Miss Marple: Nemesis (1987)

Miss Marple receives a cryptic letter requesting her to right an unknown injustice, but receives no hint other than a ticket for guided tour of historic homes.

Director:

David Tucker

Writers:

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

Stars:

Joan Hickson, Peter Tilbury, Frank Gatliff

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joan Hickson	...	Miss Jane Marple
Peter Tilbury	...	Lionel Peel
Frank Gatliff	...	Jason Rafiel
Barbara Franceschi	...	Miss Kurnowitz
Bruce Payne	...	Michael Rafiel
Roger Hammond	...	Mr. Broadribb
Patrick Godfrey	...	Mr. Schuster
Ann Queensberry	...	Miss Wimpole
Joanna Hole	...	Madge
Helen Cherry	...	Miss Elizabeth Temple
John Horsley	...	Professor Wanstead
Jane Booker	...	Miss Cooke
Alison Skilbeck	...	Miss Barrow
Valerie Lush	...	Lavinia Glynne
Margaret Tyzack	...	Clothilde Bradbury-Scott

Storyline

Miss Marple receives a most interesting request from Mr. Jason Rafiel, with whom she'd struck an acquaintance some years before. He would like her to solve a crime but, does not tell her what it might be, who might have been involved or where it might have occurred. In fact, he can't be sure that a crime was committed at all. The only information she gets is a booking on a tour of stately homes and gardens so, along with her nephew and godson Lionel, she sets off to see what she can learn. When they reach the village of Abbey Ducis, it begins to make sense. Not only did Mr. Rafiel live in the area it is also where his son Michael was accused, though never convicted, of murdering his fiancée, Verity Hunt. Father and son were long estranged but Michael lives rough and has so ever since. There is also the apparent coincidence that another young woman, Nora Brent, went missing at the same time as Verity and was last being seen in Michael Rafiel's car. When Elizabeth Temple, a fellow ...

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Plot Keywords:

tour | letter | garden | murder | son | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1987 (UK)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: Nemesis

Filming Locations:

Stourhead House, Wiltshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Greek mythology, Nemesis is a sister of Lachesis, Clothos, and Atropos, the Three Fates, whose names are reflected in those of the three Bradbury-Scott sisters -- Lavinia, Clothilde, and Anthea.

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Quotes

Miss Jane Marple: [as bedroom door opens] Good evening, Miss Bradbury-Scott.
Clothilde Bradbury-Scott: [turns round in surprise to see Miss Marple sitting in an armchair] I saw your light on, I wondered if...
Miss Jane Marple: ...if I'd drunk my milky drink?
Clothilde Bradbury-Scott: What?
Miss Jane Marple: Well I haven't I'm afraid. I didn't think it would be good for me. I think you know what I mean.
Clothilde Bradbury-Scott: If you want some more milk I'll go and get it for you.
Miss Jane Marple: I shouldn't drink it if you did!

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Connections

Followed by Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery (1989)

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Soundtracks

Nocturne No.8 D-flat major, Op.27-2
Composed by Frédéric Chopin
(At the dining room of a manor house)

User Reviews

There are no small parts...

As always Joan Hickson is wonderful as Jane M. Subtle, sharp and aware. I do not wish to dwell on her acting skills as they are praised enough on this site. I would like to criticize some of the smaller parts as the rest of the cast seemed to be hand picked by director David Tucker.

Liz Fraser's performance as Mrs. Bent (the mother of the missing girl Nora) is a joy to watch. Subtle and deeply moving as the alcohol-depending grieving mother who loves and misses her daughter desperately. A good long shot of her monologue (thanks Tucker!) so she can be enjoyed to the fullest. I was moved when I saw her the first time when it was broadcast and I am moved again, now I have it on DVD. Brava.

Joanna Hole as Madge the tour-guide I find highly amusing. She is on the edge of over-acting but her role can have it. She is SO funny as the over-organized guide who wants to do good with everyone on that bus, I find her hilarious. Her reaction after she boarded every-one on the bus is great... As always: to perform comedy one has to take it very seriously, and that's what Ms Hole does.

I do hope those two ladies have good careers (as I live in Holland I do not know if they have, not all theater productions can be googled...) -their performances on the screen deserve it.

Pieter