Prismark10

The Murder at the Vicarage was shown as a stand alone film rather than as a two parter.

The Murder at the Vicarage was the first Miss Marple novel written by Christie but not the first one adapted by the BBC for the Joan Hickson series.

Colonel Lucius Protheroe, the local magistrate and busy body is found dead in the library. He was shot and Reverend Leonard Clement (Paul Eddington) found the deceased.

An early suspect is Lawrence Redding (James Hazeldine) who had been carrying on with Lucius's wife Ann.

At one point Lawrence confesses to the murder, later Ann confesses to the same murder as well.

An exasperated Chief Inspector Slack (David Horovitch) who has dealt with Miss Marple before does not hold much value to the confession.

There are some clever twists here although Christie's novel has been simplified with some side characters and side plots excised.

Patrick Jane tests his gambling skills when a severed hand is found on the California-Nevada state line.

Jane predictions based on the condition of the hand that the man was in the hospitality industry. He worked at a casino and was obsessed by his work.

Jane and the CBI team check out the casino employees and enter the dark side of gambling.

I liked how Jane won big at the tables and purchased valuable gifts for his team. The ladies returned the jewellery but the lads kept the watches.

Part of the story was a twisted homage to Indecent Proposal.

Poor Oliver Twist, used for a robbery and then abandoned and left injured to face the consequences by Bill Sikes.

Fagin is not happy and sends the Artful Dodger to find out what has happened to Oliver.

Dodger is once again surprised to learn that Oliver has landed in his feet. The family that he was used to rob, took pity on him.

They make sure Oliver is not charged by the police. Treat his wounds and they even search for Mr Brownlow.

However a man called Monks inadvertently runs into Oliver is not best pleased to see him.

A fine episode, it zips along with lots of atmosphere.