A POCKET FULL OF RYE

UK, 2009, 93 minutes, Colour.

Julia McKenzie, Matthew McFadyen, Rupert Graves, Rose Heiney, Kenneth Cranham, Lucy Cohu, Edward Tudor-Pole, Ralf Little, Helen Baxendale, Ken Campbell, Anna Madeley, Joseph Beattie, Wendy Richard, Ben Miles, Prunella Scales.

Directed by Charlie Palmer.

Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple has been very popular on screen, the last being Julia McKenzie.

In reading the Google synopsis of A Pocket Full of Rye, it coheres very well with the the plot outline of this film version, even to Miss Marple returning home, Gladys’s letter and the incriminating photo.

The period is the 1950s, some memories of World War II. However, it is the world of business in the 1950s, Kenneth Cranham as an autocrat and ruining his company, Ben Miles as his very business -like son and Rupert Graves as the rebellious son who has lived in Africa. There is also his dominated daughter.

As with these films, most of the action takes place in a country mansion – with some scenes in the local hotel.

This is the first of the Julia McKenzie portrayals of Miss Marple, not quite the certainty of Joan Hickson and not the twee ingratiating Geraldine McEwan.

Often Miss Marple dominates the investigating expect but in this case, the very serious Matthew McFadyen is always able to stand his ground.

There are quite a number of suspects and the final twist is an elaborate but very well done – and an unexpected, though not necessary, twist with the identifying of the daughter of the minor, Ruby McKenzie.. And there is a bonus with Prunella Scales having a cameo as the elderly mother.

As always, plenty of suspects, some good twists, and Miss Marple working with the police and outdoing them.

1. The nursery rhyme, the references, the rye in the pocket, the maid in the garden, the blackbirds…?
2. Popularity of Agatha Christie, the various versions of Miss Marple?
3. The introduction to Gladys and Miss Marple, Gladys and her hopes, going into service, at the mansion, the death of Mr Fortescue? Her denials? Miss Marple visiting, Gladys’s room, her death, the posters and cuttings, the clues for the poisoning and introducing it? The cards from Bert? The final letter, and the photo, the final clue?
4. The introduction to Rex Fortescue, eye for the women, his recent marriage to Adele, younger? Relationship with Patrick, the erratic behaviour, senility, business deals? Relationship with Lancelot, forged check, Lancelot in Africa, returning home? His strict demands on his daughter? The collapse at work, his death? Seen in flashbacks, erratic behaviour?
5. The scenes of Lance, his wife, Paris, love for each other, coming to England, his arrival on the plane, met by the police, the train, charming in the house, reaction to the murders? The discussions with Patrick, wanting to participate in the company? Going to the office and making demands?
6. Adele, young, the affair with the golf coach? The golf coach at the hotel, under suspicion, her death?
7. Elaine, her father’s demands, the teacher, his Communist ideas, the breakup, his return, under suspicion?
8. Mary Dove, the role in household, in command, management, present, under suspicion, the revelation about her blackmailing Jennifer?
9. Jennifer, the nurse, nursing Patrick, the marriage, happy or not, at home, eating the chocolates? And the twist that she was the McKenzie daughter?
10. Miss Marple, coming, listening in, investigating, Gladys’s room, the discussions with Inspector Neele? Explaining the case?
11. Inspector Neele, his assistant, very serious, carrying out his work, the range of interviews, ever present, theories, the McKenzie issue and the daughter? Working with Miss Marple, listening to the explanations?
12. The Blackbird mine, Tanganyika, the mistaken torn of West Africa instead of East Africa? The references to blackbirds, in the desk, in the pie, Jennifer and the blackbirds?
13. Miss Marple, the visit to the mother, in the home, implacable, her son’s death, her daughter disappearing?
14. Miss Marple working out what happened, who was responsible, the speculations, leaving it with the Inspector? Returning home, Gladys’s letter, the explanation, and the photo with Lance?