The Sittaford Mystery 

The death of the presumptive future Prime Minister is predicted during a séance in a snowbound country hotel, and he is found stabbed to death in his room the next morning.

Director:

Paul Unwin

Writers:

Stephen Churchett (screenplay), Agatha Christie (novel)

Stars:

Geraldine McEwan, Timothy Dalton, Robert Hickson

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Geraldine McEwan	...	Miss Marple
Timothy Dalton	...	Clive Trevelyan
Robert Hickson	...	Arthur Hopkins
Robert Hardy	...	Winston Churchill
Laurence Fox	...	James Pearson
James Murray	...	Charles Burnaby
Ian Hallard	...	Reporter
Zoe Telford	...	Emily Trefusis
Jeffery Kissoon	...	Ahmed Ghali
Mel Smith	...	John Enderby
Rita Tushingham	...	Miss Elizabeth Percehouse
James Wilby	...	Stanley Kirkwood
Paul Kaye	...	Dr. Ambrose Burt
Michael Brandon	...	Martin Zimmerman
Carey Mulligan	...	Violet Willett

Storyline

When Clive Trevelyan - Member of Parliament, war hero and heir apparent to Prime Minister Winston Churchill- is killed, Miss Marple sets about to solve the case. Trevelyan has made his fortune many years before in Egypt having secretly uncovered a lost tomb. He is killed during a major snowstorm when there are no police available. There are several possible suspects including Trevelyan's ward, James Pearson and his fiancée Emily Trefusis; his political agent, John Enderby; a journalist Charles Burnaby; a visiting American Martin Zimmerman; and several other apparently disinterested parties. A convict has also escaped from Dartmoor prison. Miss Marple concludes that Trevalyan's murder is related to his days in Egypt and sets about to identify the murderer.

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Plot Keywords:

death | murder | suspect | stabbed to death | snowstorm | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie - Marple: The Sittaford Mystery

Filming Locations:

Dorney Court, Dorney, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada, WGBH, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is based on the first Agatha Christie novel to incorporate the supernatural or occult as part of the plot-line.

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Goofs

After arriving at her nephew's cottage, Miss Marple answers a telephone call with a beige Ericofon. This model went only in production as from 1956. But the plot refers to Winston Churchill as Prime Minister, who left office in 1955.

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Quotes

Ahmed Ghali: Why did the Captain not return last night?
Miss Jane Marple: It's all a mystery at the moment, Mr. Ghali.
Ahmed Ghali: I shall pray for his soul.

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Crazy Credits

Following the credits, there is an in memoriam title card for Michael Attwell who played Archie Stone. Attwell died in 2006, the year this film was released.

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Connections

Version of Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie: Mélodie mortelle (2018)

User Reviews

Entertaining....but why change the entire story?

Despite how annoyed I was at the multitude of changes in this adaption, I have to admit to rather liking it in a way. Kitsch, camp and ridiculous. But it genuinely held no resemblance to the book- the settings, characters and murder were all tinkered with, and the murderer and back story utterly changed! The inclusion of Miss Marple was just not necessary, considering this book stands up very well on its own without the inclusion of either of Chrsities famous sleuths. Whilst I praise the effort, and inclusion of good guest stars etc, I just didn't see why they had to change it so much. Stick with the book, I say....!