THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY

UK, 2004, 90 minutes, Colour.

Geraldine McEwen, Joanna Lumley, Simon Callow, Jack Davenport, Ian Richardson, James Fox, Tara Fitzgerald, Jamie Theakston, Florence hope, Ben Miller, Emma Cooke, Mary Stockley, Emma Williams, Adam Garcia, David Walliams.

Directed by Andy Wilson.

Geraldine McEwan is enjoying herself as Miss Marple in this particular story, capitalising on her friendship with Dolly Bantry (Joanna Lumley at her best), visiting, sleuthing, interfering, proposing theories, solving the case.  (Spoiler alert.)

The screenplay remains quite faithful to Agatha Christie’s novel – except for the ending. In the novel, the murderer is Mark with Josie, with Adelaide inheriting the money for herself and her son. In this film version, the order is reversed, Mark finishes up as the decent man, though a gambler, looking after the son. Adelaide is revealed to be in a lesbian relationship with Josie – perhaps something with Agatha Christie herself would not quite have approved of.

There is a setting and the mansion, as always, but also at the beach hotel resort.

Simon Callow is the detective, rather pompous in his manner a dominating compared with some of the other police inspectors in the films. Is assisted by Jack Davenport who is the opposite of Callow’s pompousity. There are plenty of suspects including Jamie Theakston, Ben Miller, Adam Garcia, David Walliams. However, audiences need to pay attention to Mary Stockley as the cousin of the dead woman.

And, for older audiences, there is the pleasure of seeing Ian Richardson and James Fox in the cast as well as Tara Fitzgerald.

The central conceit of having the wrong body in the library is again one of Agatha Christie’s masterstrokes.

1. Popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Film versions? Miss Marple? The actresses portraying her?
2. The title, the focal point, the twist of the mystery, not the right body? The plan going wrong?
3. Miss Marple and her friendship with a Dolly Bantry, staying with her, the holiday at the hotel, Dolly her continual advocate, helping with the sleuthing? Arthur Bantry, military background, the body in the library, the effect on him, moping? Suspicions?
4. The Prologue, the dinner, the toast, Jefferson, the next generation, the war, marriage, the bomb in the explosion,
5. The maid? Finding the body, Miss Marple and Dolly looking at it? The arrival of the police? Colonel Melchert, knowing Miss Marple? His pompous manner? Harper, the opposite, working with the Colonel? Their methods, examining scenes, the range of interviews? The conversations with Miss Marple, her theories? The eventual explanation and their reactions?
6. Josie, her dancing, her ankle, cousin, identifying the body (and the later expose of her lie and the consequent scenario)? The helping with the investigation, dropping hints and names?
7. The buildup of suspicious characters, Blake, films, his house, his manner, his wife and her tantrum, not revealing they were married? The later visit from Miss Marple, the irony of his finding the body, moving it, drunk, a shock for Arthur Bantry? Raymond Starr, Latin background, the dancing, with Josie, with Ruby? The middle-aged woman, the gigolo at the hotel? His alibis? Bartlett, his car missing, absent-minded, stammering, awkward, alibi? Trying to give information?
8. Jefferson, losing his legs, staying at the hotel, his money, Mark and Adelaide, Adelaide and Peter, the prospects? His attraction towards Ruby, enjoying her company, the photo of Blake, the touches of jealousy? His finally agreeing to Miss Marple’s suggestion, pretending to sleep, catching Josie trying to kill him?
9. Adelaide, widow, her son, the bond with Jefferson? Mark, son-in-law, gambler, losing his money? Miss Marple talking with each of them? Mark, genuine, self-knowledge, upset?
10. Miss Marple, the issue of the girl guides, the dead girl in the burnt car, her friend, the talk of being approached by a film producer, going to the make up session, her being killed, the body in the car?
11. Miss Marple realising the switching of the bodies? Working out with Blake how the body was in the library? Suspicions of Josie? And the realisation of the relationship with Adelaide? The two and their plan? The scene of them on the beach?
12. The arrest, in prison?
13. Miss Marple, Dolly and her admiration during the explanation? Onto the next case?