Have Your Say

Television and Film

Talk about Christie TV and Film here

The pale horse review

(Contains spoilers!)

Carlyle 21 Jul 10 at 9:41 p.m. GMT

This contains spoiler information. Show

I´m not going to write that much, it has been too many years since I read the book. Anyway, I saw the adaptation of this one about half an hour ago. I have to admit, Julia McKenzie is very good. For me, the ultimate miss Marple is (and I suspect always will be) Joan Hickson but McKenzie is absolutely the second best. She is both sharp and charming. The story is somewhat altered (since miss Marple isn´t in it at all) but I cannot mention all the changes (as I said, many years since I read the book).

The three “witches” at The Pale Horse seemed rather ordinary most of the time and the séance were a bit dull, I have to say. Pauline Collins did a fair job as Thyrza Grey, but… I know it´s hard words, but I cannot rid myself of them: a bit dull. The adaptation felt rather colorless. I had expected a much more sinister atmosphere but unfortunately it weren´t like that. In my opinion this adaptation was good enough, but it won´t be counted amongst my favorites. “The blue geranium” was better, for example.

Login or register to add posts and reply

13 replies

Reverse order

MissQuin 20 Aug 10 at 4:40 p.m. GMT

I'm look forward to watching JJ Feild, watching Holly Willloughy being burnt and the stake. Plus the episode give us something to talk about, probably to moan about!  I'll try to keep an open mind.

andy_l 20 Aug 10 at 4:37 p.m. GMT

The new version of The Pale Horse is being shown in the UK on ITV1 on Monday 30th August.

Tommy_A_Jones 17 Aug 10 at 3:34 p.m. GMT

In Next week's TV Times it says The Pale Horse is on the week after.

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Aug 10 at 4:33 p.m. GMT

OH NO! It isn't is it :-( Still, TPH might be on Bank Holiday, At least the Casting isn't offensive to me, Georgia Moffett should be playing Bundle in TSOC not Dervla Kirwin who must be too old for the part but a Great Actress None the Less.

MissQuin 14 Aug 10 at 4:49 p.m. GMT

I don't know. I hope so I'm looking forward to TPH more than any other Marple adapts. Maybe because of JJF ;) I need my Feild fix as I'm sure many of us here a agree!!!

But I thought I read X factor is on v soon on sundays??  (Save Our Souls!!)

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Aug 10 at 4:46 p.m. GMT

Oh Goody, It might be what we get on Bank Holiday. I do hope so but they should have shown Why Didn't They Ask Evans first as that was made before I think.

McGinty 13 Aug 10 at 6:50 p.m. GMT

There was a short article in one of the redtops today (Mirror I think) that said that the Pale Horse will be on ITV later this month !

Carlyle 09 Aug 10 at 6:40 p.m. GMT

I saw this on tv (I live in Sweden) but I don´t know if its avaliable on the Internet.

thedoctor98 07 Aug 10 at 2:14 p.m. GMT

Where did you watch this can i ask?? AND IF IT WAS ON TV CAN YOU FIND A SITE THAT MIGHT ALOW ME TO WATCH THIS?

Carlyle 23 Jul 10 at 8:18 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

The witch burning scene was in the adaptation in order to give som history to the village Much Deeping (i think that was the name of the village) where the inn of the Pale horse was located. At least that is how I interpreted it.

MissQuin 23 Jul 10 at 3:37 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

Pale Horse spoilers!!! I confess I'll watch it, when it's on in the UK. But I love the book very much. It's quite a long one and it's obvious that the plot is going to be really cut short. It's going to be hard for them to impress me, because Miss M doens't really belong here. I expect Mark's job was cut down, as there wouldn't be much left for him to do.

In the book Mr Osborne is aged around 60!! he was a man who relishes attention, but sadly is very nonsdiscript. He could almost be like Mr Satterthwaite, except it turns out there's something more to Mr O.

There have been some charcters added to the list like a Kanga (!) and some others. Also a witch burning scene? that wasn't in the book.

Carlyle 23 Jul 10 at 12:11 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

*** MAJOR SPOILER ***

I don´t remember mr Osborne from the book but in this adaptation he was a rather pleasant man - at first. When it was revealed that he was behind it all he showed quite another side to his personality - an evil madman. He tried to kill miss Marple - first by poisoning her as well and then he flew out at her when he was revealed, but the police stopped him.

MissQuin 23 Jul 10 at 10:20 a.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

What was JJ Feild like as Mr Osborne? Did his chaarcter have the same part as i nthe book?

I confess ,I'm a JJ fan. ;)