Main Cast: Margaret Rutherford, Arthur Kennedy, Muriel Pavlow, James Robertson Justice, Charles "Bud" Tingwell
Release Year: 1962
Country: UK
Run Time: 87 minutes
Plot
Dumpy, dough-faced British comedienne Margaret Rutherford was not precisely the physical type Agatha Christie had in mind for the prim, tweedish sleuth Miss Marple. Still, Rutherford's first "Marple" movie Murder, She Said did so well at the box office that there was no question she would continue appearing in the role in the inevitable sequels. In this initial effort, Marple witnesses a murder being committed on a speeding train. She informs the authorities, but they find no evidence of a killing and write off Marple as a doddering eccentric. Determined to prove that she's not imagining things, Marple investigates the area around the stretch of railroad track where the murder occurred. She winds up on the estate of James Robertson-Justice, disguised as a maid. Many family skeletons are exhumed by Miss Marple before she proves that she indeed saw a murder and pinpoints the guilty party. Stringer Davis, Margaret Rutherford's husband, makes his first appearance as Miss Marple's chaste companion Mr. Stringer. Based on Agatha Christie's 4:50 From Paddington, Murder, She Said was released in some markets as Meet Miss Marple. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Murder, She Said, the first of the Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple films, is an engaging and appealing little thriller. Though it’s not a classic of the detective mystery genre, it’s "fun" in the best sense of the word. A great deal of the film’s charm comes from the wonderful Rutherford, one of the screen’s finest character actresses. She obviously enjoys playing Marple; although the role doesn’t allow her to indulge in her wonderful eccentricities, she still manages to provide some delightful comic relief moments. More importantly, she handles the dramatic requirements of the role very well and imbues Marple with a sturdiness and a sense of commitment that’s essential to the success of the movie. The supporting cast is also quite good, especially young Ronnie Ryamond, who plays off of Rutherford well with his mischievous manner; James Robertson-Justice whose bluster makes the proceedings lively; and Stringer Davis, who gives a sweetly endearing performance. Although the script could use a little work -- the plotting is a bit too obvious in places -- and George Pollock’s direction could be a trifle more imaginative, it does boast a sprightly and enjoyable score. Murder, She Said would be followed by three equally enjoyable sequels. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Thorley Walters - Cedric Ackenthorpe; Conrad Phillips - Harold; Ronnie Raymond - Alexander Eastley; Joan Hickson - Mrs. Kidder; Ronald Howard - Brian Eastley; Stringer Davis - Mr. Stringer; Gerald Cross - Albert; Michael Golden - Hillman; Gordon Harris - Bacon; Lucy Griffiths - Lucy; Barbara Hicks - Mrs. Stainton; Richard Briers - "Mrs. Binster"; Peter Butterworth - Conductor; Barbara Leake - Mrs. Stainton; Nadia Pavlova
Credit
Harry White - Art Director, Felix Evans - Costume Designer, Douglas Hickox - First Assistant Director, George Pollock - Director, Ernest Walter - Editor, Ron Goodwin - Composer (Music Score), Ron Goodwin - Musical Direction/Supervision, Eddie Knight - Makeup, Austin Dempster - Camera Operator, Geoffrey Faithfull - Cinematographer, Jan Darnley-Smith - Production Manager, George H. Brown - Producer, Tom Howard - Special Effects, David Pursall - Screenwriter, Jack Seddon - Screenwriter, David D. Osborn - Screenwriter, Agatha Christie - Book Author
While passing by on a different train, Miss Marple witnesses the strangulation of a young woman in the opposite carriage. The local police dismiss her story as the ramblings of a senile and bored old woman, so, undaunted, she conducts her own investigation, and comes to the conclusion that the body must be buried on the grounds of Ackenthorpe Hall, which adjoins the railway line.
Wheedling her way into a job as housemaid there, Marple copes with the pompous machinations of her difficult employer, Luther Ackenthorpe (James Robertson Justice), so she can search for the mysterious corpse, and eventually finds it while supposedly practicing her golf shots.
As she begins collecting suspects, accompanied by her long suffering companion Jim Stringer (Stringer Davis), Marple finds herself faced with an increasingly devious and resourceful killer, who begins casting his shadow over Ackenthorpe's heirs...
Differences from the novel
In Christie's original story, an elderly character called Elspeth McGillycuddy witnessed the murder, not Miss Marple, who wasn't introduced until much later. As with most of her appearances in the role, Margaret Rutherford's flamboyant, comical portrayal of the sleuth was quite different from Christie's languid, passive depiction. Coincidentally, the name of the manor house where Marple conducts her inquiries was called Rutherford Hall in the novel, and was changed to Ackenthorpe in the film to avoid comparison with the leading actress' surname.
The tone of the novel was also changed somewhat; instead of Christie's trademark suspense and underlying darkness, the film relied heavily on light, even whimsical, comedy of manners.
Reception
Despite Christie's dislike of this adaptation, Murder, She Said received a generally positive response from critics, and maintains an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes[1]. Almar Halfidason, a critic for the BBC film website, awarded the picture four stars out of a possible five, calling it "delightfully dotty" and "fun"[2].
