Miss Marple: Nemesis

I have waited for ages to comment on this programme, and felt it was about time some justice was done to it. This is one of Christie's darker, more sinister and engaging works, not simply someone being killed for money, this is a dark and thoroughly engaging tale of mystery, intrigue, love and murder, made all the better by the amendments made by the adaptor. The level of acting is utterly superb, Joan Hickson is sublime in the part, as always! The rest of the cast, including the likes of Liz Fraser, Anna Cropper and Helen Cherry all perform beautifully, but it's my opinion that the show is stolen by Margaret Tyzack, the closing scene between her and Joan Hickson is simply magical, the acting is as good as it gets, chilling, moving and totally brilliant. The performances are incredibly sincere.

Please let me know if you agree with my words. I find it quite sad that ITV made such a hash of their interpretation with Geraldine McEwan, the story is such a strong one, they butchered it.

Joan Hickson is at her peak in her portrayal of Agatha Christie's amateur detective character Miss Jane Marple. The title "Nemesis" is the key to the way in which the character is presented: Miss Marple, despite her appearance as a rather confused spinster, is in fact, a relentless avenger of a long-forgotten murder. She seeks justice, despite where the results may lead, on behalf of an old friendship. Hickson depicts Miss Marple as an unyielding force; far from the doddering old lady she might seem on the surface. The best version of Miss Marple, bar none.

The BBC Miss Marple series is a masterpiece. This episode, based on one of Christie's best books however stands out. Joan Hickson at her peak, but it is a scene with Liz Frazer that I think is one of the singularly best acting performances I've ever seen. She delivers every possible emotion, in close up, with such genuine feeling and skill it is really quite outstanding. If you are going to watch one of these, watch Nemesis. The plot is intricate, it is supremely clever and the performances are first class. Sit back and enjoy the genius of Agatha Christie, the production values of the BBC and the best of British actors.

An excellent adaptation of the best of Agatha Christie's late novels, shown on BBC TV in two parts and available on DVD in that form. The two-part format works better than the TV movie made out of the two of them, which appears slow to develop over 100 minutes.

Excellent acting and the usual supreme effort in this series to be faithful to the 1950s timeframe (the book was written and set in the early 1970s), in terms of costume and setting, acting and language, and social attitudes.

As usual, Joan Hickson's pitch-perfect performance dominates - she is wonderful. But in this serial she has some competition. Liz Frazer, as Nora's mother, in a single scene, largely in close-up, conjuring tears to order, describes her ordeal and bereavement, telling what might seem a cheap and tawdry narrative with dignity and pathos. An acting lesson in tragedy from someone better known as a brilliant comedienne.

I first saw it in its American premiere, and it is excellent in all its elements. Don't let the naysayers dissuade you; anyone who fails to succumb to its many virtues suffers from a lack of imagination (among other things.)