BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS

UK, 2006, 103 minutes, Colour.

Geraldine McEwan, Greta Scacchi, Anthony Andrews, Charles Dance, Lia Williams, Michael Maloney, Josie Lawrence, Claire Holman, Miriam Karlin, Leslie Phillips, June Whitfield, Claire Bloom, Steven Berkoff, Patrick Barlow, O.T.Fagbenle.

Directed by Peter Medak.

Agatha Christie’s mysteries have always been popular, reinforced by the television series with Poirot and Miss Marple. While Joan Hickson’s at the norm for Miss Marple, she was also portrayed by Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie.

This is a comparatively late novel by Agatha Christie, focusing on her investigators from the past, Tommy and Tuppence, now an older age, the children at home, Tommy and his work overseas, leaving Tuppence and her indulging in drinking. She is particularly concerned by an encounter with Mrs Lancaster as a no at home for the elderly where Tom is cantankerous aunt Ada is a resident (Claire Bloom). When Mrs Lancaster disappears, Tuppence becomes involved, enlisting the aid of Miss Marple.

Which means then tracking down a house in the painting left by aunt Ada, they’re finding the village, pretending to want to buy a house, getting of the people at the hotel, the local doctor, the Vicar and his ever-busy wife, as well is the Lord of the Manor. A very strong cast including Charles Dance as the vicar, Lia Williams as his wife, Michael Maloney is the local doctor. A romantic interlude has been introduced, an American soldier stationed in London, falling in love with the doctor’s daughter, her being upset because of his mysterious absence one night – later revealed as his searching for his British mother.

There is a moody background with the production of Jane Eyre with the young girl from the storekeepers in the village, and a connection with them concerning Mrs Lancaster, the visit to her lawyer (Steven Berkoff in an uncharacteristic role), and the eventual revelation of who Mrs Lancaster is (and played by talented veteran comedian June Whitfield). (Spoiler alert – she seems one of the least likely of murderers in Miss Marple stories.)

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Miss Marple? The three actresses?
2. The Agatha Christie novels with Tommy and Tuppence? This novel as theirs, but Miss Marple introduced, working with Tuppence and supporting her, the criticisms of the absent and sometimes arrogant Tommy?
3. The introduction of Tommy and Tuppence, his overseas jobs and frequent absence, the children grown up? Tuppence, at home, her drinking, her past detection? Going to visit the home, the encounter with Mrs Lancaster and the puzzles, the encounter with aunt Ada, gruff and aggressive, her death? And the disappearance of Mrs Lancaster?
4. The opening with the children, looking out the window, the overtones of the witches?
5. Miss Marple and Tuppence coming to the village, pretend to be looking for a house? The painting from aunt Ada and the message, urging Tommy to follow the clues? The popular artist and his painting, visiting the expert, noting that there had been some alterations? The flowers, the rope, the mysterious person in the window?
6. At the hotel, the cheery hostess, the revelation of her relationship with the vicar? The vicar, bitter, a long time in the village, previous hopes to become a bishop, his marriage to Nellie Bly? Her tolerance of his affair?
7. Sir Philip, wealthy, his mansion, helping the Johnson family, financing the film of Jane Eyre, the young girl and her part, the preparations for the screening, her presence, her tantrums, the plane flying over and her being upset? The proud parents?
8. Sir Philip, his sad story, the death of his wife? Nellie Bly as his secretary, absolutely devoted to him?
9. To Mr Eccles, the lawyer, the information?
10. Chris, the American presence, his relationship with Hannah, her being upset with him, his being unwilling to explain his absence on the Saturday? The taking of the car, the damage, the garage, the taking of Mrs Lancaster? And the revelation that he was searching for his mother and found her?
11. Hannah, who work at the hotel, her father, the doctor, relationship with the vicar, the death of his daughter, the two named after flowers?
12. Miss Marple and Tuppence, in the village, the drinking, the investigations, trying to find the house?
13. Finding the house, finding Mrs Lancaster?
14. The revelation of the truth, Mrs Lancaster being Sir Philip’s wife, her not dying, her mental collapse, his protecting her, in the house? Going to various homes for the aged? And the revelation that she was the murderer, especially of Nellie Bly?
15. Tommy, the return from overseas, his presumptions in taking charge of the investigation, having to admit the talent of Tuppence? And the solving of the mystery?