THE MOVING FINGER

UK, 1984, 102 minutes, Colour.

Joan Hickson, Michael Culver, Deborah Appleby, Andrew Bicknell, Sabina Franklin, Richard Pearson, Douglas Hamlet, John Barnett, Penelope Lee, Juliet Whaley.

Directed by Roy Boulting.

The Moving Finger is a second of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple stories to be adapted for television starring Joan Hickson. Joan Hickson does seem to be the embodiment of Agatha Christie’s interpretation of Miss Marple (very different from Margaret Rutherford and Angela Lansbury) and several of the Joan Hickson stories being remade with either Julia Mackenzie or Geraldine McEwan.

The atmosphere of the 1950s is very strong, the small town, touch of isolation, the minister and his wife and life centred on the church, the local doctor, the local lawyer, the local gossip. At the centre of this story is the brother and sister, he wounded and crashing his plane, she caring for him.

The title refers to the poison pen letters which have been circulating in the town, attacking people and their characters, revealing this behaviour, the mystery of their being typed on the typewriter at the church charity.

There are various aspects, different relationships in the town, the lawyer’s daughter acting erratically but finally key to Miss Marple’s revealing the murderer – and the issue whether poison pen letters are written by women or men.

The film was directed by Roy Boulting, one of the Boulting brothers, very prominent in film direction in production in the British industry in the 1940s, 50s and 60s – and, for Roy Boulting, into the 80s.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? Miss Marple? Joan Hickson as Miss Marple?
2. The settings, the 1950s, the rural villages, homes, doctors offices, solicitors offices, the church, charities? Costumes, decor, cars…? Authentic atmosphere? The musical theme?
3. The title, poison pen letters?
4. The introduction to Gerry and Joanna, the war background, recuperation, settling in, the aunt, the home, friends, at the church, the noting of the various characters in the village?
5. The situation with the letters, the pages, from the book, the typewriter, at the charity? The targets, the accusations, vilification? The effect on various people? Gerry receiving one?
6. Mr Pye, gossip, at the church, his comments? A possible suspect?
7. The range of people, suspects, Symington, law firm, his secretary, his wife at home, the troubles with Megan, the two boys? The doctor, from Wales, his sister as receptionist? At the house, Partridge, the dismissal of Beatrice, her boyfriend, the minister and his wife?
8. The invitation for Miss Marple, Joan Hickson’s portrayal, age, intelligence, noticing, and the interactions with the chief inspector?
9. The death of Mrs Symington, the note, the poison? The death of Beatrice, concealed?
10. The inquest, the testimony, the verdict of suicide? Miss Marple dissenting?
11. The complications, Gerry and his interest in Megan, the trip to London, the Pygmalion transformation, the return home, her being poisoned – and this being revealed as a ploy by Miss Marple?
12. The doctor, and Joanna, the attraction, Joanna receiving a letter?
13. The work at the charity, the typewriter, the donation?
14. The resolving of the situation, Miss Marple trapping Symington, his motivations, Miss Holland and her looking after his boys, his motivations, the letters, a male writer rather than female, Beatrice realising what it happened after her fight with her boyfriend?
15. Miss Marple and the explanations, satisfactory mystery, and solution?