Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: A Pocket Full of Rye (1985)

When a handful of grain is found in the pocket of a murdered businessman, Miss Marple seeks a murderer with a penchant for nursery rhymes.

Director:

Guy Slater

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), T.R. Bowen (screenplay)

Stars:

Joan Hickson, Timothy West, Fabia Drake

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joan Hickson	...	Miss Jane Marple
Timothy West	...	Rex Fortescue
Fabia Drake	...	Miss Henderson
Clive Merrison	...	Percival Fortescue
Rachel Bell	...	Jennifer Fortescue
Peter Davison	...	Lance Fortescue
Frances Low	...	Patricia Fortescue
Stacy Dorning	...	Adele Fortescue
Martyn Stanbridge	...	Vivian Dubois
Tom Wilkinson	...	Detective Inspector Neele
Jon Glover	...	Detective Sergeant Hay
Selina Cadell	...	Mary Dove
Annette Badland	...	Gladys Martin
Merelina Kendall	...	Mrs. Crump
Frank Mills	...	Mr. Crump

Storyline

Wealthy business man Rex Fortescue collapses when he reaches his office. It is determined that he was poisoned. No one seems too upset, as everyone agrees that Rex was a tyrant. Soon however Rex's young wife also turns up poisoned. The maid, Gladyes, whom Miss Marple trained, writes to Miss Marple asking for help. Miss Marple arrives too late, as Gladyses' body is found strangled and strung up on the clothes line. Now it's personal, and Miss Marple is determined to see the murderer punished.

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Plot Keywords:

miss marple | tv mini series | poison | murder | detective | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Davison (Lance) was The Fifth Doctor in the original run of Doctor Who. Annette Badland (Gladys) appeared in three episodes of the first season of the revival series with Christopher Eccleston as The Ninth Doctor.

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Goofs

Just after Lance's car is spotted by the police, he drives past a modern (post-1964) speed limit sign.

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Quotes

Miss Jane Marple: All businessmen are the victims of greed, some way to another, I fear.

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Connections

Follows Miss Marple: The Moving Finger (1985)

User Reviews

My second favourite Miss Marple adaptation

I absolutely love the Joan Hickson Miss Marple mysteries. They are clever and well made, and Joan Hickson is for me the definitive Miss Marple. A Pocket Full of Rye is a wonderful adaptation, and my second favourite of the Miss Marple adaptations after A Murder is Announced. The photography, scenery and costumes are truly lovely, and the music is superb. The script is often thought-provoking and the story is faithful, well paced and clever. My only minor criticism is that they could have developed Gladys a little more, but this is very minor. The acting across the board is of high calibre, Joan Hickson coming of best being absolutely terrific as Miss Marple. Overall, wonderful and one of my favourites. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Details

Country:

UK USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1987 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: A Pocket Full of Rye

Filming Locations:

Thelveton Hall, Diss, Norfolk, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

7 Network, A+E Networks, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1