THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE

UK, 1986, 102 minutes, Colour.

Joan Hickson, Paul Eddington, Cheryl Campbell, Robert Lang, Polly Adams, James Hazeldine, Norma West, David Horovitch, Ian Bramble, Rosalie Crutchley, Barbara Hicks.

Directed by Julian Amyes.

Agatha Christie’s novels were enormously popular in the 20^th century, many film and television series made. And, they continue into the 21^st-century, new Poirot films, continued streaming screening of Miss Marple stories and those of Poirot.

While Angela Lansbury and Margaret Rutherford did portray Miss Marple, the main screen presentations were by Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan, Julia Mackenzie. It is interesting that the stories with the latter two Miss Marples was somewhat updated, the films with Joan Hickson had the post-war atmosphere, the late 1940s, the 1950s, life in the village, costumes and decor, vehicles, religious observance, traditional values…

The murder victim at the vicarage is a very unpopular old-style Colonel from the village, with his alienated wife, his alienated stepdaughter, imposing himself on the vicar and demanding to examine the books and the finances of the parish. When he goes to do this, he is shot.

With so many people not liking him, and with the ladies of St Mary Mead all gossiping, a mysterious woman coming from Africa and looked after by the local doctor, there are suspects. However, a visiting artist who uses the studio next to the vicarage confesses. Then the wife of the murder victim also confesses, apparently each trying to protect the other because of an affair, but the timing is all out.

One of the pleasures of the film is seeing Yes, Minister’s Paul Eddington as the vicar. There are also some British character actors like Rosalie Crutchley and Barbara Hicks as gossiping ladies. And, again, David Horowitch is the Detective with Ian Bramble as his assistant.

But, as Detective Slade remarks, he expects Miss Marple to be there. He is much more cooperative with her this time and, when the assistant vicar seems to have attempted suicide, the Detective collaborates with Miss Marple in a set up for the murderer to reveal himself.

Miss Marple herself was part of the plot, working in her garden, noting the comings and goings and the times, noticing the rearrangement of the vicar’s office after the murder, especially the large plant in which the revolver had been previously hidden – and recording of a shot set up to confuse the timing of the killing.

Once again, intricate plot, and, this time, the murderer is in plain sight.

1. Popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Miss Marple? Joan Hickson’s portrayal?
2. The atmosphere of the 1940s and 1950s, post-war, village life, costumes and decor, cars, the church, churchgoing, morals, gossip? The musical score and theme?
3. Life in the village, the Vicar and his wife, proper, revelation of her pregnancy, his sermons, do-gooding, shock at the murder? The Protheroes, the colonel, his bombast, wanting to examine the parish books, tense relationship with his wife, stepdaughter, arriving at the vicarage, his murder? The artist, painting the daughter, gossip, the relationship with Mrs Protheroe? The maid at the vicarage, her boyfriend out of prison, meetings? Mrs West, from Africa, terminally ill, relationship with the doctor? Lettice as her daughter, the revelation? Lettice and her wanting to know her mother? And the various gossiping women of the town, their meetings, information?
4. St Mary Mead, Miss Marple, her presence, with the ladies, the information, her garden, observing the vicarage, the comings and goings, the time? Her suspicions? The encounter with Detective Slade and Detective West, the past memories, the discussions, the suggestions, their listening to her?
5. The artist and his confession, protecting Mrs Protheroe, then her connection protecting the artist? The inconsistencies with the time, their being cited at the vicarage and the studio, the hearing of the shot? The artist later visiting the rectory and discovering the body?
6. The resolution of the various subplots around the town, family relationships, the Vicar, Mrs West and her daughter? The doctor and Mrs West?
7. Miss Marple, at the scene of the crime, detective Slade’s observations, listening to her? Her suggestions, the assistant at the vicarage, his health, alleged attempted suicide, the phone call wanting to make a confession, the suicide note – and his wanting to confess stealing from the books? Hospital, recovery?
8. The role play, the deception, luring the murderer, the revelation of the artist, his relationship with Mrs Protheroe, Miss Marple explaining the timing, the change of the plant, hiding the gun in the plant, the recording in the woods for the shot, the artist changing the time, disabling the figures car, the false phone message?
9. Satisfying Agatha Christie plot, Miss Marple resolution, the unsuspected murderer?