Just recently, one of my very favorite actresses took a stab at portraying one of the most famous cozy mystery characters of all time… Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Geraldine McEwan (the particular actress) brings a fresh portrayal of Miss Marple with almost the same mischievous glint in her expressive eyes as she displayed while portraying E. F. Benson’s Lucia. (That last sentence will probably only make sense to those of you who have been lucky enough to see the first season of Mapp and Lucia… another cozy, although not a mystery, production.)
In 2005, Great Britain (a Granada production) gave us yet another wonderful “television event.” For the purposes of this review, I will refer to these shows as the “Miss Marple”series… Yes, I know that before McEwan we had Margaret Rutherford, Helen Hayes, and Joan Hickson, amongst several other actress who portrayed Miss Jane Marple, but for the purposes of this blog, McEwan is Miss Marple.
Hmmm… “McEwan is Miss Marple.”
I have read reviews that state… essentially… that McEwan is NOT Miss Marple. I have to say that I strongly disagree. I think that McEwan puts into the Miss Marple character the same patient grace that she seems most capable of conveying. She is able to smile demurely while delivering a quick-witted come-back which her targeted person thinks is simply an observation. She is absolutely delightful as Miss Marple. So delightful, that I can imagine Agatha Christie saying “Yes, by gosh, she’s got it!”
As usual, we get the beautiful backdrop of quaint villages, whether they are Miss Marple’s very own St. Mary Mead, or another locale where Miss Marple is visiting. We have all of the obligatory eccentric characters and the gorgeous wardrobe is of course, authentic to the period. The series delivers just what we expect from the PBS imported British “Mystery! programmes.”
Series 1 includes: The Murder at the Vicarage (1930), with another one of my very favorite “British exports”… Sir Derek Jacobi. And, for all of you Ballykissangel fans out there… You will be delighted to see your favorite priest (Stephen Tomkinson) as the police inspector, who as usual, sees beyond Miss Marple’s elderly lady façade. Also presented in series one are: The Body in the Library (1942) with the phenomenal Joanna Lumley, A Murder is Announced (1950), and 4:50 from Paddington (1957), which all of you Christie fans might know as What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!
Series 2 includes: Sleeping Murder (1976), By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968), The Moving Finger (1943), and The Sittaford Mystery (1931) I have to admit that I did not care for By the Pricking of my Thumbs at all. Miss Marple seems totally superfluous in this Tommy and Tuppence “movie.” And, since I never cared for that particular Christie series, it stands to reason that I didn’t like this show. I felt like McEwan’s talents were being wasted by having her play second fiddle to an alcoholic Tuppence.
Series 3 includes: Towards Zero (1944), Nemesis (1971, At Bertram’s Hotel (1965), and Ordeal by Innocence (1958). While I haven’t seen the third season of these shows, I am a little concerned that Ordeal by Innocence and Towards Zero are not Miss Marple books. I sure hope that Miss Marple isn’t again used as a secondary character as she was in the second season’s By the Pricking of My Thumbs!
All in all, if you are looking for a really fun time, these “movies” might be exactly what you want!
If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.
Rebekah says
Doh! I just found this entry after I posted my previous comment asking your opinions on McEwan. One of my biggest complaints about McEwan’s portrayal is that she lacks the bumbling ability that I think Hickson hit right on the head. Hickson was able to easily transition from the stumbling old woman that everyone underestimated to the sharp witted woman who calmly exposed criminals and murderers. With McEwan I find myself saying, ‘Wait, I don’t think she’s playing dumb here, I think her Miss Marple actually is dumb!’ Just my opinion! I love your blog and I hope you keep it up!
Eric D. Benz says
Has anyone noticed why Geraldine McEwen is sitting by the radio listening to my foolish heart in murder at the vicarage much later on Zoey Wanamaker in her wig ha in a murderer is announced is singing my foolish heart into her hair brush/microphone. Inside production joke I think just something I picked up on. Agatha is the meat and potatoes of murder let’s face it and nobody murders like the British. I wonder if it’s true about women preferring poison as opposed to men I mean well you know what I mean
Jude says
I agree .there’s also something sinister in the look of Geraldine McEwan’s eyes. I feel like she’s gonna do something bad.The storylines are also so different to the Joan Hickson originals.Some of them are almost unrecognizable to me like “sleeping murder “it’s so different to the Joan hickson version.Hickson will always be my favorite ms.marple along with Margaret Rutherford,Hickson was also Agatha Christie’s first choice. Hickson was in Margaret Rutherford’s Miss Marple when she was young andAgatha Christie had expressed Hickson will be perfect for her in 30yrs time.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rebekah,
Again, I agree with you on the differences between Hickson’s and McEwan’s portrayals. I am such a fan of McEwan that I am just happy to see her in something new. We are re-watching the Hickson movies now, and when seen right after the McEwan’s movies, the contrast is almost too sharp…
And, I’m glad you found the site and are enjoying it!
Julia says
My problem with the McEwan Miss Marple’s (as opposed the Hickson ones) actually has nothing to do with the actress – my issue is that they rewrote Agatha Christie! And I don’t mean just in terms of staging; I can understand why the order of scenes might be shifted around to emphasize certain points and to keep the viewers coming back after the commercials. But in the new Miss Marple movies the writers actually changed killers (and motives)! And they inserted Miss Marple in a Tommy & Tuppence mystery! Let them go write their own books instead of messing up my favorite stories.
GLENDA says
I agree with Julia’s comment. I don’t mind that different actresses interpret the role in their own way — I’d expect it, in fact. But I DO most strenuously object to the way these plots, in some instances, have been hacked around to pieces. Three of them are, in my mind, unforgivably bad in this respect: Nemesis, Sleeping Murder, and At Bertram’s Hotel. In every case, they have removed the darker aspects of these mysteries — some of Dame Agatha’s darkest — and turned them into soap operas with light touches of romance and comedy even. UGH. Like CSI on Saturday Night Live. Bad combo.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Glenda, you and Julia make very valid points. It is a shame that today’s productions can’t be true to Agatha Christie’s mysteries. Taking liberties with the actual books (things like combining several books together or putting her main characters in books they don’t belong) is very annoying to Christie fans. Her daughter insisted on keeping true to the novels, however, that has all changed!
Stash Empress says
Coming late to the party — but I agree — that is my beef with the McEwan version of Miss Marple. While I liked Ms. McEwan very much in Lucia, I can’t abide her Marple series — not her fault, but they totally messed up the Christie stories — if you are going to change the plot to the point where you have a different character committing the murder — well — you’ve gone & done it now!!!
I do understand its not the actress’ fault –but I am just so turned off by the series.
By contrast the Hickson versions were always very true to the originals & to me Hickson will always be Marple.
Larkin says
It makes me feel better that there are others who also get upset when Agatha Christie’s works get butchered by today’s producers. I was traumatized for days after watching the new production (Poirot) of Cards On the Table! It’s so sad that they have done this; I am a huge Agatha Christie fan. In my opinion, Joan Hickson “is” Miss Marple. Did you know that Agatha Christie personally asked Joan Hickson to be Miss Marple?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I know what you mean by having the producers and writers decide that they want to change Agatha Christie’s classics. I agree about the idea of them writing their own books!
Joshua says
First off, Danna, I have just discovered your website and it’s an absolute delight! Thank you for all the hard work, and introducing me to some (well, lots, actually) cozy authors I never knew.
And it is very nice to see a positive review of McEwan as Marple! I personally loved her portrayal and I never understood why she elicited such a vitriolic response from so many viewers. I know people are devoted to their “firsts” and have preferred performances, but I thought McEwan brought such charm and charisma to the role. Miss Marple also changed somewhat from her beginnings throughout the novels, so there is room for interpretation with her portrayal I think. And I like Julia McKenzie very much as well, even though I feel like she is very limited sometimes by the writing of the episodes. But when she has something to actually do, I like her approach to Marple.
The interpretations of the stories have been extremely uneven for me. Some of them were a sheer delight, even if they did deviate from the books a bit. Others were complete duds. I actually didn’t mind Miss Marple – in *some* cases – being inserted into other mysteries. (Although some are a complete disaster.) I try to separate the books from movies/tv and take them for their different aims. “The Body in Library,” with Ms Lumley as you mention, was terrific in my opinion, even if it did deviate. It was still a great two hours of TV. I think the first series is the strongest overall.
By the way, I’m a devoted Mapp & Lucia/EF Benson fan as well, so nice to be in such good company!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to the site, Joshua. Hopefully you’ll be able to find a few authors who are a perfect match for you… I know I have! When I first started the site, I only included authors with whom I was familiar. Since then, however, I have added many, many authors who have come recommended by Cozy Mystery site readers. I have tried quite a few of those authors, and have added several to my “favorite authors” list. (Note that I didn’t say I added all of them. Some of them were simply not the right match for me, even though a lot of other people enjoy them.)
I love Geraldine McEwan in everything I have seen her in… even as the Mother Superior in The Magdalene Sisters… (I loved to hate her in that one! She was exceptional!) She brings such a depth to her parts. I became a fan of hers while watching the Mapp & Lucia television series many years ago.
I agree with your assessment about “the stories have been extremely uneven”>>> They have been! I strongly recommend the Miss Marple television series which stars Joan Hickson. If someone is looking for “the real” Miss Marple, Hickson is perfection!
Melinda says
I loved Geraldine McEwan in the role of Miss Marple in this series. Now that Julia Mackenzie is Miss Marple, I don’t find them quite as enjoyable but of course I still watch! The latest series in currently running here in the UK.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Melinda, there is just something about Geraldine McEwan in anything! She’s simply a delight to watch in any role.
Marble says
These are unwatchable. Apart from butchering the 12 actual Marple stories, the writers/producers also decided to destroy stories in which Marple never appeared. *UGH* Neither McEwan nor Mackenzie has a clue how to play a prim, observant Miss Marple. Both play her like a snoopy bag lady. *Yuck*
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marble, I have read that as long as Agatha Christie’s daughter was alive, they stayed true to Christie’s mystery books. It does seem a shame that they have changed so much. It’s always odd to see Miss Marple thrown into the more recent productions where she obviously doesn’t belong… (As for the two actresses, I think they do a terrific job with the scripts they are given.)