4:50 FROM PADDINGTON

UK, 1987 100 minutes, Colour.

Joan Hickson, Jill Meager, Joanna David, Maurice Denham, David Beames, David Horovitch, Andrew Burt, John Hallam, Alan Penn, David Waller.

Directed by Martyn Friend.

One of the readers' favourites of Agatha Christie novels. It was actually made into a film, serious but rather rollicking in its tone, during the 1960s, Murder She Said. And it introduced Margaret Rutherford, rather unexpectedly, as Miss Marple, who then starred in three other sequels, along with Bad thing will as the police officer. Arthur Kennedy and Muriel at low was in support and the juridical old father was played by James Robertson Justice. And, with Ron Goodwin’s jaunty score, entertainment for all (even Agatha Christie who was dismayed at the news of Margaret Rutherford’s playing Miss Marple but who then dedicated the Mirror Crack’d to her).

Jaunty is certainly not a word that one associates with Joan Hickson. She is the sharp spinster, nosy, no real sense of humour, Miss Marple personified.

There is a murder on the train and Miss Marple’s friend sees it. Miss Marple then intervenes, getting her niece, Lucy, to work at the mansion near the rail line with the place, trapped try to find the body. Eventually, she does. But the audience has been introduced to a strange household, a dominating old man, played by Maurice Denham, his devoted daughter, Joanna David, and three sons – all with some suspicious background. And there are two young boys at home for mid-term break. And, a local exasperated policeman not fond of Miss Marple’s interventions, David Horovitch, but a more genial Inspector from Scotland Yard, who invites Miss Marple into discussions, David Waller.

Various complications about World War II, a dead brother’s relationship with Frenchwoman, a dead ballet dancer, and unravelling a plot which most audiences could not have foreseen. (Unfortunately, when the murderer first appears in the film, that is after the murder, is wearing the same overcoat as he did on the train, something of a giveaway even though we need a rather explanation of how he could possibly be the murderer!)

A reminder of how effective Joan Hickson was as Miss Marple.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Miss Marple? The book classic? The Margaret Rutherford version?
2. Agatha Christie’s technique, the situation, the murder, the clues, the range of characters, possibilities, investigation, intervention by Miss Marple, her leads, the untangling of the plot, the final explanations and the elaborate plot unsuspected by the audience?
3. Joan Hickson as Miss Marple, the embodiment of Agatha Christie’s perspective on Miss Marple? Age, St Mary Mead, nosy, intervening, putting things together, solutions? But always the little old lady?
4. The opening, the Catholic background, the church, the woman praying, the man following her, his coat, in the train? Mrs McGillicuddy and her fuzziness, the later train, the parallel trains, the window, her seeing the man strangling the woman? Upset? Visiting Miss Marple, the discussion?
5. Miss Marple, her character, intervention, Lucy is her niece, the elaborate plot for Lucy to be employed at the house, Lucy, her personality, charm, meeting Emma, Emma relying on her, Luther, the eccentric, his fuzziness, peremptory manner? Lucy and her cooking, calming situations? The two boys for holidays and enjoying her cooking, friendship? Brian, the attraction, her telling him what to do, her impatience with him? The other members of the family? Cedric, the artist, his coming onto her?
6. The mystery of the murdered woman, Lucy and the pretence of golf, countryside, finding the fluff in the bushes, the hoarding of the statues, the tomb, the fluff, finding the body? The doctor, his attending Luther, removing the body, diagnosis, autopsy? His attention to Emma, the attraction?
7. The lawyer, explaining to Miss Marple the gathering of the clan, the eccentric will, the elimination of all those inheriting, the last survivor inheriting all? Harold, the bank, hard times, wary, going hunting, in the trap, his death? Freddie, shady deals, his illness, discussions with Emma? Emma and her devotion to her father?
8. The police, steady on the job, the experience with Miss Marple, impatience, the Inspector from London, friendship with Miss Marple, deciding that she should be part of all the investigations?
9. The story of the brother dying during the war, the letter from his widow, further investigations, checking documents? The build of the dead woman, Miss Marple suggesting she was a dancer, the inspector visiting the company, the interview with the manager, identifying the dead woman?
10. The further developments, Miss Marple and the investigations in France? The false letter, the gathering of everybody together?
11. Miss Marple, the explanations, the clues towards the doctor, pretending to choke and the image of the strangling and Mrs McGillicuddy’s reaction, his unmasking, attempt to escape?
12. A complicated plot, Miss Marple collaborating with the police, the solution?