Last appearance of Joan HICKSON as Miss Marple
Miss Marple's unfortunate friend Mrs Bantry (Gwen WATFORD), who we already know from "Murder in the Library", is back at the start. In the meantime (this novel was published in 1962) the good Dolly is widowed and has had to sell her country estate to an actress who emigrated from England and has now become a Hollywood star. This Marina Gregg (Claire BLOOM) is now making a film in a London studio as Empress Elisabeth, who is confronted with the tragic events of Mayerling. Marina is from the area, but is now an extremely capricious and world-famous diva. With their caring director husband (Barry NEWMAN), the Neureichs now reside in Dolly's country estate and have a good time. One day, the diva and her husband throw a welcoming party, where a terrible event occurs. Of course Miss Marple (Joan HICKSON) is also present...
What a treat! With this episode, broadcast for the first time on December 27th, 1992, the great Joan HICKSON (1906-1998) really did it and filmed all of Miss Marple's appearances. A brilliant performance! Especially since the HICKSON was already more than 80 years old! Claire BLOOM (*1931) shines as a returning diva, fluctuating between euphoria and depression, airs and graces and being completely overwhelmed by the everydayities of real life. Her Marina Gregg is of course based on the unforgettable Elizabeth TAYLOR (1932-2011), who was filming CLEOPATRA (1963) in London's PINEWOOD Studios at the time the novel was published (but it was also filmed in CINECITTA in Rome!).
Claire BLOOM was a big film star herself, had played with Charlie CHAPLIN in LIMELIGHT (1952), had to let Maria SCHELL play her husband in THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOW (1957) and also had the West German film in SCHACHNOVELLE (1960) with Curd JÜRGENS honored. At the time the Miss Marple episode was filmed, BLOOM was entangled in a disastrous marriage with the eccentric writer Philip ROTH ("Portnoy's Complaints"), who unfortunately failed to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Nothing about the resolution of the crime plot can be revealed here. Just this much: The tragic events are inspired by events that happened to the actual Hollywood star Gene TIERNEY (1920-1991). So terrible that your heart stops for a moment!
The wonderful Joan HICKSON cannot be praised enough. How great that she was able to complete her work! Even after thirty years, it's nostalgically beautiful and definitely worth seeing!
Miss Marple's unfortunate friend Mrs Bantry (Gwen WATFORD), who we already know from "Murder in the Library", is back at the start. In the meantime (this novel was published in 1962) the good Dolly is widowed and has had to sell her country estate to an actress who emigrated from England and has now become a Hollywood star. This Marina Gregg (Claire BLOOM) is now making a film in a London studio as Empress Elisabeth, who is confronted with the tragic events of Mayerling. Marina is from the area, but is now an extremely capricious and world-famous diva. With their caring director husband (Barry NEWMAN), the Neureichs now reside in Dolly's country estate and have a good time. One day, the diva and her husband throw a welcoming party, where a terrible event occurs. Of course Miss Marple (Joan HICKSON) is also present...
What a treat! With this episode, broadcast for the first time on December 27th, 1992, the great Joan HICKSON (1906-1998) really did it and filmed all of Miss Marple's appearances. A brilliant performance! Especially since the HICKSON was already more than 80 years old! Claire BLOOM (*1931) shines as a returning diva, fluctuating between euphoria and depression, airs and graces and being completely overwhelmed by the everydayities of real life. Her Marina Gregg is of course based on the unforgettable Elizabeth TAYLOR (1932-2011), who was filming CLEOPATRA (1963) in London's PINEWOOD Studios at the time the novel was published (but it was also filmed in CINECITTA in Rome!).
Claire BLOOM was a big film star herself, had played with Charlie CHAPLIN in LIMELIGHT (1952), had to let Maria SCHELL play her husband in THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOW (1957) and also had the West German film in SCHACHNOVELLE (1960) with Curd JÜRGENS honored. At the time the Miss Marple episode was filmed, BLOOM was entangled in a disastrous marriage with the eccentric writer Philip ROTH ("Portnoy's Complaints"), who unfortunately failed to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Nothing about the resolution of the crime plot can be revealed here. Just this much: The tragic events are inspired by events that happened to the actual Hollywood star Gene TIERNEY (1920-1991). So terrible that your heart stops for a moment!
The wonderful Joan HICKSON cannot be praised enough. How great that she was able to complete her work! Even after thirty years, it's nostalgically beautiful and definitely worth seeing!