Agatha Christie Marple: The Secret of Chimneys (2010) (TV)

Director:

John Strickland

Writers:

Agatha Christie (based on the novel by)
Paul Rutman (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 June 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

An attempt to bring a famed stately home back to its former glory is marred when a visiting Austrian diplomat is shot to death decades after the disappearance of a priceless diamond.

Plot Keywords:

Murder Mystery

Cast

Julia McKenzie	...	Miss Marple
Ian Weichardt	...	Young Lomax
Laura O'Toole	...	Agnes
Robert Dunbar	...	Young Count
Edward Fox	...	Caterham
Mathew Horne	...	Eversleigh
Adam Godley	...	Lomax
Charlotte Salt	...	Virginia
Jonas Armstrong	...	Cade
Michelle Collins	...	Treadwell
Anthony Higgins	...	Count Ludwig Von Stainach
Dervla Kirwan	...	Bundle
Ruth Jones	...	Blenkinsopp
Alex Knight	...	Jaffers
Stephen Dillane	...	Finch
Letty Butler	...	Young Treadwell

Directed by
John Strickland

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(based on the novel by)
Paul Rutman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michele Buck	....	executive producer
Mary Durkan	....	executive producer: for Chorion
Rebecca Eaton	....	executive producer: for WGBH Boston
Matthew Hamilton	....	line producer
Mathew Prichard	....	executive producer: for Chorion
Karen Thrussell	....	producer
Damien Timmer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Dominik Scherrer

Cinematography by
Chris Seager		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nick Arthurs

Casting by
Susie Parriss

Production Design by
Jeff Tessler

Art Direction by
Miranda Cull

Costume Design by
Sheena Napier

Makeup Department
Bee Archer	....	makeup artist
Pamela Haddock	....	hair and make-up designer
Julie Kendrick	....	makeup artist
Tony Lilley	....	makeup artist
Hannah Proverbs	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Kate Stannard	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sean Clayton	....	second assistant director
Tussy Facchin	....	third assistant director
Nige Watson	....	first assistant director
Tom White	....	additional first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Tim Bonstow	....	production buyer
Dave Channon	....	construction manager
Ron Dawling	....	stand-by props (as Ron Dowling)
Fred Foster	....	stand-by construction
Paul Gilpin	....	supervising art director
Jim Grindley	....	property master
Andrew Lavin	....	stand-by art director
Richard MacMillan	....	stand-by props (as Richard Macmillian)
Robert Muskett	....	stand-by construction (as Bob Muskett)
Jay Pales	....	dressing props
Mike Rawlings	....	dressing props
Mike Syson	....	dressing props
Naomi Moore	....	assistant production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Downer	....	supervising sound editor
Sarah Morton	....	dialogue editor
Ashley Reynolds	....	sound maintenance
Andrew Sissons	....	sound recordist
Nigel Squibbs	....	re-recording mixer
Tom Deane	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Simon Epstein	....	foley mixer & editor (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Dolores McGinley	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ben Gibb	....	focus puller
Jimmy Harris	....	best boy
Dermot Hickey	....	focus puller
Dean Murray	....	clapper loader
Steve Murray	....	camera operator
Jim Philpott	....	camera grip
Gavin Walters	....	gaffer
Ian Clark	....	b-camera operator (uncredited)
Peter Davies	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tommy Holman	....	camera trainee (uncredited)
Greg Murray	....	grip assistant (uncredited)
Adam Walker	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claire Collins	....	costume supervisor
Philip O'Connor	....	assistant costume designer (as Phil O'Connor)
Steve O'Sullivan	....	costume assistant
Sarah Ward	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Simon Giblin	....	on-line editor
Kevin Horsewood	....	colourist
Vicky Tooms	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Richard Hammarton	....	composer: additional music
Martin Thornton	....	technical score assistant (uncredited)

Other crew
Meriel Baistow-Clare	....	script editor
Sam Baker	....	production coordinator
Natasha Bayford	....	press officer
Simon Blakey	....	production secretary
Julie Burnell	....	production executive
Paula Casarin	....	script supervisor
Paul Harris	....	choreographer
Caroline Russell	....	production accountant
Joanna Sanders	....	assistant production accountant
Jennie Scanlon	....	script executive
Patrick Smith	....	picture publicist
Mark Walledge	....	assistant location manager
Tracey Waller	....	title design
Chris White	....	location manager
Rebecca Kemp	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Donna Shakesheff	....	production runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• ITV Studios (A Co-Production of) (as itv STUDIOS)
• WGBH (A Co-Production of) (as WGBH BOSTON)
• Agatha Christie (in association with) (as Agatha Christie Ltd {a Chorion Company})

Distributors

• Elephant Films (2011) (France) (video)
• Granada Ventures (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• NHK (2012) (Japan) (TV)

Other Companies

• Coach House Studios  Avid Unity suite
• Media Services  stationery supplier

Also Known As:

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG (video rating) (2011)

Filming Locations:

Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

ITV Studios

Well made with a good cast, but jumbled and convoluted

I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie, both her books and most of the adaptations based on her stories. The stories are clever and complex and the characters are interesting. That said, I was disappointed with The Secret of Chimneys. As far as these Marple adaptations go, it is not as awful as At Bertram's Hotel and Sittaford Mystery which were not only poor adaptations but severely lacking on their own terms too, but it is not the best either, Murder is Announced, Moving Finger and Pocket Full of Rye were surprisingly well done.

Starting with the good things, the adaptation is blessed with lovely production values. I loved the scenery and costumes as well as the photography, while the house itself was amazing. The music was very good too, not just the wonderful Vienesse Waltz that repeated itself but the accompanying music too. The script has its moments, there are some juicy red herrings and nice attempts at humour, while the direction was okay. The cast in general are first rate, Julia MacKenzie is a splendid Miss Marple(despite the fact The Secret of Chimneys is not even a Miss Marple story), shrewd, inquisitive yet very charming, while Stephen Dillaine is excellent. Out of the supporting cast, Edward Fox and the lovely Charlotte Salt come off best, and Anthony Higgins(his deep voice and accent reminded me slightly of Gary Oldman's Dracula) and Michelle Collins are decent.

However, despite these good things, the adaptation suffers from a very jumbled and convoluted plot with plot holes galore. I think it started off fine and intriguing, but it was about halfway through where it started getting complicated and hard to follow. The revelation was to say the least baffling, yes I got the culprit and the motive but some other explanations had me reaching for the rewind button. I also think in an attempt to cram a lot in, the adaptation felt rather rushed, so some parts felt skimmed over and underdeveloped. While the cast were fine in general, one or two members suffered from some moments of bad writing and character development. Anthony Cade was the main one, Jonas Armstrong looked dashing but he came across as bland and perhaps too earnest. I think this was the fault of the writer, turning a clever and cunning yet likable character into a very wimpy and uncharismatic shadow of his former self. Plus is it me or did the early attack on Virginia seem rather forced? The other was George Lomax, Adam Godley tried hard, but Lomax was made way too stiff and dull here. Consequently, the relationships between the two men and Virginia were very unconvincing. Just for the record, I don't mind changes to books, as long as the spirit is maintained. Sadly, the adaptation lacked the playful and witty charm of the book.

So overall, not a complete waste of time but disappointing. Hopefully The Blue Geranium will be an improvement. 5/10 Bethany Cox