THE SITTAFORD MYSTERY

UK, 2006, 100 minutes, Colour.

Geraldine McEwan, Timothy Dalton, Mel Smith, Zoe Telford, James Murray, Robert Hardy, Laurence Fox, Jeffery Kissoon, Rita Tushingham, James Wilby, Paul Kaye, Michael Brandon, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Hodge.

Directed Paul Unwin.

Another Miss Marple novel, relying on audience enjoyment of Agatha Christie mysteries. This time it is Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, a more genial presence than that of Joan Hickson who seems truly to embody Miss Marple.

This film has a post-war setting although there is a prologue set in archaeological Egypt. Winston Churchill is thinking of retiring, Captain Trevelyan is considered a possible successor.

However, Captain Trevelyan avoids the press, goes to his country house, winter, but also decides to spend the night at a local hotel. There he is found dead.

A number of suspects, as always, mysterious characters at the hotel, one with an Egyptian connection, the other investigating on behalf of Westminster, an escaped prisoner, haughty society woman and her bespectacled daughter… Also an international businessman and his assistant sstruck-off doctor.

The solution is, as always, ingenious. However, Miss Marple seems to be on the sidelines for most of the film, back at the mansion while the action takes place in the hotel. She does eventually have the opportunity to read through the dead man’s journals and start making sense of what happened.

Quite a starry supporting cast led by Timothy Dalton as Captain Trevelyan, with Mel Smith as his assistant helping in the investigations. An early role for Carey Mulligan as the daughter, Patricia Hodge as her mother. There is Paul Kaye as the doctor, James Wilby as the hotel manager, Rita Tushingham as a visitor a cameo by Robert Hardy as Churchill.

1. The popularity Agatha Christie novels? Miss Marple novels?
2. Murders, detection, solutions, clues, unexpected solutions?
3. The opening, excavations in Egypt, Captain Trevelyan and the discoveries, 25 years later, Britain, post-war, Winston Churchill as Prime Minister, expectations?
4. The country settings, Sittaford Manor, the interiors, the seasons, snow, the hotel, interiors, the countryside?
5. The character a Captain Trevelyan, Timothy Dalton, the excavations in Egypt, his political status, business connections, possibility of being Prime Minister, the press? Return home? His work on friendship with John Enderby, saving him during the war? His moods, the encounter with Miss Marple, her staying at his house? His going to the hotel, the meals, the seance, the threat of death? In his room, the champagne glass? The discovery of his death? The Egyptian serpent?
6. The setting up of all the possible murderers? The introduction to Jim, adopted, spendthrift, the letter denouncing him, his creating a scene, the relationship with Emily, with Charles? Inheritance, drinking, coming to the house, going to the hotel? The wealthy widow, past friendship, the revelation about the relationship with the escape prisoner? The chef, the escape prisoner? The hotel, the running of the hotel, single-handed, the connection with the prisoner? The businessman, his quack doctor assistant, the confrontation with Trevelyan, wanting documents signed? The enigmatic Smith-Jones and the revelation that he was investigating on behalf of the government? Elizabeth the revelation about her husband and his being murdered? Emily, Charles as a reporter, his travelling with her?
7. At the house, Miss Marple, the discussions with the servant from Egypt? With Emily and Charles? On the sidelines of the investigation? Her examining Trevelyan’s diary, what she learnt, about Egypt’s, speculations on the case, the confrontation with Charles, the revelation?
8. The range of characters at the hotel, Kirkwood, the management, single-handed, the chef, the cousin? The mother, style, criticising her daughter, going birdwatching, the seance, the revelation of the truth about the relationship, her escaping with the chef? Violet, prim, her mother criticising her, and the revelation of the truth, her meetings with Trevelyan, the proposal, his coming to the inn, the marriage, the issue of the will, the tickets for Buenos Aires? The businessman, his need for injections, paying off the doctor, the doctor and his blackmailing Charles, the setup as if Jim had killed him? Jim, kept in the larder?
9. The reconstruction of the past, Trevelyan and his character, the photo, the pregnant wife, abandoning her, abandoning the son? Later career, business connections? The planned marriage and escape from England?
10. Miss Marple, the explanations, Charles skiing, following Enderby, the boots in the chimney, insinuating himself with Emily, her response to him, the investigations, his confrontations, especially with Jim? Sharing the room with Emily? The truth, his lies, Trevelyan and his father, the confrontation, killing him?
11. Audience response to Miss Marple stories – but her being more on the sidelines in this story?