MURDER IS EASY

UK, 2009, 93 minutes, Colour.

Julia McKenzie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Steve Pemberton, Shirley Henderson, Sylvia Sims, Lindsey Marshall, James Lance, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Camilla Arfwedson, Hugo Speer, Anna Chancellor, David Haig, Margot Stilley, Jemma Redgrave, Russell Tovey, Stephen Churchett.

Directed by Hetty Macdonald.

The Miss Marple films for television have been very popular, from those of Joan Hickson to those of Geraldine McEwan to the final series with Julia McKenzie.

This Agatha Christie story had already been filmed in the 1980s with Helen Hayes, Bill Bixby and Olivia de Haviland. And it has been adapted for the stage.

As with the films, especially with Julia McKenzie and Geraldine McEwan, have very strong supporting cast, drawing on the range of top British actors. While Julia McKenzie is Miss Marple, and has been inserted into the original novel, she is helped in her detection by Benedict Cumberbatch, whose character was the main investigator in the novel. There is also the sympathetic young local police constable played by Russell Tovey.

Miss Marple becomes involved in the murders by accident, encountering Sylvia Sims on a train who tells the story of murders that have been easy, and then she herself is pushed down an escalator and dies. Miss Marple comes to the funeral, meets the former policeman who had served in Malaya, her presence at various functions – especially an early function when the local doctor, Tim Brooke Taylor, dies.

As with these television adaptations, they remain fairly close to the original novels but take various creative liberties with some of the characters, for instance here David Haig is the Conservative politician campaigning, supported by his sympathetic wife, Anna Chancellor.

Several more murders, a variety of explanations, theories about poisons… And the film takes account of more “adult” themes than Agatha Christie used, especially here, issues of abortion, an issue of incest.

Shirley Henderson plays the rather prim spinster of the village, playing the organ at the church. (And, by the end, she must be glad that this role is on her CV!).

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Miss Marple inserted into this story?
2. The British countryside, the village, the fields, the waterfall, the church, homes? 1955? Atmosphere? The Anglican church? Politics? The musical score?
3. The situation in the village, the number of deaths, considered as accidents? The old grandmother, the Vicar, Lavinia, the doctor, the maid, Lydia? Suspects?
4. The atmosphere of the town, the Vicar and his bees, his assistant and the ceremony, the people in the church? Honoria playing the organ, nodding to Lavinia? Lavinia and Scotland Yard, in the train, in London, the death on the escalator?
5. Lavinia in the train, the conversation with Miss Marple, Miss Marple reading of her death, coming to the village, the encounter with Luke, ex-policeman, his past in Malaya? She and he doing the detecting? The young PC and his investigations?
6. The gathering, the death of the doctor, his harsh attitude, the effect on his wife, her ditziness, the daughter, working in the library, in love with the local doctor? The major, his political ambitions, re-election, the Conservatives? Mr Abbott as his manager? Lydia and her devotion to her husband? Amy present, coughing, awkward? Henry, becoming the new Vicar? Honoria, her place in the community?
7. The further deaths? Miss Marple and her listening, questions, helping with the political advertising? Bonding with Luke? With the young PC? Friendly with Lydia?
8. The emerging of various stories of the past, the introduction of the abortion scene, the introduction of the incest theme, the murder of Honoria’s brother, mentally limited, alleged drinking and the major blaming himself, Abbott and his blackmailing the major to resign from parliament and Abbott to take his place? Abbott, his personality, the relationship with Amy, her pregnancy, the secret?
9. Bridget Conway, from America, the brass rubbings, the attraction to Luke? Mysterious, Miss Marple suspecting her motives, the birthmark, Lydia seeing it? The discussions, Bridget and her identity, expecting the truth?
10. The book on poisons, Henry returning it to the library? Miss Marple and her reading the book, discovering the different poisons?
11. The gathering, the explanations of the past stories, the effect on everyone? Miss Marple and Honoria, getting her to speak, her explaining how she did each of the murders?
12. And, at least, a happy romantic ending?