They told this dramatic semi-bio pic in the style of one of her mysteries and while that might have worked with a better script and director, this fell on its face. Flashing forward and backward in time leaves one with a sense of disorientation that could entertain if there were some purpose to it. Here it only leaves the viewer confused.
Christie herself creates a media frenzy after she disappears and claims amnesia. The filmmakers seem to imply a true breakdown and there were lots of reasons that might be true, but it could just as easily have been a publicity stunt.
I'm sure fans of the author would enjoy this snippet of her character, but the casual viewer might find it a bit convoluted and dull. I felt they revealed nothing of her character in later life and I don't know why they even included that. Plus her whole second marriage story seemed a rushed afterthought.
Hmm, the library website tells me the film with this title has only a VHS copy in Bandon, but I know it's DVD format.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426394/
Amazon: Agatha Christie - A Life in Pictures
Agatha Christie Marple series 2
BBC Series
BBC Series
These films all rate about the same, I felt high end of Soso or a little better for a true fan. Geraldine McEwan plays a sweet dotery Miss Marple in each episode. Perhaps the complicated plots that detract from my enjoyment may just be the nature of Agatha Christie's original stories. These play frequently on PBS so you may not need to go to the library to see them. Look for the collection at the Myrtle Point branch. I will not review any further DVDs in this series. I find they all run about the same level of quality. Find an Amazon link at the bottom of the post.
Marple: Sleeping Murder
Energetic young Gwenda Halliday finds a house she wants to live in after she marries only to discover a vision of murder in her hallway. After Miss Marple is brought in to investigate they find this isn't Gwenda's first stay in the house.
Her father died along the cliffs there just after his wife to be leaves him. Plots and sub plots lead to finding the fiance murdered along with a maid asked to recount her recollections. Suspects include the comedy troop the wife to be worked in before meeting her man, the man himself and her older brother.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472135/
Tuppence Beresford and Miss Jane Marple set out to investigate the disappearance a guest at a retirement home after Beresford aunt dies suddenly. They have a strange painting and set out to find the house depicted in it's design.
A false trail of witches distract the pair from finding the old woman and the cottage. But eventually the sleuths ferret out the truth about the murder of the aunt and a village child.
IMDB; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489227/
Poison pen letters drive an acquaintance of Miss Jane Marple's to suicide and while she's there for the funeral others die as a result of the accusatory letters. Brother and sister Jerry and Joanna Burton help sleuth out the suspects from the village elite.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479955/
I didn't expect Timothy Dalton to show up in a BBC mystery series and his ward looks a lot like the blond Bond guy, but it's not him. He plays a possible future prime minister candidate who gets murdered at a snow bound hotel near his home.
We learn all about his sordid past and all the people who want him dead. It seems when people die in these series they deserve it. Boy did this guy. He murdered an archaeologist years before and stole riches from a tomb in Egypt.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491050/
Amazon: Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 2
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