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QueenBeez
I have a passion for Comedy, Screwball Comedy, Westerns, Dramas, Mystery, Family Classics, Holiday, Action, Musicals and Dance, Sci-Fi, and Crime/Gangster movies!
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Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced (1985)
Joan Hickson's version of Miss Marple - dull as ditch water
I've seen oh so many versions of Miss Jane Marple and of all of them, Joan Hickson's version, to me is the most boring and wooden in her performance.
I loved the silliness of the Margaret Rutherford's version, the fun Helen Hayes version and the lively, more humanized version of the late great Geraldine McEwan's version. Julia McKenzie's was ok, but more somewhere in between all the other's versions.
I enjoyed watching this series again here in 2020 on BritBox - again, I found them "dull as ditch water", but I did give them another try. I found it fun that Joan Hickson played a maid in the Margaret Rutherford version of Murder She Said.
There are many other versions out there, go find them and you be the judge of which ones you prefer - although I do like Geraldine McEwan's version, I'm not thrilled with how they changed characters and plots to fit the "push of today" - most fans of Christie knows that is not what was written nor would it have ever been published back in the day if it had been. I never once thought the way they changed characters. I have several other friends who feel the same way.
Just my two cents worth - true Christie fan will watch all versions and judge them to their own opinion.
Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced: Part 1 (1985)
Not quite sure why so many love Joan Hickson's version of Miss Marple - she's very wooden
I've seen oh so many versions of Miss Jane Marple and of all of them, Joan Hickson's version, to me is the most boring and wooden in her performance.
I loved the silliness of the Margaret Rutherford's version, the fun Helen Hayes version and the lively, more humanized version of the late great Geraldine McEwan's version. Julia McKenzie's was ok, but more somewhere in between all the other's versions.
I'm giving these Joan Hickson's versions a solid 3 for only getting to see the wonderful older actors that my hubby and I have seen in many other great shows. Still to me this series characters acting all seems so played straight from the books and doesn't have any emotion and very wooden feel to me. Just my 2 cents worth.
A true Christie fan will watch ALL versions and judge for their-selves!
Vintage Roads: Episode #2.2 (2019)
Wonderful to see these two together again after 40 years ....
Enjoyed this docuseries of Vintage Roads: Great and Small!
Peter Davison aka Tristan Farnon and Chris Timothy aka James Herriot are a lot of fun listening in on them bantering like old days.
The cars and roads are amazing to see, at least from this person from across the pond. Would love to "moderately tootle" with these two but watching seemed to be more of a"feral tick!" Over far too quickly, hoping there will be a series 3?
Sadly I have the same "map navigational" tendencies as Chris and I just love the humor of Peter. Highly recommend to anyone who was a ACG&S fans or to old vintage car enthusiasts.
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (2020)
Phryne Indiana Jones Fisher with a dash of Downton Abbey thrown in ... really wanted to like it, but..
Fashion was very spot on for Phryne. Sadly she and Jack just didn't seem to have that same on screen chemistry as in the TV series.
That said, I think one must remember this is only entertainment and the big hype build up left one a bit let down.
But, again, I will say it, it is only entertainment.
Rewatch the old shows if you want the REAL Phryne, TV Series so much better.
The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm (1957)
Nice Family Mystery to watch with grandchildren
This serial was filmed in in June and early July 1957. The farm sequences were shot in the San Fernando Valley, while the Burbank studio lot and buildings doubled for Bayport. Viewers can tell not a lot of expense went into this teleplay.
Although the decision having been made not to adapt one of the Hardy Boys books this time out, the story line was original. The five principal cast members returned from first Hardy Boys serial. Tim Considine as Frank Hardy and Tommy Kirk as Joe Hardy; Carole Ann Campbell as Iola Morton and Sarah Selby as Aunt Gertrude; and Russ Conway again appeared as the boy's father Fenton Hardy, though in a much smaller role this time.
Some other actors in this episode are: John Baer as Eric Pierson; Hugh Sanders as Mr. Binks; Bob Amsberry as Sam the Farmer; Andy Clyde as Lacey; Yvonne Lime as Gloria Binks; John Harmon as Bray.
This third and final episode series sees Frank Hardy has discovered girls, annoying younger brother Joe, who is bored and longing for another mystery to solve. Joe and Iola find a new mystery at an old abandoned farm, where they find animals still living on an farm that appears to be abandoned and appear to b under fed, but then there are signs of someone taking care of them. As Iola is wanting to get away from the "spooky old farm ", she runs into several people asking why she was there. When Iola summons Frank, he rides out to talk with Joe and Joe cons Frank into helping him solve this new mystery.
It was entertaining enough, not what kids of today would like, but then there are some who prefer the older shows. I would watch this with grandchildren, just show them how life used to be.