Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage (1986)

Faced with two false confessions and numerous suspects after a despised civil magistrate is found shot in the local vicarage, Detective Inspector Slack reluctantly accepts help from Miss Marple.

Director:

Julian Amyes

Writer:

T.R. Bowen (dramatised by)

Stars:

Joan Hickson, Paul Eddington, Cheryl Campbell

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joan Hickson	...	Miss Marple
Paul Eddington	...	Reverend Leonard Clement
Cheryl Campbell	...	Griselda Clement
Robert Lang	...	Colonel Lucius Protheroe
Polly Adams	...	Ann Protheroe
Tara MacGowran	...	Lettice Protheroe
James Hazeldine	...	Lawrence Redding
Christopher Good	...	Christopher Hawes
Norma West	...	Mrs. Lestrange
Michael Browning	...	Dr. Haydock
David Horovitch	...	Det. Inspector Slack
Ian Brimble	...	Det. Sergeant Lake
Jack Galloway	...	Bill Archer
Rachel Weaver	...	Mary Wright
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs. Price-Ridley

Storyline

When a despised magistrate is found shot to death in the library of the local vicarage, his wife and her lover, a portrait painter living on the church grounds, both confess to the crime. Miss Marple's keen powers of observation clear both of them of the crime, but other suspects abound. Included are the murdered man's daughter, who posed for the artist, a neurotic cleric who's embezzled church funds, the local doctor, an ex-convict who poached on the magistrate's land, and a missionary's enigmatic widow who argued with him the day before he was killed. An exasperated Inspector Slack must reluctantly accept help from the analytical Miss Marple.

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Plot Keywords:

bad cook | vicarage | church | daughter | shot to death | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1986 (UK)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage

Filming Locations:

Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

French title: L'affaire Protheroe.

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Goofs

This seems to be set in the spring of 1955 or 1956. When the parishioners are coming to church late in the second part, they arrive to Albinoni's Adagio even though this wasn't published until 1958.

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Quotes

Miss Marple: I first came across Inspector Slack over that dreadful business at Gossington Hall. He is rather like these diesel engines that are now appearing all over our railways: most unappealing, but, I am told, efficient.

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Crazy Credits

Robert Lang (Colonel Lucius Protheroe) was omitted from the closing credits even though his name appeared in the opening titles and he played a significant role in the opening scenes before his character was murdered.

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Connections

Version of Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie: L'Affaire Protheroe (2016)

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Soundtracks

The Entertainer
(uncredited)
Written by Scott Joplin
[Lettice plays on piano]

User Reviews

One of the better Joan Hickson adaptations

I really enjoyed this adaptation of "The Murder at the Vicarage". It is not as good as the delightful "A Murder is Announced" but it is very enjoyable, and not only one of the better Joan Hickson adaptations, but a considerable improvement over the Geraldine McEwan version(though that was one of the better adaptations of that series I feel). The pace is solid, the pace was a problem I had with "They Do it With Mirrors" which is my least favourite of the series, and the story is well structured. There is a nice witty script and lovely production values. The acting is very good in general, the only weaknesses for me being that James Hazeldine underplaying his role of Lawrence Redding and Polly Adams a little too stiff as Anne. Joan Hickson really makes this work though, with a simple charm and wisdom she is for me the best Miss Marple, and out of the supporting cast I loved Cheryl Campbell as Griselda, a delightful performance from a great actress. I liked the music too, really pleasant to listen to. Overall, I really enjoyed this adaptation. 9/10 Bethany Cox