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Television and Film

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Margret Rutherford

TheButlerDidIT 20 Nov 09 at 6:10 p.m. GMT

Her portrayal of Miss Marple was totally wrong. She was rude, loud dramatic and bold. Sher dectective skills were very very bad. Most of the fims stole ideas and plots form other books. But I love them! Not as Miss Marple but as a unique character. Who else is a fan?

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Tommy_A_Jones 12 Nov 11 at 12:58 p.m. GMT

To say that Margaret Rutherford's Portrayal is the worst Is I think very Harsh indeed and quite wrong, Yes the Films are not always too faithful to the books yes the Films are Comedic, Yes Craddock is in the Adaptation of Mrs McGinty's Dead when it should be spence and Yes Mrs McGinty's Dead and After The Funeral are really Poirot Stories and not Miss Marple Stories but the Films are fun and enjoyable and Margaret Rutherforford's Portrayal is far more enjoyable to watch than Julia McKenzie's or Geraldine McKewan's Margaret Rutherford played Miss Marple in four Films made in less suffisticated times, Geraldine McKewan and Julia McKenzie have both been of now so the innacuracies and pointless changes are in my Humble Opinion far less acceptable and can not be excused.

The Adaptation of Cards On The Table is by a Country Mile the WORST pof all the Poirot Episodes the Changes were stupid unnecessary, and to those who like my love the book and were looking forward to seeing the Book transfer to the screen it was unnfair, The Changes did nothing for the book and I would have thought damaged the Reputation of Chorion ITV, David Suchet and Matthew Pritchard (I must admit a bit of me is hoping I am right) because that is what is deserved, I am sorry but my Blood boils and I see red when I think of the |Adaptation and The Chances that were lost to do a wonderful Adaptation which we could have talked about for years, We are talking about it but most are not talking about it in the way we would like to be talking about it which is a shame.

TheButlerDidIT can you please point out to me where in Margaret Rutherford's Portrayal she was rude? If she was the Characters she was rude to would not have had the sensitivity to realise.

CatAmongthePigeons 03 Jul 10 at 7:19 a.m. GMT

go_leafs_nation

Margaret Rutherford: worst interpretation of MM ever.

Margaret Rutherford: such a smashing comedic actress it succeeds nonetheless.

And her real-life husband, Stringer Davis (whose character was created just for those films; she wouldn't do it without him), was a wonderful second banana

CatAmongthePigeons

MissQuin 17 Jun 10 at 5:07 p.m. GMT

InspectorGrant

I think they left it to the viewers' imaginations as to what was in the photographs of the Inspector - I thought it sounded like some sort of porn, gay or straight - who knew and by that time who cared!

The worst thing is, I have an overactive imagination!! No, I'd rather not know and AC would never have condoned that storyline.

InspectorGrant 17 Jun 10 at 2:45 p.m. GMT

I think they left it to the viewers' imaginations as to what was in the photographs of the Inspector - I thought it sounded like some sort of porn, gay or straight - who knew and by that time who cared!

I must have another look at this episode again - I can't remember the bit about the wife coming back to see the Doctor.

South West England - how beautiful!  I have been there, and really loved it because I have family there and also the scenery is lovely.  I remember particularly a place called Boscastle, but really the whole area was magnificent.

Hope that they do make The Big Four, it would be a shame if they left any of the Poirot stories unfilmed while we still have David Suchet around.

MissQuin 16 Jun 10 at 9:14 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I'm not a huge fan of Mrs O in the books, but I liked her in McGinty and Pale horse. But she provides some much needed humour in the recent episodes.

cards on the table spoilers:

No, the whole homosexual element wasn't needed. Rhoda, the doctor, the doctors lover, the photographer were all gay. Possibly even the police inspector. Maybe even Mr S, It seems out of proportion to the story and the time period. What didn't make sense is, why did the wife of the docs lover, come back to see the doc? She hated him. It makes no sense. In the book she goes back to flirt with him.

Plus those photos of the inspector-what was in those I wonder?!  Poirot said "it doesn't suit you" which made me wonder if the inspector was photographed cross dressing, or prehaps um, not wearing much or nothing.  We don't need that thank you!! I don't want to think about it. :)

I'm in the south west of England. Chrisite land!

I think they'd like to make all the Poirot's but if they will, I don't know. I think the story with a huge question over it, is the Big Four. It's os unpopular and even AC didn't like it. But then again, peple might watch it to see if what it's like.

InspectorGrant 16 Jun 10 at 7:04 p.m. GMT

I'm in Australia, Miss Quin.  We have had two of the new Poirot stories broadcast over the last couple of weeks - Three Act Tragedy and also The Clocks, but unfortunately I missed the latter.  There are two more to go - I think next week is Halloween Party.

I wasn't mad on Third Girl either although I do like Zoe Wannamaker as Mrs. Oliver, and I enjoyed her performance in Cards on the Table as well.  I thought the actor who played Mr. Shaitana was excellent, but didn't like all the changes and the homosexual bits.  Shaitana I could have accepted as being gay, but not most of the rest of the cast, and I hated the ending where Rhoda was a lesbian murderess and Anne was the goody! 

Talking of Rhoda and Major Despard, I wonder whether it is intended to make Dead Man's Folly with David Suchet??  And another one featuring this couple is a favourite of mine - The Pale Horse, which also features Mrs. Oliver.  What a rich mine of stories they have to draw upon, Miss Quin ;)

Whereabouts are you, Miss Quin?

MissQuin 16 Jun 10 at 5:52 p.m. GMT

I saw Three Act Tragedy and I was pleased that they'd stopped all that doom and gloom. The whole dark colours, blue light and serious faced actors. Three act tragedy is a light and bright Poirot book, so I'm pleased. On the other hand the recent The Third girl episode I didn't enjoy at all. There's lots and lots of blood. Not in the book.

Ive heard the Halloween Party one has more of a Gothic feel, but that does fit the book. I'm one of the huge Labours of Hercules fans. I hope they make it and in the style of the book.

I'm possibly the only person in the world to enjoy Cards, although it was badly flawed in many places. There wasn't any need to change things. It's saving grace was very good acting. Poirot wasn't so sad in that episode.

I'm wondering how the new Marples will be. They do seem to be struggling to get the balance right od not too sily, not too sad.

What country are you in Grant?

InspectorGrant 16 Jun 10 at 4:45 p.m. GMT

I saw the new David Suchet version of 'Three Act Tragedy' the other night, and I must say I thought it was quite good.  For once they stuck to the story, and thankfully didn't 'sex it up' as they have been doing with so many of the newer episodes.  Martin Shaw was an excellent Sir Charles Cartwright - he is such a good actor, so was perfect in the role.

So perhaps the makers of the series are listening to us!  I thought that one of the worst of the new Poirot stories was 'Cards on the Table' - this is a pity as it is one of Agatha Christie's best stories.  'Five Little Pigs' wasn't bad - at least they didn't alter the story too much.  It is very hard to know what to expect, but perhaps they are reverting to the old tried and true formula.

I agree with you, Miss Quin, about the timelines of the stories being set at an earlier time.  This is perfect for Agatha Christie - I hate them being modernised.  As for changing the murderer - well, heresy isn't too strong a word for this sort of barbarism!

MissQuin 14 Jun 10 at 6:34 p.m. GMT

It's very true. I'm actually put off watching some of the new Marples because I know theyre not going to be the same as the books. It's ok to change things for the better, but that rarely happens.

Changing the murder- biggest mistake ever! Adding characters that weren't in the book? I can't really think of an occasion when that's worked. Changing the motive, adding an accomplice,  changing peoples ages, personality, sexuality, adding weird stuff, changing the detective. When's it going to end? Despite some fans protests, the writers/producers aren't changing the epiosdes to be closer to the original stories. Surely the majority of people who watch AC adapts, are fans of the books. So why is it often altered beyond recognition?

I hate the phrase "brought into modern day" or "sexing up" because if I wanted a crime programmes set in modern day, I'd watch that instead. I love the time periods in Chrisite, in particular 20's and 30's. People should act how they do in the books, because theyve stood the test of time.

Rant over- almost! Some of the Suchet's have been drastically altered. The Hickson's mostly true to stories and the most popular Marple, which must be a good sign.

InspectorGrant 14 Jun 10 at 5:18 p.m. GMT

My favourite is Joan Hickson, I think she's wonderful and exactly the way I picture Miss Marple to be.  Although she is a fine actress in other roles, I didn't enjoy Geraldine McEwan in the part at all, but a lot of this was to do with the way the stories were rewritten.  I think Julia McKenzie is quite good, but I do wish that they would stop meddling with the stories.  They have quite a number of Miss Marple stories to draw on from Agatha Christie's short stories, so why on earth don't they use them and stop putting Miss Marple into stories with Tommy and Tuppence and all the rest of it. 

I think a lesson could be learned by comparing the enormous success of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes TV series, which largely stuck to the canon, with the success of the Joan Hickson and David Suchet stories which also largely stuck to the Christie Canon.  People really like to know where they stand - they don't like their stories messed around with!    

MissQuin 11 Jun 10 at 3:53 p.m. GMT

Yes, the Mc Ewan Sittaford Mystery had my Golden Turnip award for the worst Marple adaptation ever! We can hand those out ot the bad adaptations. They can make me cringe too, example when the "snow scene" had such fake bits of snow (cotton wool?!) blowing around.

I'd say my fave Miss Marple's Joan Hickson, whose the most like Miss Marple. But McKenzie is good, but sadly I find the episodes dull. McEwan could vary.

amateur_sleuth 11 Jun 10 at 3:49 p.m. GMT

I absolutely love the Margaret Rutherford films.  They showed just how adaptable the stories are.  It is a pity they didn't make more.  They are far better than the new ITV 'versions'.  They really do make me cringe!

MissQuin 11 Jun 10 at 3:40 p.m. GMT

Ive only seen Murder she said so far, so I don't know. Ive got another recorded. Ive not seen the sporting side of Miss Marple yet! But she was climbing over walls on in the film I saw. I think it must have been hard for AC to watch, but it's oddly quite amusing. Although there's not really much suspense, I didn't care whodunnit, just wondered what japes she'd be up to next!

The  music suits the films, although I wouldn't have it on my ipod :) I usually listen to bleak stuff.

InspectorGrant 11 Jun 10 at 3:33 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

The music is lively, perky and infectiously cheerful ! Rather like Margaret's Miss Marple.

The music's great, MissQuin ;)  I love the way Miss Marple always turns out to be a Champion Sportswoman at the end of the stories - a great horsewoman, fencer and all the rest of it.  Not strictly true to the original stories, of course, but great fun.  Also poor Bud Tingwell as Inspector Craddock seemed to acquire a distressingly large number of head injuries in these productions!

MissQuin 11 Jun 10 at 3:12 p.m. GMT

The music is lively, perky and infectiously cheerful ! Rather like Margaret's Miss Marple.

InspectorGrant 06 Jun 10 at 4:55 p.m. GMT

I love Margaret Rutherford in these stories - they are such fun to watch, she was a marvellous actress.  The supporting casts were very good also - Charles Bud Tingwell, Stringer Davis, James Robertson Justice and all the rest of them - pure excellence!  It is interesting that although Dame Agatha didn't consider that Margaret Rutherford was a perfect Miss Marple she nevertheless liked and admired her as an actress and friend, and dedicated 'The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side'  "To Margaret Rutherford, in admiration".

i_heart_mysteries 05 Jun 10 at 11:50 p.m. GMT

Margaret Rutherford is hilarious. I love the theme of those Miss Marple adaptions.

MissQuin 05 Jun 10 at 8:17 p.m. GMT

Ive watched Murder She Said recently, no Margaret Rutherford is hardly like Miss Marple. She's more robust, cheeky, extrovert but oddly enough she has charm and the likeabilty factor.

The films feel odd to atch for me, as their so much unlike the books. But as their so comical, I don't take offence at the fact their so different.

Tommy_A_Jones 04 Dec 09 at 3:53 p.m. GMT

The3 kiond of film that Murder She Said is is a world a way from Spoofs like Cluedo and Murder By Death and not spoofs at all but as you have said Whatever! if you want to use words athe wrong way that is up to you I guess

go_leafs_nation 04 Dec 09 at 1:04 p.m. GMT

I think rejecting the use of the word "spoof" but using a synonym instead is rather pointless. But MR's films do spoof the weak points of the genre (when poorly handled at least). MR's Miss Marple, despite being old, knows how to fence, play golf, etc., spoofing the detective who seems to know everything and outwits the villain (like Sherlock Holmes, who knows everything about footprints to boxing). Or what about Mr. Ackenthorpe in Murder She Said, proposing to MM only to act stunned and demand who on earth would want to marry her when she declares "there's someone else"? If these don't fall in line with the spoof, what does?