Después del funeral

Although Margaret Rutherford's take on Miss Marple was not to Agatha Christie's liking she stands out as one of the best Miss Marples in my estimation. She injected a lively quirkiness to the character which has been lacking in recent portrayals.

This is one of my 4 most favorite films Rutherford's timing and expressions are a joy to watch on screen!

Probably my favorite Rutherford Marple, this movie is funny, suspensful, and wildly entertaining. Whatever Agatha Christie thought of this movie, she greatly admired Margaret Rutherford, dedicating one of her best books The Mirror Crack'd to her. Once again, great support acting from Stringer Davis (Rutherford's real life husband) and from Robert Morley. Don't you think that Inspector Craddock would have learned to listen to Miss Marple by this movie?

As is well known by now, Dame Agatha Christie was not enamoured of Dame Margaret Rutherford's take on her Jane Marple creation. Fair enough as Dame Agatha had lovingly constructed a plain Jane, spinster/every-woman who, underneath the quiet demeanour and placid knitting possessed a mind sharper than the point of any of her knitting needles. And like television's Columbo she was always under-estimated, to the eventual chagrin of the guilty party in the crime under investigation. As a fan of the BBC/PBS Masterpiece Mystery series I have probably seen most if not all of Dame Agatha's books dramatized, my favourites being those with Joan Hickson whom I find to be the very embodiment of the Jane Marple Dame Agatha originally had in mind. That said, I am not so much of a purist that I cannot enjoy Dame Margaret Rutherford's decidedly non Dame Agatha approach to super sleuth Jane Marple. In short, all four films in the MGM produced series are a pure delight with MURDER AT THE GALLOP just barely edging out MURDER SHE SAID as my personal favourite.

Others have more than adequately provided a synopsis of this and the other trio of Marple movies in the series, so I won't re-till that ground. Suffice to say, if you haven't seen any of them, or you just want a good, light, engaging Brit whodunit then don't miss any of these wonderful confections. I've seen them all many times and yet every repeat showing finds me totally entertained by Dame Margaret, real life hubby Stringer Davis, Charles Tingwell, the excellent casts of supporting players and Ron Goodwin's superb scores. Indeed, they are still as much fun today as when first viewed in their initial theatrical runs back in the sixties.

I have not read the book on which the film is based--but I understand it was a Hercule Poirot book not a Miss Marple book. Anyway in Christie's novels with Miss Marple there was no "Mr Stringer" the real life husband of Dame Margaret Rutherford. But it is Dame Margaret and Stringer Davis that makes the Marple films come alive apart from Ron Goodwin's charming score.

This is the first movie I have seen in which the author of the book on which the film is based is discussed. This movie will not survive trenchant criticism--it is best viewed as a fun movie with loads of British humour.

What strikes you is that the film is really a women's film, with even Robert Morley having to take a back seat to Dame Margaret and Dame Flora Robson who steal the show.

Of the films in the series, 'Murder Ahoy' I thought was most charming because of the supporting cast and a stronger role for Mr Stringer. "Murder at the gallop" has a weaker story and screenplay in comparison. Yet all these Miss Marple films can be enjoyed by one and all, years after they were made.

Just yesterday, Australia lost one of its most beloved film and television actors, Charles "Bud" Tingwell (1923-2009). In memory of his fine contribution to the performing arts, I decided to continue watching George Pollock's series of "Miss Marple" films, in which Tingwell portrayed Inspector Craddock. Next on the list was 'Murder at the Gallop (1962),' the second of four films to star Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie's Miss Jane Marple. Though, of course, the film truly belongs to its amateur spinster sleuth, Tingwell nonetheless brings a remarkable warmth and sincerity to the role of the good-natured but exasperated Craddock, who's constantly torn between his affection for Marple and his frustration that she's always one step ahead of him. Unlike Sherlock Holmes' Inspector Lestrade, he is not an object of ridicule – representative of incompetent police force – but one of open-mindedness and practicality. Inspector Craddock seems to accept Miss Marple's crime-solving talents with a quietly-amused resignation, however much her conclusions may show up his own investigative proficiency.

The central mystery was loosely adapted from Agatha Christie's novel "After the Funeral" (notably a Poirot story), but the bulk of the plot came from James P. Cavanagh, a writer of television thrillers. In this instalment, Miss Marple determines to investigate the suspicious passing of wealthy Scrooge Mr. Endeby (Finlay Currie), whom she believes was literally "frightened to death" by an impatient heir. With the loyal assistance of Mr. Stringer (Stringer Davis), and the occasional compliance of the increasingly-upstaged Inspector Craddock, Marple attempts to scrutinise everybody who stands to gain from Endeby's will, and, conveniently, they're all temporarily residing at the same place: the Gallows hotel, owned by Endeby's bumbling, horse-obsessed nephew (Robert Morley). The clues are all there for both Marple and the audience to decipher, but multiple red herrings are also thrown into the mix. Our suspicions are only further confused by the fact that that all the potential murderers appear to hate each other, and none are at all surprised nor saddened by the untimely deaths of their relatives.