to get over is why is Miss Marple so perky and vivacious, almost as if she's going to break into a song and dance number or a comedy act. Is this done deliberately to appeal to a wider and modern audience? Nothing wrong with that. I do appreciate a good sense of humor. In Mrs. Christie's books, I get the impression that Miss Marple is a very "classy" lady, very genteel. There is nothing wrong with Geraldine McEwan's portrayal of an elderly lady, I do like her, but it just doesn't feel like The Miss Marple. If the series were called Geraldine McEwan Series instead, it would be more enjoyable and less irritating to be reminded how different the stories are from the books.

As a made of TV movie, I'd give it an 8. While as an Agatha Christie book made for TV, I'd give it, at most, a 4. Suddenly reminds me, how much I appreciate Mrs. Christie's writing abilities.