| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Geraldine McEwan | ... | ||
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Isabella Parriss | ... | |
| James Howard | ... |
Hotel Doorman 1891
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Adam Smethurst | ... |
Cab Driver
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Tony Bignell | ... |
Newsboy
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| Vincent Regan | ... | ||
| Mark Heap | ... | ||
| Emily Beecham | ... | ||
| Mary Nighy | ... |
Brigit Milford
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| Martine McCutcheon | ... | ||
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Charles Kay | ... | |
| Ed Stoppard | ... | ||
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Nicholas Burns | ... |
Jack Britten /
Joel Britten
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Mica Paris | ... |
Amelia Walker
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| Francesca Annis | ... | ||
Miss Marple finds herself on a bit of a holiday and staying at the very posh Bertram's Hotel, where she stayed as a child and for which she has very fond memories. Things take a sinister turn when a hotel maid, Tilly Rice, is found strangled on the roof. Miss Marple can't help but investigate but is assisted by Jane Cooper, also a hotel maid, who is in fact a younger version of Miss Marple. When an attempt is made on the life of a hotel guest, Elvira Blake the two Janes work together to find the motive and the identity of the killer. Written by garykmcd
Frankly, i think Joan Hickson established the standard for Miss Marple in the 1980s and early 90s. If I remember correctly, she was actually portraying a character younger than herself. (She played Marple into her mid-80s.) She did it wonderfully -- a great example of an actor coming into her own in later years.
Geraldine McEwan is an excellent actor, but she falls into the trap so many have playing Marple -- she plays it too lightly. Hickson took the role more seriously, gave it more gravity, and conveyed the essence of Miss Marple -- somewhat reclusive, quiet, wise observer. Miss Marple has an almost Buddhist quality. I have only seen Hickson capture that.
As for this episode another reviewer is right on the mark -- the audio mix is terrible. For some reason, British television productions chronically suffer from this problem (not always, but typically).
Here, the sound mix makes the program almost unwatchable, not simply because it drowns out everything else, but because the scoring is abysmally syrupy and overwrought.