4.50 FROM PADDINGTON/ WHAT MRS McGILLICUDDY SAW

UK, 2004, 94 minutes, Colour.

Geraldine McEwen, John Hanna, Amanda Holden, Griff Rhys Jones, David Warner, Niamh Cusack, Ben Daniels, Charlie Creed-Miles, Ciaran McMenamin, Pam Ferris, Michael Landes, Rob Brydon, Rose Keegan, Pip Torrens, Jenny Agutter.

Directed by Andy Wilson.

This third version of Agatha Christie’s novel, reminding audiences of the popularity of the stories, of Miss Marple. There had been a previous version with Margaret Rutherford in the 1960s, Murder She Said, then the television version with Joan Hickson. This time it is the more affable and insinuating Geraldine McEwan.

This version, as with the Joan Hickson version, keeps fairly close to the original novel. However, the screenwriters in each version have decided to amplify some characters, omit others, downplay others.

While there is an opening sequence during World War II which has its consequences, the action takes place 10 years later, Mrs McGillicuddy, Jane Marple’s friend, witnessing a murder and arousing Miss Marple’s interest, even to getting her friend, Lucy, Amanda Holden, to get a job in the household of the mansion near which the body might have been thrown from the train. Lucy is vivacious, welcomed into the household (and, as with these television films, many vintage actors in supporting roles, David Warner, Ben Daniels, Niamh Cusack) and the family doctor played by Griff Rhys Jones.

The body is found, hard to identify, all the members of the household under suspicion. However, Miss Marple works with the local police chief, played by John Hannah, identifying the body and is a ballet dancer rather than, as suspected, the widow of one of the sons of the family, killed in action during the war.

There is just one more murder – but, Miss Marple working out what happened, setting up the explanation of the crime by assembling all the suspects in a train carriage, pretending to choke on a fish paste sandwich, the doctor helping to free her throat – and Mrs McGillicuddy identifying him as the murderer. The motivation is more noble this time, his love for the daughter of the house rather than his scheme to marry her and get more money. And, the victim was his wife, married in 1939, good Catholic against divorce, an impediment to his marrying the daughter.

An entertaining Miss Marple story.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Film versions? The portrait of Miss Marple, the three actresses? The different versions of the story?
2. The setting, Paddington Station, the parallel trains, Miss Marple’s home, the Rutherford mansion, exteriors, interiors, the mausoleum? The visit to the ballet school? Musical score?
3. The situation, Mrs McGillicuddy, nodding off, the guard, seeing the murder, her reaction, the sceptical and cynical police officer? The train search, no body? Her visit to Jane, the situation, Jane and her interest (and reading a Dashiell Hammett novel), getting the timetables, working out the times of the crime, the place, where to get rid of the body?
4. The prologue, 1942, Agnes Crackenthorpe dying, her devoted husband, the presence of the doctor, the rest of the family? Memories of the episode? The introduction to Luther, the doctor, the various children?
5. 10 years later, the family, Luther crotchety, the memories of Agnes? Emily staying to look after him, the attraction to the doctor, his attention to the family into her? Alfred, business deals, upset with his girlfriend leaving him, drinking, abusive, interactions with the other members, shouting, his death? Harold, his wife, shady behaviour, and the revelation of his attack on Martine? Cedric, the artist, in Spain, style? Brian, the son-in-law, memories of his dead wife, pilot, his son, and his son’s friend, playing at the mansion on holidays? The family gathering to commemorate Agnes? The time of the murder?
6. Lucy, singing, Noel Coward playing the piano, the society evening, Miss Marple intruding, Coward’s comment? Lucy and her work for Coward, Jane suggesting the job, the interview, being, accepted by the family, good cooking, at the family table, the boys attracted to her? Her searching for the body, going to the mausoleum, the discovery of the body?
7. The mystery of the body, the alleged letters from Martine, Emily not initially revealing them, suspicions that it was Martine? The discovery that she was alive and well? Married, not keeping contact with the family, and her son being the playmate of Brian’s son? Her visit to the family?
8. The feet of the body, the suggestion of a dancer, Miss Marple and her enquiries, the visit to the ballet school, the disappearance of the dancer?
9. Miss Marple, coming to the town, her long friendship with Tom Campbell, the accommodation, his being in charge of the investigation, the two working together? His interest in Lucy? The visit to the ballet school? The identity of the body? The background of her being the good Catholic?
10. The family ill at the meal, Alfred dying? The reactions? The help from the doctor?
11. Lucy, Tom Campbell and his attentions, Brian and his attentions?
12. The various motives and alibis, Cedric lying about his flight from Spain and his interview for a political job? The doctor indicating Alfred’s behaviour at the pub?
13. Miss Marple, phoning Mrs McGillicuddy, her return from Ceylon? The invitation to the theatre, everybody accepting? The device of reconstructing the revelation in the train carriage, the fish paste sandwiches, Miss Marple choking, the doctor helping her, Mrs McGillicuddy seeing him in identifying him?
14. The motivation for the murder in the novel, the financial situation, Luther being excluded from his will by his industrial father because of his rebellion, the money to go to the next generation, more money with fewer inheritors? The motive in this film, love for Emily? His marriage to the Catholic ballet dancer, the refusal of divorce, and his option of murder or bigamy? His surrendering quietly? Declaration of love? The effect on Emily?
15. Lucy, her choices, not Brian, but Tom Campbell?