THE PALE HORSE
UK, 2010, 90 minutes, Colour.
Julia McKenzie, Nicholas Parsons, Noel Pearson, JJ Feild, Lynda Baron, Elizabeth Ryder, Jonathan Cake, Nigel Planer, Jenny Galloway, Susan Lynch, Pauline Collins, Tom Ward, Sarah Alexander, Holly Valence, Amy Manson.
Directed by Andy Hay.
The Pale Horse was a popular Agatha Christie story from the early 1960s, reviewers commenting that it was in the spirit of the Dennis Wheatley novels, popular at the time, with tones of the supernatural. But, it was not a story of Miss Marple. Rather, the central character was historian Mark Easterbrook, along with the police inspector, Lejeune.
There had been a television film in 1996 keeping close enough to the novel. This film is also close but a number of characters omitted and the name of the villain change from Zachary to Paul! The main characters, along with Miss Marple, still remain.
Interestingly, the first victim of a murder is a Catholic priest, Father Gorman, played by comedian and writer Nicholas Parsons. He visits a dying woman, makes a list of names that she gives him, posts the names to Miss Marple and is mugged in the street. When Miss Marple receives his letter and hears of Father Gorman’s death, she immediately becomes involved, gives a statement to Lejeune (Neil Pearson), but begins her own investigation, especially with the indication of a hotel in a remote village, The Pale Horse (and its reference to evil, death on the pale horse, revelation 6:8).
There is quite a range of characters, especially the three women who run The Pale Horse (including Pauline Collins and Susan Lynch) who, it is revealed, run some witchcraft experiences. There is also a disbarred lawyer (Bill Paterson) who arranges shady contracts for murder under the guise of betting whether the intended target will live on not. There is also a most suspicious character, with polio and in a wheelchair, Mr Venables (Nigel Planer) whom everybody dislikes and is an immediate target of suspicion.
A neighbour of the dead woman is very friendly towards Miss Marple, telling her of his glimpsing a man with a scar on to his eye standing on the corner at the time of the murder of Father Gorman. He is young, enthusiastic, played by JJ Feild.
Miss Marple does a great deal of investigation, collaborates with Lejeune, perfectly sensible policeman compared with some others in Miss Marple stories, and there is a gathering of all the characters and a revelation – certainly not what most audiences would be expecting!
There was a television version for the BBC, written by Sarah Phelps who adapted several Agatha Christie stories, including the extraordinary ABC Murders where Poirot is revealed as having been a priest in Belgium. Audiences unfamiliar with Agatha Christie might enjoy these versions, including The Pale Horse which veers a lot from Agatha Christie – fans of Agatha Christie and some critics have not been quite so forgiving.
- The popularity of Agatha Christie films? Miss Marple? The three actresses?
- The original novel not a Miss Marple story? The connection with Father Gorman, the letter, her investigations, detective work, visits, The Pale Horse, collaboration with Lejeune, with Mark, with Ginger? The encounters with Paul Osborne? The unmasking?
- The opening, Father Gorman, the Catholic connection, visiting the dying woman, comments about confessing for Romans, jotting down the names, posting them to Miss Marple, his death?
- Miss Marple, and receiving the letter, the list of names, going to visit the home of the dead woman, contacting Lejeune, phoning the home of the dead woman, the information about The Pale Horse, going to the village, the preparations for the Burning, Mrs Gray, her manner, Bella the maid, Sybil and the information? The encounters with Mr Venables, unpleasant? The immediate target of suspicion? Paul Osborne’s information about the witness, the man with the scar? Mr Venables and polio? The captain, his wife, the housekeeper, all staying at the hotel?
- Ginger Corrigan, the funeral, the stepmother, the note with the address for Bradley? Giving it to Miss Marple? Miss Marple and Mark and their visits to Bradley, his smooth manner, disbarred lawyer, the agency for murders? The unknown administrator of the agency? The employees going to scout out houses testing products? The betting, the money to Bradley, the money to Mrs Gray after the ritual?
- Mrs Gray and company, overtones of witchcraft, her manner, threats, sinister, the elaborate performance?
- Paul Osborne, meeting Miss Marple, the information about the witness, young, friendly, Miss Marple inviting him to the village, to identify Mr Venables? His eager collaboration? Miss Marple and her theory about the products, being poisoned, the captain and the lotion for the dog, his death? The other deaths, loss of hair, Miss Marple and their hair in her brush? Taking Paul Osborne to watch Mr Venables, his standing and closing the curtains?
- The setup, Miss Marple working with Lejeune, assembling everyone, the gradual revelations, Mark and his deception with Ginger, Mrs Gray and her allies, the truth about the captain and his relationship, Miss Marple denouncing Paul Osborne, his aggression, his being tricked, his vanity? The arrest?
- The happy romantic ending, Mark and Ginger and Miss Marple happily going on her way?