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Hickson, McEwan, or McKenzie?

christiefan93 29 May 09 at 11:01 p.m. GMT

The Battle Continues!

Over the past couple weeks I have been watching many Miss Marple adaptations and the age old question has been nagging at me againg. Who is the best T.V. Miss Marple? Joan Hickson's Marple is a sweet and "fluffy" old thing with brains to boot. Geraldine McEwan's Marple is comical and sly, and Julia McKenzie's is warm but maybe a bit to sugary'sweet? So whats your opinion? I have to say that though Hickson's adaptations remain more true to the original text, I rather like Gerladine Mcewan's portrayal of Marple, she portrays Miss Marple as a more cunning old thing, and dare I say...Hip?

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Tommy_A_Jones 04 Aug 11 at 2:15 p.m. GMT

I agree, The First Miss Marple we come accross is likely to be our favourite, I wonder if Suzy Aitchison will one day be Miss Marple, she is June Whitfields Daughter, maybe one day it will be Jane Horrocks or perhaps the Woman who played Agatha Christie in Doctor Who, or maybe Anne Reid or Helen Mirren or perhaos Emma Thompson, I know there are people I have seen in Marple and though I wonder if she will play Miss Marple one day but I can't remember who at the Moment.

Future_Miss_Marple 03 Aug 11 at 3:18 p.m. GMT

It seems that, more often than not, the first Miss Marple one knew is one's favorite. For me that's Geraldine McEwan, but I've since come around to Julia McKenzie. Judging by many of the comments on this thread, I really must check out the adaptations starring Joan Hickson, too.

What I wonder is who we predict will make a good Miss Marple in the future. After "The Pale Horse," PBS aired a short clip of Keeley Hawes saying that she really hoped someone would cast her as Miss Marple "when she grew up." Her enthusiasm was enough to win me over, but I think we'll need Miss Marples between McKenzie and Hawes!

mlbradley 31 Jul 11 at 1:23 a.m. GMT

I'd never say that Miss Marple was "hip". Old school, proper British old maid with an incredible talent for observation and drawing inferences. Joan Hickson is the best Miss Marple.

Tommy_A_Jones 25 Jul 11 at 2:49 p.m. GMT

I know this thread isn't about her but for sheer enjoyment I think Margaret Rutherford is much better than Geraldine McKewan or Julia McKenzie, I watched Murder She Said On Saturday and It was just a Joy to watch, Yes There were Changes which would anger the Purists (Of Which I used to think I was one) but it was what people wanted back then when people weren't so sophisticated, like The Joan Hickson Adaptations, I am sad to say I don't think you would have Adaptations made the same way these days, Sophistication and Progress has alot to answer for.

Just for the record taking only these 3 into account;

1. Joan Hickson

2. Julia McKenzie

3. Geraldine MKewan

However If I could I would put Margaret Rutherford and June Witfield before McKenzie and McKewan.

ErkutSoyer 21 Jul 11 at 9:27 p.m. GMT

I think

1-Julia McKenzie

2-Joan Hickson

3-Geraldine McEwan

LouiseElizabeth 21 Jul 11 at 8:54 p.m. GMT

i TOTALLY AGREE with you PeterJKH,

Talk about wandering off from the path, implying that Tuppence was  a drunk, she was fairly aristocratic in the books and this character on the TV series was soo not.  It spoiled it for me, thank goodness I read the book and formed my own imagination of what Tuppence should be.

LouiseElizabeth 21 Jul 11 at 8:53 p.m. GMT

PeterJKH

I watched “By the pricking of my thumbs” yesterday, featuring Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple. I was appalled. What have they done to this Tommy and Tuppence story?! What the *** is Miss Marple doing in it? Why did they have to portray Tuppence as a rather stupid,  bored woman, astranged from her husband and drinking like a spunge? I hated every second of it.

Not only did they ruin one of the best mystery books Agatha Christie has ever written (IMHO), but the way Geraldine McEwan portrayed Miss Marple was (to be kind) poor and even agonizing at times. She looked like somebody from a local amateur theater who had been asked to play an old lady and who had rummiged through some old clothes in the attic  to find an outfit. And that’s how she looked: somebody who is playing dressing-up, not natural at all. And than: drinking beer, drinking whiskey, going to Sir Philip’s cocktailparty without even changing into something suitable, that is not the Jane Marple I know! How I miss Joan Hickson!

Again: I hated this TV-film, from the beginning to the end, and I do not understand why they had to wreck Agatha Christie’s stories and characters in such a disrespectable way.

I never ever want to watch another film from this series again and I cherish my Joan Hickson collection even more than before.

LouiseElizabeth 21 Jul 11 at 8:52 p.m. GMT

My ultimate miss marple was Margaret Rutherford, I know...you are going to say NO WAYYY, but she just was very clever at the portrayal.  But, talking about Hickson, I would have to say her without a doubt.   Geraldine Mcewan too wooly headed AND A BIT ECCENTRIC.

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Feb 11 at 4:37 p.m. GMT

I don't think iot is just the way Actresses play Moiss Marple it is also the fact that the Writers want to put their stamp on the Productions or is it the Producers telling them what to write, It wasn't Geraldine Mc|Kewan's Fault that there was the Stupid troup[e in Nemesis or the fact the sisters were cut to 2 and they were nuns in Nemesis both changes were totally unnecessary and made a Mockery of Agatha Christie's work, At Bertram's Hotel (The ITV version) bored me intensely and I did like the book, it was one of my Favourite Miss Marple books along with A Murder is Announced, 4.50 From Paddington, Sleeping Murder and Nemesis.

Bunch_Marple 07 Feb 11 at 4:11 p.m. GMT

The thing about it is, all actresses want to put their stamp on a role and anyone coming after the perfection of Joan Hickson will be judged harshly. It's perhaps better not to draw too many comparisons and just try to enjoy them as different versions of old classics.

I actually believe the Bertram's hotel adapt was better than the original story, which I found rather uninteresting. I really enjoyed Martine McCutcheon as the maid, Jane, and the interplay between the guests/police/staff much more than the stuffy, reserved nature of the original.

I do agree, however, that some chages in the adapts overall are unforgivable..

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Feb 11 at 3:25 p.m. GMT

I cherish my Collection too, I agree with you about Geraldine McKewan's performance, but IMHO it is one of the better ones that she did as Miss Marple, I can understand how Tommy Working all the time would hav e made Tuppence bored although I still don't understand why they made her a drunk, at first what annoyed me was the way Tommy was portrayed but then I realised he was Crotchetty because he was worriued about Tuppence, the Adaptation has some good moments like Patrick Barlow's minceing and it is better than ITVs Nemesis and Sleeping Murder but I think Julia McKenzie is better and Joan Hickson is MUCH MUCH better than both.

PeterJKH 07 Feb 11 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

I watched “By the pricking of my thumbs” yesterday, featuring Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple. I was appalled. What have they done to this Tommy and Tuppence story?! What the *** is Miss Marple doing in it? Why did they have to portray Tuppence as a rather stupid,  bored woman, astranged from her husband and drinking like a spunge? I hated every second of it.

Not only did they ruin one of the best mystery books Agatha Christie has ever written (IMHO), but the way Geraldine McEwan portrayed Miss Marple was (to be kind) poor and even agonizing at times. She looked like somebody from a local amateur theater who had been asked to play an old lady and who had rummiged through some old clothes in the attic  to find an outfit. And that’s how she looked: somebody who is playing dressing-up, not natural at all. And than: drinking beer, drinking whiskey, going to Sir Philip’s cocktailparty without even changing into something suitable, that is not the Jane Marple I know! How I miss Joan Hickson!

Again: I hated this TV-film, from the beginning to the end, and I do not understand why they had to wreck Agatha Christie’s stories and characters in such a disrespectable way.

I never ever want to watch another film from this series again and I cherish my Joan Hickson collection even more than before.

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Jan 11 at 3:31 p.m. GMT

Didn't someone say she had a Fall? perhaps it wouldn't get better in time so she had to give up the role.

GKCfan 09 Jan 11 at 7:58 p.m. GMT

I'm afraid Ms. McEwan has had some health problems- I heard that she had some hip or leg pain that made it hard for her to film a series.

Bunch_Marple 09 Jan 11 at 4:06 p.m. GMT

Does anyone know why Geraldine McEwan stepped down as Marple? I don't remember, but did she get a lot of criticism for her work when it went out? :)

SpearmintHippo 03 Jan 11 at 11:35 p.m. GMT

Joan Hickson is unquestionably the best Miss Marple closely followed by Julia McKenzie (when appearing in her own stories!).  Joan has the manner and bearing of an elderly Victorian spinster, which is what MM was.  Julia brings a warmth to the role and a more "modern" feel which I find enjoyable when I'm not being enraged at the butchery of the plot!

Margaret Rutherford and Angela Lansbury are unwatchable,  totally awful drivel, as are any of the American adaptations - both Marple and Poirot.  Geraldine McEwan is a passable third!

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Nov 10 at 4:19 p.m. GMT

I agree with Inspector Grant, The Joan Hickson Adaptations are Great, I watched A Caribbean Mystery yesterday, I am lucky enough to have them all.

InspectorGrant 14 Nov 10 at 2:24 p.m. GMT

I think that you will enjoy Joan Hickson's portrayal of Miss Marple when you see one.  Most people seem to prefer her, but of course everybody's tastes differ.

Joan Hickson was Agatha Christie's own choice for the role, but unfortunately she never saw her as Miss Marple.  There must have been some quality which she perceived in Joan Hickson which Dame Agatha identified with Miss Marple.  She certainly LOOKS like Miss Marple. 

ivi21 14 Nov 10 at 11:58 a.m. GMT

I haven't  seen Joan Hickson yet, so for me the best is Geraldine McEwan. Maybe because she was the first Miss Marple I saw in the film.

InspectorGrant 10 Oct 10 at 1:19 p.m. GMT

I like Joan Hickson the best because her Miss Marple is quiet and ladylike, and I can picture her living in the Victorian era, unlike any of the other portrayals.