Agatha Christie's Marple 

Dolly Bantry calls upon her old friend Miss Marple when the strangled corpse of an unknown blonde girl is found in the library of her home, Gossington Hall.

Director:

Andy Wilson

Writers:

Kevin Elyot (screenplay), Agatha Christie (novel)

Stars:

Geraldine McEwan, Ian Richardson, Tara Fitzgerald

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Geraldine McEwan	...	Miss Marple
Ian Richardson	...	Conway Jefferson
Tara Fitzgerald	...	Adelaide Jefferson
Jamie Theakston	...	Mark Gaskell
Giles Oldershaw	...	Edwards
Florence Hoath	...	Pamela Reeves
Joanna Lumley	...	Dolly Bantry
James Fox	...	Colonel Arthur Bantry
Simon Callow	...	Colonel Melchett
Ben Miller	...	Basil Blake
Emma Cooke	...	Dinah Lee
Robin Soans	...	Dr. Haydock
Bruce Mackinnon	...	Scamper (as Bruce MacKinnon)
Jack Davenport	...	Superintendent Harper
Mary Stockley	...	Josie Turner

Storyline

A young woman's corpse is dumped in the library of Gossington Hall, home of Jane Marple's friend Dolly Bantry and her husband Arthur. Pompous Chief Constable Melchett suspects a connection with Basil Blake, an arty young man who lives locally but Blake is dismissive when Melchett visits him. Then Superintendent Harper rings from the coastal town of Danemouth. Ruby Keane, a young girl employed as a dancer at the Majestic Hotel there, has gone missing, and her cousin Josie Turner identifies the corpse as Ruby's. Ruby is in favour with millionaire Conway Jefferson, whose own son and daughter were killed in a wartime air raid, and he wants to adopt her. His son-in-law Mark Gaskell, and daughter-in-law Adelaide react variously to the news. Miss Marple is convinced that the solution to Ruby's murder may be found at the hotel and she and Dolly book into a suite to investigate. There is no shortage of suspects, not only family members but the handsome Raymond Starr, another of the hotel's ...

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Plot Keywords:

library | murder | amateur detective | secret marriage | detective | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Marple

Filming Locations:

Dorney Court, Dorney, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada, WGBH, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ian Richardson, Tara Fitzgerald and Simon Callow had all previously appeared together in The Woman in White (1997).

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Goofs

In the scene showing the Pier at "Danemouth", a modern double decker bus is visible driving past.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Dolly Bantry: Isn't she marvellous?

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Connections

Followed by Agatha Christie's Marple: A Murder Is Announced (2005)

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Soundtracks

All of Me
(uncredited)
Music by Gerald Marks
(dance music)

User Reviews

Interesting but a bit dry

Miss Jane Marple is visiting her friend Dolly Bantry at Gossington Hall. One evening the dead body of a young woman is found inside the library of the house. Nobody in the house knows her. Police investigations ascertain that she is a dancer at the nearby hotel. Miss Marple investigates.

Having watched over 20 of the movies in the Agatha Christie's Poirot series, this seems a bit dry. The engagement is more limited than Poirot, and it's less colourful. Still reasonably interesting though.

Can't fault the casting though. Geraldine McEwan is solid as Miss Marple but the supporting cast is an all-star affair: Joanna Lumley, Tara Fitzgerald, Ian Richardson, James Fox, Simon Callow, Ben Miller (of Armstrong and Miller).