SLEEPING MURDER

UK, 2006, 93 minutes, Colour.

Geraldine McEwan, Sophia Myles, Aidan McArdle, Julian Wadham, Harry Treadaway, Richard Bremmer, Anna Louise Plowman, Harriet Walter, Greg Hicks, Peter Serafinowocz, Una Stubbs, Helen Coker, Paul McGann, Dawn French, Nickolas Grace, Sarah Parish, Martin Kemp, Phil Davis, Russ Abbott, Geraldine Chaplin.

Directed by Edward Hall.

Television film versions of Agatha Christie mysteries are always welcome. And there have been the three actresses, Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzie. This story, published posthumously, is one of the last Miss Marple episodes and was filmed with both Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwan.

This version keeps the core of Agatha Christie’s murder and mystery the changes a number of the characters, changes the marital situation of the central character, and adds a whole range of new characters, possible suspects in the murder, although the villain in the novel and the film are the same. The murder actually takes place 17 years or more before most of the action. And there is one more murder in the present.

The film opens in India with some exotic scenes – and a certain amount of misdirection. The action takes place in the early 1950s, a young woman returning to England having grown up in India, attracted to buying a stately home having intimations that she has witnessed a murder. Her fiance’s agent, Aidan McArdle, works with her to settle in and, with the concern about the murder, invites Miss Marple to be her companion and confidante.

The new element in the film is a group of entertainers from the 1930s, The Funnybones, and quite an amount of local reviews, singing and dancing, a troupe including Dawn French, Paul McGann, Martin Kemp. There is also an admirer of the group, Peter Serafinowicz and, interesting to see, his severe mother played by Geraldine Chaplin.

Sophia Myles plays the heiress, convinced about the murder even though there is no evidence. And she relies on her uncle, played by Phil Davis, a psychiatrist. Her father is played by Julian Wadham. Una Stubbs is the housekeeper.

The screenplay was written by Steven Churchett, author of a number of the films for Miss Marple, who never hesitates to change Agatha Christie’s characters and to add unexpected situations and, often, World War II backgrounds.

1. Popularity of Agatha Christie stories? Miss Marple stories? Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple?
2. The prologue in India, the Raj, society, Indian dancing, Kelvin Halliday, news of his wife’s death, grief, the development of the plot, the wife’s background, theft, staging the death, the return to England, with their girl, the house, the Funnybones, Helen and her singing, the proposal, the mysterious Indian, her disappearance, the postcode?
3. Gwenda, engaged, sailing to England, met by Hugh, awkwardness, driving, her instinctive choice, finding the mansion, buying it, the awkward young agent (and the revelations of his connection with the characters)? Gwenda’s premonition, seeing the murder, her concern, going to visit her uncle, his being a psychiatrist, his reaching out with help? Hugh, helping, inviting Miss Marple to come in and help?
4. The range of flashbacks throughout the film, dramatising the episodes, dramatising the characters?
5. Miss Marple, observing, listening, making friends, with the retiring police officer, their collaboration? Her suspicions, theories?
6. Gwenda, upset, convinced, the theatre, The Duchess of Malfi, the ominous words? Her reliance on Hugh? Her outbursts, the encounters with her uncle? The solicitor, awkward George and his office?
7. The introduction to The Funnybones, the flashbacks and the range of performances, David, his devotion, his strict mother observing him and checking? The range of characters, George Erskine and the revelation about his former marriage, relationship with Janet? Afflick, man about town, the later revelation about the drugs? Helen and her place, singing, deciding to leave the group? To marry Kelvin? Evie, young, awkward, glasses, xylophone and tapping, flirting with the men, rejected?
8. The aftermath, the stories, Jackie and his wealth in marriages, drug money? George, injury to his eye, George as his son, his recognising that he could not be the father, Janet, Georges suspicions? Evie, great success, records, concerts and performance, Gwenda and Miss Marple going to London, the discussions with her?
9. Tracking down the cook, her memories, contribution of information? Tracking down the maid, unhappy with her husband, sending the note, to tell the truth? Her being murdered?
10. Miss Marple and the police chief, assembling everyone, the explanations, the links, the truth about James Kennedy, the incestuous love for his sister, the shady background, India, the setup, the return to England, his anger, killing his sister, writing the notes, the false note to the maid and killing her?
11. And a romantic ending, Hugh and his proposing to Gwenda on his knees?