Have Your Say

Discuss Marple

Talk about everything Marple related here!

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?

Login or register to add posts and reply

111 replies

Reverse order

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. 

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Oct 10 at 12:03 p.m. GMT

So really what you are saying Peter JKH is that Joan Hickson has an unfair advantage because she was Born before Agatha Christie wrote her books but other Actresses like Maggy Smith and Judy Dench portray the era well don't they?

I wasn't aware sometimes the Murderer was changed in some Poirot Adaptations, apart from in Appointment With Death and in that one it wasn't that the Murderer was changesd but that they had an Accomplice.

eveline_v 09 Oct 10 at 6:42 p.m. GMT

I agree with the majority of the above posts - Joan Hickson and David Suchet are the ultimate Marple and Poirot respectively.

What I find unbearably irritating is the 'long' Poirots, where the original story is mangled and complicated until it is almost unrecognizable, occasionally even changing the murderer..... What scriptwriter arrogance tries to better a perfect story, and ruins it in the process.....

Puffinjill 08 Oct 10 at 6:21 a.m. GMT

Bravo, PeterJHK, my sentiments EXACTLY!!!! In my opinion, no one has come even close to Joan Hickson's brilliantly faithful portrayal of Miss Marple. She just brings her to life so believably. And I agree that her intelligent performance is probably due to her drawing on her own life experiences and obsevations. Also, she had the advantage of superior screenwriters who wrote her a wonderful role. In recent adaptations, this had been sorely lacking and those playing Miss Marple can only play her as she is written.

PeterJKH 07 Oct 10 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

Joan Hickson is the one and only “real” Miss Marple. I have given it some thought why she was able to portray this dear old lady so immaculately.

Apart from her acting talent, there is, I think, one other factor that is very decisive: her date of birth. Being born in 1906, Joan Hickson knew the society and time in which the AC stories are set, from personal experience. E.g.: when she was young(er), servants were as common as sliced bread. So dealing with all types of servants, addressing them in the right way according to their status, is something she has learned as a child, an experience that enables her to deal with the many servants that appear in the AC stories in a credible and natural way. She knows all the subtleties of pre-war society, she knows exactly what position each and every person, according to his status or profession, would have had in that society and can use this experience as well.

I think this personal in-depth knowledge of the period and society, has importantly contributed to her performance as Miss Marple – it made her character real, because she knew the real thing from personal experience. An advantage that the present actresses do not have - and it shows.

missmarple123 28 Sep 10 at 11:48 p.m. GMT

I think it should be Mcewan, followed by Hickson, followed by Mckenzie

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Sep 10 at 4:20 p.m. GMT

I thought she was, I agree with her and you, I would put Hickson 1st, McKenzie 2nd, Landesbury 3rd, Rutherford 4th, Hayes 5th and McEwan 6th unless we are including June Witfield Tadio 4s Miss Marple in which case she is 2nd and everyone below Joan Hickson goes down 1.

MissQuin 14 Sep 10 at 4:04 p.m. GMT

The question Hickson, McEwan, or McKenzie? Cicely is saying she likes Hickson best, as do I.

I'd put Joan hickson, followed by Mc Kenzie, followed by McEwan. I can't count Rutherfor, as she's a different (comic) take on Miss Marple.

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Sep 10 at 3:40 p.m. GMT

I don't understand that Cicely

Cicely 13 Sep 10 at 11:19 p.m. GMT

Hickson!

mysteryfan18 12 Sep 10 at 2:12 a.m. GMT

go_leafs_nation

S_Sigerson

Goleafs, you mentioned “the jarring and out of place” when you were discussing The Sittaford Mystery and not when you were discussing Taken at the Flood.

Whoops, my mistake. But the lesbian romance at the end really did feel just thrown in for the heck of it-- no development or anything was done during the film to reach that point. It's as if Producer X decided "we need to be fair; everyone has had affairs of all kind, so toss in some lesbians here to make it even". It's out of place. It's stupid. It's not Agatha Christie.

 Has anyone else noticed that homosexuals have been added to nearly every ITV Christie adaptation, or is it just me?

Tommy_A_Jones 26 Jun 10 at 4:27 p.m. GMT

I have never thought of Murder Ahoy as Satire, Showing a funnier slant to Miss Marple Yes, Satire? I don't think so, to me satire is cruel and unsympathetic to the Target even though the only reason AC might have allowed the MR films were because she was in trouble Financially I don't think she would have allowed it if she thought it hurtful.

AndThenThereWasTim 26 Jun 10 at 4:09 p.m. GMT

Oops.. I was confusing Helen Hayes with Margaret Rutherford. Rutherford did the comedic satire shows which were making fun of Marple. Murder Ahoy?

Tommy_A_Jones 25 Jun 10 at 4:25 p.m. GMT

I personaly have a problem using the word Satire when referring to Films of Agatha Christie's work as I think the word suggests a Doing down of and Knocking Cruelly but I can see how the HH films were made for omedic affect like the MRs sorry Tim, It is just a matter of Terminology, Please don't misunderstand me some of the McKewan Adaptatios I like but I just don't think If I was getting GM to play an AC role it would be MM, Lady Selina (At Bertram's Hotel) and Lavinia (Nemesis) are two parts that come to mind and one in Sparkling Cyanide just not Miss Marple.

AndThenThereWasTim 24 Jun 10 at 7:16 p.m. GMT

Its funny Jean.. I live only about an Hour and a half drive outside of Hollywood and we use the same phrase LOL. I equally hate Hollywood for their complete hyjacking of California Politics. They live more in the spirit of ET. "Out of this world." Sometimes I wonder if Hollywood is even human considering how out of touch they are. Any place where they actually think that creating more and more season of Grey's Anatomy and Desparate Housewives is a good way to spend money must be insaine.

Tommy I partially agree with you. While I think Angela was the worst Geraldine comes at a very close 2nd. Ive never seen Helen Hayes adapts, but I was under the impression that they were more of a comedic satire than a real adapt.

Ps. If anyone can explain why ET turned into a link to Pocket Full of Rye that would be nice.

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Jun 10 at 4:47 p.m. GMT

IMHO the Awatd for worst Miss Marple should go to Geraldine McKewan with Helen Hayes coming 2nd by a long way. I think Angela Landesbury was quite good

AndThenThereWasTim 22 Jun 10 at 5:28 p.m. GMT

Im going to have to say, McKenzie is my favorite. She Combines wit and charm with what I imagine Marple to be like. I do like Hickson, but I think she is a little too cold. I Do Not like McEwan. She has a creepy voice and who ever the director was, butchered Body in the Library and A Murder is Announced. Im anxious to see The Blue Geranium. I read the short story last summer and it was my favorite in the Tuesday Club Mysteries ( 13 Problems ). It will be interesting to see how they turn a 10 page story into an hour and a half show. Anyways I think McKenzie is brilliant in the role and she is able to take a story that Marple is not in (The Secret of Chimneys was great!) and turn it into a Marple Story.

There is not doubt in my mind that Angela Lansbury was the worst Marple. While Angela Lansbury is one of my favorite actresses, she was horrible as Marple. She was unusually pale for some reason and the frequent smoking ruined the Marple Persona.

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Jun 10 at 5:01 p.m. GMT

Far from it condreybuch, I would like to Congratulate you on your Most excellent Maiden Post, You explained beautifully Joan Hickson's ability to convey thought Process, and she could play dim Beautifully like when Miss Marple went to the Post office to inquire about a Parcel in Nemesis.

I agree Geraldine McKewan's Portrayal  which was as you say a Collection of tic's and smirks.

I haven't The Secret of Chimney's  GB still haven't seen it but I thought she was wonderful in the one's I have seen and although I am sad that The Secret of Chimney's is done I look forward to it. 

condreyebuch 21 Jun 10 at 5:10 a.m. GMT

When Joan Hickson played Jane Marple, you saw an actress who could actually convey thought processes. She was a "quiet" actress, unlike McEwan, whose Marple is a collection of tics and smirks, not a coherent characterization at all.

Tonight i watched The Secret of Chimneys. Stephen Dillane's Inspector Finch was fun to watch. Julia mcKenzie's slightly chic, coiffured Marple seems like an interesting approach to me. Why wouldn't Raymond West's gifts have included dresses that an older lady would wear to visit a palatial estate? Does Jane Marple have to be drab and dowdy? I don't think so.

I have two objections to the crop of Christie adaptations we've been watching on PBS forever. Why set every story in the 30s or 40s regardless of when the novels were published? At Bertram's Hotel, published and set in the 60s became another period piece. Inserting Miss marple into stories in which she didn't originally appear grates on my nerves. Towards Zero is one of the best atypical Christies alongside The pale Horse and The Mysterious Mr. Quin. It already had a detective, Superintendent Battle. Sorry for such a cranky first post.

MissQuin 29 Apr 10 at 4:06 p.m. GMT

jeanbean14

 Sometimes I think the producers and directors there are completely out of touch with reality,

True, Some of the changse with adding Nazis to stories. Oh and nuns and drugs and playboys. Odd. The Mole is now called Bundle btw.

jeanbean14 24 Apr 10 at 1:12 a.m. GMT

Mole--I am American, and I just thank God that I haven't seen any of the productions you've described.  I only knew of one, and chose not to see it, but the others sound even more horrific in terms of warping excellent material into something bizarre and dumb.  Creative license, I guess, but more probably just people trying to make a buck at the expense of quality artistry and entertainment.  Hollywood is not exactly a complimentary word where I live in the Midwest.  "That's Hollywood for ya!" is the usual phrase.  Sometimes I think the producers and directors there are completely out of touch with reality, but I digress.  :)

jeanbean14 24 Apr 10 at 1:09 a.m. GMT

I like the newest Miss Marple actress, Julia McKenzie, but for me she is missing the warmth of Joan Hickson's portrayal.  Personally, I can almost any portrayal of Miss Marple except the large, loud, pushy version played by Rutherford.  A great actress, but so far from the Miss Marple that Christie created that I just can't swallow it.  Miss Marple has to be the type that (1) arouses no suspicion, (2) is easily ignored or overlooked by certain people, (3) seems a warm and safe confidant, (4) is very particular about who she confides in, who she lets into her mystery-solving schemes, and who she befriends, (5) has high morals and abides by them, (6) is wise about people, (7) is extremely observant and sharp, (8) very intelligent, original thinker, brainy, (9) polite and kind, (10) occasionally assertive and direct as needed, (11) an expert on certain subjects such as gardening and who knows what else.  She is the lady on the block to whom you go with a question like, "My roses are looking sad.  The nurseryman says to feed them this stuff.  What do you suggest?"  And she would give you a completely different and more effective home remedy, and possibly say something funny about the nurseryman without actually insulting him.  I love this character.  I think the creation of interesting--somewhat unlikely but still believable--characters is Christie's gift to the world of literature.  Of course, she also knew what to do with those characters, but for me, Poirot, Tommy & Tuppence, Miss Marple, Inspector Japp, Hastings, Miss Lemon....they live on in my mental world long after I've forgotten the plots and stories.  They seem real, and I love that! 

jeanbean14 24 Apr 10 at 1:08 a.m. GMT

Joan Hickson personifies the Miss Marple that I pictured when reading the books first.  She is the epitome of my Aunt Clara on the surface and in personality.  In other words, her character is believable.  She looks the part, according to the general description in the books, and she really captured that contrast between what she shares with others and what is going on inside.  I just love Miss Marple.  I would like to know someone just like her.  (Oh yeah, my aunt, lol, although she was not British and not an amateur sleuth.  I think they could have been best friends in an alternate reality, though.) 

MissQuin 18 Apr 10 at 5:40 p.m. GMT

No the Hickson Nemesis really captured the feel of the book. I couldn't take the McEwan nemesis very seriously. The only serious part was in the church. But that still had the nuns. The coach scenes was terrible. Very fake and although Ruth Wilson is an excellent actress, she was unconvincing as a high heeled, femaled coach driver. I wasn't aware 1950's allowed women coach drivers.

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Apr 10 at 1:36 p.m. GMT

I have alot of difficulty taking the MKewan version of Nemesis seriously MissQuin, like somebody else said it is more like Murder On The Coach, I have seen the Mkewan version of Nemesis many times as I have the set and it is one of my favourite of the Episodes, It didn't stir my emotions but sudden unexpected occurrances like the Bust dropping always give me a start. I think it is so sad that Anna Cropper (Anthea) is no longer with us, I loved her performance. I also just ge3t sad that things like the Joan Hickson series aren't made anymore, not with the same sensitivity anyway.

MissQuin 08 Mar 10 at 6:57 p.m. GMT

I am a little suprised at the fact Mr Rafiel dies in Nemesis. But a Caribbean Mystery was made after Nemesis. So did Mr Rafiel not appear in that?

I nearly cried at the fact the murderer was found dead on the mound in the garden, where Verity's buried. oooh, so sad. The Hickson one really stirred my emotions in the way the McEwans ones never did. Do you find that Tommy?

I like some of the McEwans, as in a fun, cheesey way theyre entertaining. But if they werent Christie I'd like them more. The Hickson version one really got into the tragic feel of the Nemesis book.

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Mar 10 at 4:03 p.m. GMT

It think it is Excellent MissQuin

MissQuin 06 Mar 10 at 8:23 p.m. GMT

I thought it was ironic in the Nemesis BBC version, that a teacher was killed by a bust of a fmaous poet. It even have been Shakepspeare himself who hit her on the head! I do like the Hickson version of Nemesis. Ive not yet watched Murder is announced Hickson, so look forward to seeing it.

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Mar 10 at 5:16 p.m. GMT

I thought the McKewan version of A Murder Is Announced was one of the better ones, the only one I didn't like was Alexander Armstrong, I think he must have thought he was playing Craddock the way David Horowitz played Slack when really Craddock should have been played the way Stephen Thomkinson played Slack in Body In The Library and I thinkthe McKew version of Nemesis should have been a cross between the Book and the Hickson version and I thought the BBC way of Murder (The Bust) left too much to chance.  

MissQuin 06 Mar 10 at 3:06 p.m. GMT

I was sad Amy died and it was very tragic. It's always the same when someone knows something. If they keep it a secret and dither, theyre always murdered!

Nemesis Hickson version was excellent, much much better than the McWand version. Hickson Nemesis did start off dull, but the end was fantastic..

HeiseiHolmes 05 Mar 10 at 3:46 p.m. GMT

I really loved the McEwan A Murder Is Announced. I don't know if I liked the fact that Miss Marple was Amy's aunt or not... it seemed really sad in a good way, if you know what I mean.

MissQuin 01 Mar 10 at 8:17 p.m. GMT

I think Nemesis might be a later one. I hope so, Miss M is getting older in that one. A shame in a way.

HeiseiHolmes 01 Mar 10 at 5:40 p.m. GMT

They're filmed at random from the looks of things...

MissQuin 01 Mar 10 at 3:12 p.m. GMT

Can anyone tell me... were the Hickson Marple's filmed in order of the stories? Or did they film them at random?

MissQuin 25 Feb 10 at 5:42 p.m. GMT

I didn't like Nemesis much, though the church scene was ok. I did enjoy some of the early McEwans, I thnik Body in the Libary was my favourite. No they shouldn't have chnaged the murderers, but we all know who the real killers were. I did think they dumbed it down at times. i think their aiming at people who love soaps, but it wold be better to please AC fans.

But I really liked Murder is Announced as well.

whodunnit 25 Feb 10 at 5:23 p.m. GMT

As I've said before, as long as the ITV versions continue to be complete travesties of the original stories - why change them because the end result is just messy, confusing and ridiculous - it really doesn't matter WHO plays Miss Marple. After watching Nemesis I'm never being fooled into watching a Marple ever again. Utter tosh. 

MissQuin 24 Feb 10 at 7:16 p.m. GMT

Very fun, as long as it's not Miss Gilchrist's tea shop.. she was in After the funeral.

HeiseiHolmes 24 Feb 10 at 7:07 p.m. GMT

How can I have mis-spelled "Marple" in my last post? I think my keyboard is broken...

I think Miss Marple giggling would be completely out of character. It's just not her style...

And this is completely off-topic, but don't you think "Marple Coffee Shop" sounds like a fun place to go to? It's what I called the café in my short story, Computer Murder. It's just an English class assignment, but I put my heart and soul into it.

Bundle_ 24 Feb 10 at 7:05 p.m. GMT

And McEwan has shrewd and clever looking eyes, and rather rough and tumble demeanor - so it looked like there wasn't much you could get past her. McKenzie has a kindly grandmother type deameanor, and an innocence in her eyes. She looks like you can trust her and you can tell her things and she'd never would think a bean about it.

MissQuin 24 Feb 10 at 6:44 p.m. GMT

Ive never blamed McEwan for the episodes, but I think some people have. Miss Marple was having a discussion in Murder in the Vicarage which she wouldnt have had in the book.. but no Mc Ewan didn't write the scripts. But I like Julia McKezie better, as she play's it with some houmour but not too much. McEwan did giggle sometimes.. rather annoying.

HeiseiHolmes 24 Feb 10 at 4:21 p.m. GMT

Geraldine McEwan looks most how I imagine Miss Marple. What you should all remember, is that the Miss Maple actors can't choose how the episodes are directed. So if you think, "Oh, her episodes aren't that great", don't let it cloud your judgement of who is the best Marple!

sjoerdbol 24 Feb 10 at 9:14 a.m. GMT

You're right about McEwan, if I read a Marple novel, I really can't picture her in my head as Marple, but the episodes are more exciting than most of the other Marples, I think Joan Hickson is great, but sometimes, like in A murder in announced and The body in the library, they are episodes of 2 houres and 20 minutes, that is a bit too long and because of it they aren't that exciting.

MissQuin 23 Feb 10 at 9:10 p.m. GMT

Thank you Bundle

Bundle_ 23 Feb 10 at 8:36 p.m. GMT

MissQuin you've just stated exactly what my opinion is over McKenzie and McEwan as MM.

MissQuin 22 Feb 10 at 5:15 p.m. GMT

 I have a confession.. I  think that Julia McKenzie is really good as Miss M BUT... the episodes have been dull.

The McEwan epsiodes were at times annoying, shocking and frustrating.. but never boring! If you compare them to the books their so different. But if you can some how blinker out it's AC then they can be entertaining in a guilty pleasure way.. the first 4 epsiodes that is. I thought the costumes and locations were very good on those. The ones after got even more soap opera like, very glossy with no real substance to them.

If I had a choice of Marple I'd chose McKenzie. But the Murder is Easy episode was shockingly bad, yet it never seemed to have created the same hate waves than when McEwan was in it.

I might be burnt at the stake now..  but it's how I feel. The McKenzie ones (MIE aside) are staying somehwat truer than the McEwan ones.. but I can't say Ive found any of them really thrilling. Pocket full of Rye was very good, if they could all be like that then thats perfect.

Tommy_A_Jones 22 Feb 10 at 4:30 p.m. GMT

Isn't it great how people can dissagree about things, I didliked Ms Mkewans portrayal as Miss Marple but love Julia McKenzies, whose portrayal is sensitive and subtle.

englandsrose 18 Feb 10 at 4:29 a.m. GMT

wildechilde76

MissQuin

I think Geraldine McEwan had a fall which made her more frail, so she gave up playing Marple.

thanks; I didn't know that either. I thought maybe she passed away. I hope she'll be all right. don't care for the new Miss Marple at all. shows are kinds sleazy.

Ah, thanks MissQuin - didn't know that - real shame.  Would have liked to have seen her mischievous grin a few more times.  She always infused her performance with so much warmth and character, it was a pleasure to watch even if, *sigh*, she was a little too light-hearted for most Hickson fans. Oh well, at least I can replay my DVDs as many times as I like :)

kkapalk 13 Feb 10 at 9:57 a.m. GMT

Although she is not mentioned in the heading, I loved Margaret Rutherford's classic black and white flims. I know the films didn't run true to the scripts, also there was some humour, but they were incredibly enjoyable. I used to watch the films as a young boy on a Sunday afternoon and was absolutely thrilled by them. I thought she was great. I realise I am probably in a minority but to me she was THE Marple. I think Agatha Christie herself didn't like Margaret Rutherford or her films (if I have this correct), but I have to disagree with the majority here and go for Margaret. I do think Joan Hickson was very good also, and just a little trivia here..... Joan Hickson appeared in the first Margaret Rutherford film as a housekeeper/cook, way back in the early sixties.

wildechilde76 09 Feb 10 at 1:55 p.m. GMT

aznm

For me, no one ever matched Hercule Poirot until David Suchet. From Agatha's own pen, Poirot was constantly referred to as a "slimy little man". None of the prior actors ever appeared slimy nor little to me. While Peter Ustinov was fun, he was just not a "slimy, little man". Albert Finney could have passed for slimy but not little. David's character could certainly be called both by criminals who didn't appreciate that he was going to nail them. So Suchet my Poirot. I ran out of space so had to use two posts, sorry about that.

Great observations, aznm, but I think you've stumbled into the wrong forum :)  This one's a Marple one :)

wildechilde76 09 Feb 10 at 1:50 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

I think Geraldine McEwan had a fall which made her more frail, so she gave up playing Marple.

Ah, thanks MissQuin - didn't know that - real shame.  Would have liked to have seen her mischievous grin a few more times.  She always infused her performance with so much warmth and character, it was a pleasure to watch even if, *sigh*, she was a little too light-hearted for most Hickson fans. Oh well, at least I can replay my DVDs as many times as I like :)

MissQuin 08 Feb 10 at 3:35 p.m. GMT

I think Geraldine McEwan had a fall which made her more frail, so she gave up playing Marple.

englandsrose 06 Feb 10 at 4:52 a.m. GMT

I think Joan Hickson is the best Miss Marple ever! I was wondering what happened to McEwan as Miss Marple?

wildechilde76 03 Feb 10 at 8:07 a.m. GMT

"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" - christiefan93.

I have to agree with you christiefan93 and TheMole, which probably makes us the only 3 people in the world to share this sentiment   I find Joan Hickson's portrayal, though faithful to the aloof and reserved Marple spirit (you're right there rlutton), a little too distant, almost cold.  Her actual physical appearance is a little offputting too; her face looks quite mean and unpleasant most of the time, not at all in Marple fashion.  If I were to meet her in the street my first impression would be that of a stern, miserly and quite possibly cruel headmistress.  Geraldine McEwan, though admittedly veering a little too much towards light-hearted openness at times, is nevertheless alot more endearing.  I adore that twinkle in her eye, denoting her astute mental juggling, particularly when she uses it to charm an unsuspecting constable.  Marple had an under-hand, almost sly sense of humour, which Hickson rarely delivers and which McEwan has bucket-loads of.  I just don't believe a person like Hickson would be able to befriend and endear so many people (which Marple was so good at doing) in reality.  I think perhaps the reason most people prefer Hickson is that she's usually the first Marple most people see, and first impressions are rather strong. It's just a shame McEwan didn't appear in more adaptations, as I would have loved to see her sparkle...End of rant, looking for the nearest bunker   

dublinclaire 17 Jan 10 at 12:25 a.m. GMT

i adore joan hickson as miss marple, somehow i feel she captures the essence and i feel 'safe' with her, tho i quite like julia makenzie.  i have a warm spot for margaret rutherford but probably because of the stage of my life when i saw them.  thankyou ms cristie for getting me thru so many dark times :-)

Puffinjill 15 Jan 10 at 3:46 p.m. GMT

I'm with you there Tommy! No one, in my very humble opinion has ever come close to the portrayal of Miss M by Joan Hickson. She is every inch the Miss Marple I have read about and loved most of my life. I, too, have a complete set of the adaptations and love to watch them. She is just sublime in every one - plus they are so well written, even with slight changes to the plots, that they far outshine any of ITV's recent attempts. I'm warming (slightly) to Julia McKenzie, but can not, can not, find anything in Ms. McEwans performances to like. Admittedly, both have had to struggle with inferior material, but Ms. McEwan always seems to be trying too hard to bring something not quite Christie to the role. Underplay, as Joan Hickson did, not overplay, a la Ms. McEwan, does it for me. Julia McKenzie seems to be sensibly going for the middle ground between the two.

Tommy_A_Jones 15 Jan 10 at 3:32 p.m. GMT

I first saw  JOAN HICKSON play Miss Marple and have the series on video and regually watch them so for me she is the best, IMHO JULIA McKENZIE is 2nd she is different enough from JOAN HICKSON to make the role her own but her portrayal has the same sensitivity to make her perfect for the Role. GERALDINE McKEWAN'S  is in my opinion over played and forced and dare I say it hammy, IMHO she is not as good as Helen Hayes or Angela Landesbury, I discount Margaret Rutherford's performance as they are obviously played for laugh's without being spoof's in the Murder By Death sense of the word. 

biggles_aristide 15 Jan 10 at 2:07 p.m. GMT

GERALDINE McEWAN!   She does a much better job than Mckenzie.......and Mckenzie's movies are really WEIRD......

MissQuin 07 Jan 10 at 10:43 a.m. GMT

My own personal views on The many Miss Marples!

I havnt seen Margaret Rutherford's portrayl of Miss marple. Though from what Ive heard, it's not very true to the books. Though alot of people do love her.

Joan Hickson's version of Marple is a good one. Its been said by some, thats she hasnt got any humour. But I think thats wrong, its just more subtle. Like in The mirror crack'd, she was fed up with her "helper".

Geraldine McEwan. I'm not one of the anti-McEwan brigade, but I know she wasnt my idea of Miss Marple. She was more daring, sometimes out of character. On the other hand, she is a good actress. When she played Miss Marple seriously, she was very good.  Like the scene in Murder at the Vicarage, where miss M is praying for the souls of the murderers.

Julia McKenzie I was delighted when I heard she was to play Miss Marple. As I loved her as Mrs Forrester in Cranford. Ive been very impressed with her so far. She has got the balance right between not too silly, not too stern. The downside is that she has been given some dud episodes.

aznm 12 Aug 09 at 12:21 p.m. GMT

For me, no one ever matched Hercule Poirot until David Suchet. From Agatha's own pen, Poirot was constantly referred to as a "slimy little man". None of the prior actors ever appeared slimy nor little to me. While Peter Ustinov was fun, he was just not a "slimy, little man". Albert Finney could have passed for slimy but not little. David's character could certainly be called both by criminals who didn't appreciate that he was going to nail them. So Suchet my Poirot. I ran out of space so had to use two posts, sorry about that.

aznm 12 Aug 09 at 12:20 p.m. GMT

May I chime in, too?  As a Christie fan from way back, I read many of her books before seeing any films adaptations, so my envisioning of Miss Marple came from Dame Agatha's own descriptions, "tall, elderly", old-fashioned, Victorian, taken as a bit gossipy by other characters in the books.  So with that alone, MM reminded me of my beloved grandmother.  My grandmother was tall, but in her old age, she slumped a bit, but she was energetic, and talky, and always everyone's "aunt", kind-hearted and moral, not to mention a churchgoer.  Rutherford was the first J. Marple I'd even seen onscreen (the films were fairly new at the time!), but nothing like my grandmother or my idea of Jane Marple, but fun nonetheless. I liked Helen Hayes because I've always liked the actress.  Angela Landesbury wasn't "quite" the real deal.

Joan Hickson is the closest J. Marple I've ever seen.  She resembles my grandmother in stature, as well as my vision of MM, and she was up for anything.  I was impressed when watching her traipse across a very unclean beach without missing a beat - and she was well up in age by that time!  Her Miss Marple was seriously against crime, and although the Inspectors and the townspeople may have considered her just a nosy, gossipy old lady, I don't get that.  I believe she plays the gossip factor as her detection modus operandi and never anything less.  She's serious but kind, and loved by many.  It's just her nature to listen and notice.  To me, that's the real Jane Marple.  She was never truly a gossiping old biddy.

McEwan and McKenzie are fine in their own right, but neither is tall enough, nor have been any of the others, with the exception of Ms Hickson.  Sadly, the latest round of stories have been butchered to the point where I easily lose interest.  So I consider Rutherford for fun and Hickson for the true portrayal of the world's most famous eldery sleuth.

S_Sigerson 11 Jul 09 at 6:23 p.m. GMT

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2OB6D9P58USNZ?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview

This person made some astute points about Miss. Marple series 1 & 3 with Geraldine McEwan.

Tommy_A_Jones 11 Jul 09 at 10:50 a.m. GMT

I respect your opinion Toon and your right to express it but I dissagree, I read an Interview on Teletext where Geraldine MKewan said that the Series tried to convey things that wasn't in the books (That was the gist anyway even if it wasn't put like that) but surely if it isn't in the Books it shouldn't have been in the Episodes, I personally felt McKewan's portrayal wasn't layered at all, I liked 'A Murder Is Announced' except for Alexander Armstrong and 'By The Pricking Of My Thumb' was very entertaining even if Miss Marple shouldn't have been in it so It wasn't all bad.

AndThenThereWereToon 10 Jul 09 at 9:56 p.m. GMT

To cut in on a side note, briefly - I personally feel that Geraldine McEwan is the only Miss Marple I could genuinely believe was "the worst cat in the village".  She's also the only one I can readily accept insinuating her way into situations and confronting murderers the way MM does.  Joan Hickson was great at conveying the more reserved, conservative side of MM, but it was just one side - I've found McEwan's portrayal a lot more layered.

Having seen Julia McKenzie in "Murder in Easy" online, I think she looks physically a lot more like the illustrations of MM, but in terms of performance she just seems constantly confused and flushed.  It's a balance between Hickson and McEwan for me.

Less said about the film Marples, the better, in my opinion.

S_Sigerson 10 Jul 09 at 9:09 p.m. GMT

These are mysteries after all. One does expect - well - a few surprises. Agatha Christie was a genius when it came to misdirection and coming up with solutions that sometimes shocked the public. Take The Murder of Roger Ackroyd for example, the book caused quite a scandal in its day. Agatha Christie could be unconventional at times. Maybe whoever wrote the script for The Sittaford Mystery wanted to follow in Agatha Christie's footsteps and cause a little excitement? Once again these are mysteries and should be fun and enjoyable. Or better still perhaps you are seeing something that is not there. Maybe the two ladies in question were just simply going on holiday. Friends (who are not romantically involved) do on occasion go places with one another and even take a holiday together.   

go_leafs_nation 10 Jul 09 at 4:33 p.m. GMT

S_Sigerson

Goleafs, you mentioned “the jarring and out of place” when you were discussing The Sittaford Mystery and not when you were discussing Taken at the Flood.

Whoops, my mistake. But the lesbian romance at the end really did feel just thrown in for the heck of it-- no development or anything was done during the film to reach that point. It's as if Producer X decided "we need to be fair; everyone has had affairs of all kind, so toss in some lesbians here to make it even". It's out of place. It's stupid. It's not Agatha Christie.

S_Sigerson 10 Jul 09 at 3:29 p.m. GMT

We know Miss. Marple had a strong sense of justice i.e. her strong dislike of murder, but Agatha Christie was quite vague on what other things Miss. Marple approved of or in this case disapproved of.  

S_Sigerson 10 Jul 09 at 3:08 p.m. GMT

Goleafs, you mentioned “the jarring and out of place” when you were discussing The Sittaford Mystery and not when you were discussing Taken at the Flood.

Tommy_A_Jones 10 Jul 09 at 12:48 p.m. GMT

One reason that her description of Miss Marple could be vague is so that it would be difficult for her to be portrayed on screen, I think it unlikely that Miss Marple had an Affair because as her 1st Husband did she would know what pain it causes, Anyway I like to think of MM as free of shame in this respect.

go_leafs_nation 10 Jul 09 at 1:10 a.m. GMT

When I said "jarring", I didn't mean in terms of anachronisms, but in terms of mood. If a movie has been a serious drama for the first hour, and then turns into a great big overblown comedy for the final act, the transition will be jarring. So when Taken at the Flood went from faithful in plot and tone to dumbed-down, predictable nonsense, the transition was jarring.

I do see your point about being vague but it has its advantages. The character in general is sketched in, but it leaves enough to the reader's imagination to "colour in" the picture.

TheMole 10 Jul 09 at 12:30 a.m. GMT

I agree w/ you both, Go leafs & S Sigerson in regards to MM having an affair w/ a married man. I just have some points to make on both sides:

On one hand like you said SS (may I call you SS?), MM I think was capable of having an affair w/ a married man (even though the books, as far as I know, never referred to it). The reason: she never seem phased by crimes or the fact that she had interacted w/ culprits. So she probably wouldn't be too scandalized by just an affair. And even though MM is 'fluffy' & dainty in appearance - she has proven that she is witty & highly intelligent. Just b/c she is elderly shouldn't exclude her younger years: she might have had an affair.

But I see go leafs point too. MM does have a strong sense of justice, & she has a lot of compassion (she must not have gotten that just from growing older) so she may have disapproved of immoral behavior, & it might not be the act itself she might have felt sorry for the person who was cheated on.

It's an interesting topic...

S_Sigerson 09 Jul 09 at 11:53 p.m. GMT

As far as something jarring or out of place, an example would be Miss. Marple circa 1950's talking on a cell phone since cell phones had not been invented yet. I have yet to experience this jarring feeling with either Miss. Marple or Poirot.

go_leafs_nation 09 Jul 09 at 11:08 p.m. GMT

S_Sigerson

Could Miss. Marple have had a married lover who died in World War 1? Of course, she could have. There is nothing that says otherwise.

Miss Marple would've disapproved over anyone having an affair with a married man-- she wouldn't have excluded herself from this preconception, shall we say, of hers.

S_Sigerson 09 Jul 09 at 9:19 p.m. GMT

You should have said "the reader infers" because what you said is based on a person's impression (in this case yours) and not necessarily based on fact. And sometimes people see something that is not there. I might add, the stereotype of a typical Victorian lady or any other stereotype for that matter is most of the time - inaccurate. You can't put everyone in the same pigeon hole because people are individuals. Could Miss. Marple have had a married lover who died in World War 1? Of course, she could have. There is nothing that says otherwise.

So the short story that takes place in Egypt and that has a curse, The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb written by Agatha Christie in the early 1920's and adapted for television with David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, is not really an Agatha Christie story?

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Jul 09 at 3:38 p.m. GMT

The first Miss Marplew book I ever read was 4.50 From Paddington and the lady I pictured in my head was nothing like any of the Actresses I have seen portray her so you are probably thinking that this means I have been hypocritical in previous posts but I would say that there is more than just physical appearances to consider there are mannerisms and and tones of voice etc and I think Joan Hickson comes nearest to my mind, perhaps when it comes to appearance perhaps it is Angela Lansbury as the 3 Actresses I would have liked to see play Miss Marple come closer in appearance to her.

I was surprised go_leaf that you didn't mention Nemesis and Sleeping Murder when mentioning adaptations which are not faithful, The appalling Theatre troop in Sleeping Murder did anything but justice to the Book and the Adaptation of Nemesis (Which I am currently enjoying immensely) did have a 'Murder on the Coach' feel to it and I can only assume you came to the pragmatic decission that you can criticise the Cards On The Table' Adaptation so many times before it becomes pointless. 

TheMole 09 Jul 09 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

Since the first Miss Marple I had ever seen portrayed was McEwan, which then led to my first Miss Marple book, I just always pictured McEwan as her. I have seen Rutherford as her; although she was a great actress, the role of Marple never fitted her. For one she didn't look like her, and two the role was too comical. I've seen the Lansbury version but I always pictured her as Ms. Otterborne & Jessica Fletcher, so.... I've never seen Hickson as MM but in her pictures she doesn't appear light hearted enough for MM. But I'm sure her acting was great.

But after seeing McKenzie as MM I would have to say that she is the best thus far. Go leafs said in his post: "...while she looks like an elderly, harmless old lady, she conceals a sort of shrewdness that really comes in handy come murder time." I think that this is an exceptionally accurate statement.I would like to add that she represents the more charming & nurturing side of MM.

go_leafs_nation 09 Jul 09 at 2:58 p.m. GMT

(comment continued)

And one more thing: Christie may not have been the most detailed when describing Miss Marple, but nonetheless, the reader gets a clear mental picture of her personality throughout the books. For one thing, she's very Victorian and old-fashioned; she has arthritis that progressively gets worse; she loves gardening and gossip; she's rather religious; she learned the "language of the flowers" as a young girl (ie red roses mean this, while yellow ones mean that)... the list goes on.

go_leafs_nation 09 Jul 09 at 2:58 p.m. GMT

S_Sigerson

All the adaptations utitlize Christie's ingenious plots and that is the only thing that matters. They are the same stories Agatha Christie wrote, just updated to appeal to a modern viewing audience. At the core they are still Agatha Christie.

I respectufully disagree. Many recent adaptations have lost the spirit of Christie, far more than a mere "updating". The time period is the same, but the characters and plots have been dumbed down for audiences that are used to big, loud Hollywood blockbusters. The producers, therefore, decide that in order to maximize profits, they need to make the production as much like that as possible. Taken at the Flood, for instance (a Poirot, I know, but bear with me), starts off fantastic, with the same tone as Agatha Christie's novel. But in the final half hour, the tone suddenly shifts. It's now big and dumb, as the audience is spoonfed the solution to the mystery, which has drastically been changed.

Another example is The Sittaford Mystery. The original mystery delved into the supernatural; it was dark and creepy and suspenseful. The film is neither. It introduces completely random, convoluted subplots (such as an Egyptian curse, a favourite in Hollywood-- see the "Mummy" series), "mushy" and implausible romances (and a lesbian couple at the end for the sake of political correctedness, I gather-- it is completely out of place and feels jarring), changes, deletes, and adds characters at whim. This is not Agatha Christie at all.

On the other hand, By the Pricking of My Thumbs brilliantly recreates the book's menacing atmosphere, despite its many plot changes.

So, to conclude, your argument applies only some of the time. Lately, Agatha Christie has been cheapened for profits' sake, wherein the characters are not recognizable.

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Jul 09 at 11:05 a.m. GMT

I agree the only thing that matters is that the Adaptions utilize Agatha Christies Plots I would however suggest that she herself describes herself as Nosy and in doing so she is being generous to the person she is talking to in order to feel embarraced at feeling that she is interfering. I would suggest that she is without verbalizing it saying 'I am here if you want my help' Finally I would like very much like to say I could recognise Miss Marple in GMs portrayal but sadly I can't and as Britain hasn't seen JM in the role yet JH remains for me the best.

S_Sigerson 08 Jul 09 at 5:46 p.m. GMT

We know precious little about Miss. Marple. We do know Miss. Marple did not condone murder, but who does condone murder. She was a nosy-parker and a gossip. We have no idea her inner-most feelings and attitudes because at the time it was not necessary to have a fully drawn main detective. He or she was there to investigate and nothing more. Their hobbies and family background were irrelevant. As far as a physical description, once again we have a few generalities thrown in here and there, but nothing one could consider as - definitive. Hickson, McEwan and Mckenzie, all to some degree fit the general description in one respect or another of the indelible Miss. Marple from the books. What does a woman described as  "a rather fluffy old tabby" look like anyway?     

All the adaptations utitlize Christie's ingenious plots and that is the only thing that matters. They are the same stories Agatha Christie wrote, just updated to appeal to a modern viewing audience. At the core they are still Agatha Christie.

Boomcoach 08 Jul 09 at 4:01 p.m. GMT

I don't see a problem with comparing the various actresses who take on a role.  I do think that when comparing, it is good to mention what parts one finds essential in a performance.  It can also be difficult to seperate an actor/actress from the overall production.

I would respectfully disagree with you, S Sigerson, when you say that Christie was vague about Miss Marple's background.  We do not know all the specifics, but we have some reasonable physical descriptions as well as a fair amount of information about her attitudes, from both herself and others.

I will admit that I am a big Hickson fan.  For me, it has always been important to respect the source material, and the Hickson performances do this very well.  I have a hard time seeing anyone describe McEwan as a "rather fluffy old tabby".  The 80's productions also caught the feel of the books very well.  I had been reading Christie for a number of years when those productions came out and they hit the target perfectly.

McEwan's Marple is an engaging character, but she never struck me as Miss Marple.  Once again, the productions themselves affected my opinion, as they were often different stories with Christie's work acting as a mere palimpsest.

I have only seen one of McKenzie's performance (A Pocket Full of Rye) , and it was not bad at all.  I am able to see Miss Marple within her performance, which I was never able to do for McEwan.  The changes to the story did very little damage, and let it fit into the time allotted.

S_Sigerson 08 Jul 09 at 3 p.m. GMT

Depends on the person. Not everyone is going to bother or take the time to make comparisons. I mean really, what's the point? It's after the fact and there is nothing you can do about it. Why not sit back, enjoy the mystery and appreciate the different versions of Miss. Marple. Agatha Christie was quite vague when it came to Miss. Marple's background, so even if you have read the books it doesn't take too much effort on the part of the viewer to envision McEwan, Hickson, or McKenzie as Miss. Marple from the books.      

Tommy_A_Jones 08 Jul 09 at 11 a.m. GMT

You are of course right S Siegerson, by comparing different performances you are doing in (this case the Actresses) a disservice, but I would however say that you say that each Actress brought a different aspects of Miss Marples Character but there were no part of her Character that I recognised from Geraldine McKewan's performance (I am not saying I dislike her as an Actress British people might remember Mulberry with Karl Howman) just there was no part in her portrayal which I thought was part of Miss Marple. I loved your analogy go_leafs using Book Covers might have been bettrer., I agree Comparing performances is unavoidable but I would say Great fun. I am not and never will be an Actor but I in my naive way have always thought it would be great to play a Character who has been played many times, not only because I would know that all that Characters fdans would be forever discussing how I did and where I stood in their list but also  would love to se if I can better who ever was up until then thought the best, also when a season came out of films with that Character pages would be reserved about the list of people who have played the part so I would be in the the worlds Consciuosness (I think that is the right word) 

go_leafs_nation 08 Jul 09 at 9:15 a.m. GMT

You make a good point, S Sigerson. However, whenever there are multiple versions of the same thing, comparisons are bound to happen. For instance, say two companies sell similar MP3 players. People will compare the quality of the two when deciding between one or the other.

The same goes with Miss Marple (and I apologize in advance for comparing her with a product, but it's what sprang into my mind first). There have been several actresses who have played her, and when people think of thier favourite, comparison to the others is practically unavoidable. It's just human nature, I guess.

S_Sigerson 07 Jul 09 at 3:58 p.m. GMT

By comparing the different actresses who have played Miss. Marple, you are only doing them a disservice. Like I have mentioned before each actress brings her own uniqueness to the role. She fleshes out different aspects of the character. We can and should appreciate their portrayals i.e. Joan Hickson without denigrating the portrayal of others i.e. Geraldine McEwan.   

The funny thing is Joan Hickson never read the books and short stories with Miss. Marple. Is she the "quintessential" Miss. Marple? All depends on who you ask. Agatha Christie sketched only a brief outline of Miss. Marple. We know very little about her background. Which is a good thing because it  gives an actress (for the most part) a clean slate to work with. Ergo how can one in all honesty say there is such a thing as the "quintessential" Miss. Marple. Or say Hickson is a "better" Miss. Marple than McEwan for example. It's not fair to either actress. Both were excellent Miss. Marples in their own way because both are fine actors who took pride in their work and gave 100% of themselves to the role. Why not just accept they are different portrayals of Miss. Marple and leave it at that.  

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Jul 09 at 11:29 a.m. GMT

I agree with a vast majority of your post go_leafs I found Geraldinre McKewan's performance too clumsy, so much so I didn't actually notice the advantages you point out,

I think Helen Hayes was the right choiuce for an American to play Miss Marple as her voice made was suitable for the role, she didn't try to put on a phony accent which would have spoilt the film (I have read one of the books and not the other) I haven't read 'The Mirror Cracked so wont ask what you dislike about the film, I assume the Margaret Rutherford films were made to entertane when we lived in less enlightened times so they did what they were meant to. Britain hasn't seen Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple yet so can't comment on her performance, I can just say I am looking forward to seeing it andmaking up my own mind. 

go_leafs_nation 07 Jul 09 at 9:46 a.m. GMT

These discussions always seem to revolve around Hickson, McEwan (those two are practically always there), and now, Mackenzie.

I think Joan Hickson is the quintessential Miss Marple from Agatha Christie's novels. She probably won't be beat by any other performance ever. However, Julia Mackenzie's Marple is really worth watching- while she looks like an elderly, harmless old lady, she conceals a sort of shrewdness that really comes in handy come muder time. Geraldine McEwan perpetually smiles, which actually works. She conveys the impression of the gossiping old woman, and has a touch of shrewdness about her. The trouble with McEwan is that this shrewdness is not concealed-- it would put any killer on his guard.

Helen Hayes was, I find, good, but not too memorable. Angela Lansbury was fantastic, but far too young. (I have problems with the entire production of The Mirror Crack'd, to be honest, which did not live up to its potential.) Margaret Rutherford was extremely entertaining, but her Miss Marple is nothing like the one from the books, dancing the Charleston with Mr. Stringer, riding horses, and going around cleaning houses, while Christie's Miss Marple was at home, gardening.

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Jun 09 at 11:14 a.m. GMT

Why is that go_leafs, and why do you think it ironic that the performances of Helen Hayes or Angela Landesbury are forgotten - although I don't thin they are forgotten as everytrime I put a post about Miss Marple I think of all the Actrsses I have seen play her on Television, same with when ever I am on the 'All About Poirot' strand I think of all the Actors I have seen play Poirot, If you mean the Title of the topic should include Misses Rutherford, Hayes and Landesbury I agree with you in the same way that the deabate about who is trhe better Detective should include Tommy and Tuppence aswell as Poirot and Miss Marple.

go_leafs_nation 29 Jun 09 at 1:53 p.m. GMT

I find it ironic that Margaret Rutherford's entertaining Miss Marple is all but forgotten in these discussions.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Jun 09 at 1:01 p.m. GMT

You have put it very well marria, If there is anything to say against Joan Hickson's playing Miss Marple it is that she was perhaps a little too short but that was no fault of hers and didn't detract from her superb portrayal

marria 29 Jun 09 at 11:45 a.m. GMT

Joan Hickson portrays Miss Marple exactly how she's described in the books. Geraldine McEwan looks lost while shes playing Marple and acts completely silly, she is making faces like:look people, i know everything and she grins all the time at everyone...its completely unbelievable she was ever casted for the part.

Dolly_B 28 Jun 09 at 4:49 p.m. GMT

The never-ending question of who was (is) the best Miss Marple.  Hands down, Joan Hickson.  She was prim and proper with an inquisitve nature - a tight-lipped smile but a kind person and a loyal friend. Geraldine McEwan's portrayal was too silly but  I think Julie McKenzie has potential.  I believe that Joan Hickson must have thoroughly researched the character to portray her so close to Agatha Christie's Marple.  There will be actresses in years to come playing Miss Marple, but Joan Hickson is the quintissential Marple.  Just like David Suchet is the only Poirot.

rlutton 23 Jun 09 at 2:20 a.m. GMT

The essence of Miiss Marple is the portrayal of Hickson. There is, in the acting and attention to detail of Hickson,  respect for the aloof and distant Marple. The other two actresses, see the character as being omnipotent and righteous, awaiting the time when each shall reveal all. This visual and spoken haughtiness lessens the reserve of the written character. Hickson has distance and a visual appearance, that disguises the breadth of intelluctalism. Hickson awaits, pnders and reflects. The others, including Ruthefored,  either by design of acting depth, or the direction of the ill-informed director, lack credence and belief. Hickson portrayal and acting arete is disciplined and with maturity that is rare. This comes with respect and honesty of a true thespian..