THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS

UK, 2010, 90 minutes, Colour.

Julia McKenzie, Stephen Dillane, Edward Fox, Adam Godley, Charlotte Salt, Laura O'Toole, Matthew Horne, Jonas Armstrong, Michelle Collins, Anthony Higgins, Dervla Kirwan, Ruth Jones.

Directed by John Strickland.

The Secret of Chimneys is a comparatively early work by Agatha Christie, from 1925, with a 1920s setting, mansions in the country, activities and mining in Africa. And Miss Marple does not appear in the novel. In fact, the screenplay for this film does take some elements from the original story, making it recognisable enough, the changes characters, plot lines and developments, opening in 1932, the main part of the story in 1955.

It is clear that this is not a film version for absolute devotees of Agatha Christie’s writings. For those not familiar with the novel, it comes across as an interesting murder mystery.

This is Julia McKenzie Miss Marple, her becoming very much involved with the investigation, alongside the Inspector from Scotland Yard, played by Stephen Dillane. As with all these films, there are quite a number of British character actors in supporting roles, led by Edward Fox and Adam Godley, Anthony Higgins in older age, and Dervla Kirwan.

The film has an exotic touch with the visitor from Germany wanting to take possession of the mansion, Chimneys, owned by politician, Edward Fox. Adam Godley is his insistent assistant, has proposed to his daughter. But, there is also some romantic background, the main suspect in love with the daughter.

As the film goes through, the Inspector and Miss Marple develop quite a number of theories as to what happened. However, it is Miss Marple who gathers everyone together and reveals the truth.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? Of Miss Marple? Of the three actresses as Miss Marple?
2. The original novel and the screenplay incorporating elements but very different from the novel?
3. The opening, 1932, the lavish setting of Chimneys, the celebration, Agnes and dancing to the music, the silhouette on the wall, the person approaching, Agnes warning against it, her being killed?
4. The move to the mid-1950s, British politics, connection with Germany and industry, contracts, iron? The letter from the count, Clement and his response, Lomax and his urging? Eversleigh and his subordinate role? Chimneys in a state of disrepair? Yet the agreement to have the party?
5. The family, Virginia, Lomax and his proposal and insistence, Bundle the older sister, practical? Treadwell, her having been in service since the 1930s? The arrival of Miss Blenkinsop, wanting the building to go to the National Trust?
6. Virginia and the episode of the assault, Anthony coming on his bicycle, the rescue, the attraction, the later meetings? The revelation about his background, Africa, his partner, the blackmail, the recovery of the diamond? Eversleigh and his gambling, payments by Anthony? His concur in with the bicycle incident? His typing the letter to invite Anthony to come?
7. The arrival of the count, European style, charm, the music, dancing with Virginia, the meals, the men and the arrangement for the signing over of the house? The count and his death, in the corridor, the gun? His last word wundt – indication of the wall?
8. Miss Marple, friend to Virginia’s mother, her arrival, participating in the gathering?
9. The night, hearing the shot, the banging, everybody assembling, the count not in his room, everybody searching? Finding him in the corridor?
10. The calling in of Scotland Yard, Inspector Finch, his record, knowledge of Miss Marple, working with her, not wanting to be on her list of conquest and detection, his finally conceding, but having the diamond?
11. The investigations, the interrogations? The discovery of Anthony in the tunnel, the gun, in custody? Virginia and her response? Accepting the proposal of Lomax?
12. The various theories and hypotheses? The discovery that the count was in the orchestra in 1932, that he was having an affair, the assumption that it was with Agnes the maid, and her death, and the disappearance of the diamond? The musical score and its code, Bundle solving it? The count looking at the painting, the assumption of the connection between the painting and the diamond, and the secret door?
13. The discussions with Treadwell, secrecy, indications of the past, her death?
14. The coffin, opening it, the dust, Agnes and her apron, her bones? Confirming hypotheses? And further revelations from Miss Blenkinsop about Agnes in the past, Miss Blenkinsop and her causes, condemnation of the heartless aristocracy? Her being caught examining the past documents?
15. Miss Marple, the note for Anthony, the typewriter, the letter not fully black? Eversleigh and his explanations?
16. Anthony taken away, his escape from the car, the return, declaration to Virginia?
17. Miss Marple, with Inspector Finch, the discussions, her awareness of the truth, everybody gathered together? Clement as the villain, his awareness of his wife’s relationship with the count, the count as a musician, Clement walking to trap them, killing Agnes, marrying her, putting the diamond in the coffin for blame, his retrieving it with the open coffin, concealing it in the pond? His awareness of the letters? But the continued correspondence, their being found, used? Clement and the reason for killing Treadwell but she was trying to protect Clement’s wife?
18. The shock for Virginia, the message, the realisation that the count was her father, his visit, his death? And the message about Richmond, the roses, the Rose wall?
19. Anthony, the vindication, happy ending, Miss Marple’s achievement?