MURDER MOST FOUL
UK, 1964, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Margaret Rutherford, Ron Moody, Charles Tingwell, Andrew Cruickshank, Megs Jenkins, Dennis Price, James Bolam, Stringer Davis, Francesca Annis, Terry Scott.
Directed by George Pollock.
Murder Most Foul was the third of the adaptations of Agatha Christie novels for brief British films, with the comic touch, having Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. It was said that Agatha Christie did not see Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple – however, she appreciated her skills and dedicated A Mirror Crack’d to Margaret Rutherford.
With Murder She Says, Murder at the Gallop, Murder Most Foul and Murder Ahoy (plus a brief guest appearance with her husband Stringer Davis in the Poirot comedy with Tony Randall, The Alphabet Murders) Margaret Rutherford established herself in popular culture as Miss Marple. Miss Marple has also been played by Angela Lansbury in A Mirror Crack’d, a television series with Joan Hickson (who appears briefly in this film exiting from a bathroom) and by Geraldine Mc Ewan, both for television series.
This film is based on the novel Mrs Mc Ginty’s Dead. It is quite theatrical in its touch, even giving Margaret Rutherford a long opportunity to recite The Legend of Dan Mc Graw. Ron Moody, four years before he was to be Fagin in Oliver, appears as the theatre manager. Charles Tingwell appears as Inspector Craddock as he did in all the films. There are a number of character actors including Megs Jenkins and Dennis Price as well as youngsters coming up, James Bolan and Francesca Annis. Margaret Rutherford’s husband in real life, Stringer Davis, appears as Jim Stringer, who helped her with all her investigations in each of the films.
The film is very entertaining and has the sprightly score by Ron Goodwin which was used in each of the films.
1.The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? Miss Marple? Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple?
2.The screen adaptation of a murder mystery? The murders, the clues? The investigation?
3.The town, the theatre, homes? Authentic British touch? The countryside? The black and white photography, the jaunty musical score?
4.The opening, Constable Wells and his having his beer, seeing the hanging woman, the investigation, the court case, the judge’s instructions, the accused and his saying that he wanted to help, Miss Marple and her making the jury indecisive, the exasperation of the judge, of Inspector Craddock?
5.Miss Marple, her character, her investigations? Her thinking that the accused was innocent? Her going to Mrs Mc Ginty’s house, having a chat with Mrs Thomas, getting the clothes and evidence? The blackmailing note? Her getting Jim Stringer to help her, to appear as a salesman, his charming Mrs Thomas?
6.The lead to the theatre, Mr Cosgood and his eccentricities, writing the play? His company, the young actors, their personalities, interactions? The older members of the cast?
7.Inspector Craddock, the police, his investigations, exasperation with Miss Marple, relying on her? Hit on the head? His promotion? The officer who played draughts and was beaten by Miss Marple, his looking at the play, not paying attention?
8.The theatre, Miss Marple and her audition with Robert Service’s poem? Everybody attentive? Her being employed? The digs? The various members of the cast at home, the landlady?
9.The various intrigues, the poisoning of George? The further investigations, Mr Stringer helping? The discovery of Rose Kane and her suicide? Mrs Mc Ginty blackmailing the child? The ambiguous name, Evelyn?
10.The set-up of the play, Mr Cosgood wanting the play to go on no matter what, financial success? The rehearsals? The performance, the background of Dorothy’s death, by accident? Intended for Miss Marple, the typed note?
11.The night, the performance, the audience laughing, the mishaps? Eva and her seeing things, sixth sense, attacking Miss Marple?
12.Evelyn, Bill Hanson, the truth, his murders, the confrontation of Miss Marple? Her shrewdness and her shooting, the fall and his being knocked out?
13.The spirit of Agatha Christie and her murder mysteries?
