THE MOVING FINGER

UK, 2006, 93 minutes, Colour.

Geraldine McEwan, James D'Arcy, Harry Enfield, Keith Allen, Frances de la Tour, Ken Russell, Thelma Barlow, Jessica Stevenson, Sean Pertwee, Imogen Stubbs, Kelly Brook, John Sessions, Rosalind Knight, Emilia Fox, Ellen Capron, Tallulah Riley.

Directed by Tom Shankland.

Agatha Christie novels have been perennially popular as have the various film and television versions of her stories. There are several television series focusing on Miss Marple, with performances by Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzie.

As usual, this one is set in a small village, the focus on a British and man, played by James D’Arcy, who suffers from PTSD. He and his sister move into a house in the village – with the usual range of characters and suspects. However, the audience sees that a military man has received a poison pen letter and kills himself.

In fact, there are a poison pen letters circulating throughout the village, accusations, some true, some innuendo, some false. Which leads to quite a range of possible suspects, finally suspicions are leading to a young woman, Megan (Tallulah Riley) who grew up in the village, is disliked, but the airman becomes infatuated with her. There is also a very attractive governess to the children of the local solicitor, and the attraction of the airman to her. There is the solicitor, his moody second wife, her death, the local doctor, his sister, the local vicar and his wife, a neighbour. There is a special treat for movie buffs because the vicar is played and his eccentric way by film director, Ken Russell.

All kinds of suspicions, the murder of the maid who has been witness to what has happened – but, Miss Marple solving everything, with the help of the young woman, and, unlike all the other Agatha Christie stories, a very mundane solution, the plot irrelevance of the poison pen letters, only a cover, and that is where we find the twist.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? Of Miss Marple? The three actresses? Two versions of the story?
2. The post-war setting, Britain, the countryside, the village, mansions, vicarages, business offices? The musical score?
3. The title, the poetic reference, Omar Khayam?
4. The introduction to Jerry Barton, his voice-over, the war experience, what we recognise as PTSD? His life, women, on the bike, reckless, willing to die? Surviving? His being cared for by Joanna? The coming to the village? Miss Barton, her moving out, renting? Their settling in the village? Jerry restless?
5. The poison pen letters, the range, seeing the author cutting out the letters, pasting them, the envelope, the postbox? The range of people receiving the letters? The variety of reactions? The opening, the Colonel’s desk, his letter, killing himself? Miss Marple, association with him, her coming for the funeral?
6. The range of people in the town, the possible suspects?
7. Ken Russell as the vicar, flamboyant as ever, his appearance, manner, love of Latin, reciting the classics, his performance of Cicero? And his conducting of the funerals? Maude, his patient wife, long-suffering, understanding him, friend of Miss Marple, encouraging her to investigate?
8. Miss Barlow, age, place in the village, finding a companion, receiving a letter, her being upset? The irony that the book from which the letters were taken is found with her? Her speech to the performance about the letter?
9. Symington, business, documents, his office? His relationship with Mona, her fragility, harsh comments? With her daughter, Megan, being her stepfather, not able to control her? His two boys, Elsie Holland as the governess? Comment that Ms Holland was the only one not to receive a letter?
10. The meeting with Pye, his manner, criticisms of the vicar, eventual revelation of his relationship with the Colonel and the Colonel’s killing himself?
11. Megan, schoolgirl, Jerry’s attraction, trying to help, the death of her mother, Jerry inviting her to stay with him and Joanna, her doing so? Wanting to go home? Her animosity towards everyone in the village? Her becoming the main suspect?
12. Jerry, becoming more involved, the attraction to Elsie Holland, to Megan? His sister’s concern about him? Drinking? His dreams?
13. The doctor, his place in the village, difficulties in the north earlier, the prescriptions, the presence of his sister, her severity of manner? And her attraction towards Symmington?
14. The maids, the older maid upset with Agnes, the planned meeting, Agnes and the glimpses of her boyfriend, the market, the break, her day off, remaining in the house, wanting him to come, his not coming, the discovering of Mona’s body? And Symmington and his plan, killing her?
15. Miss Marple, taking over, the plan with Megan, her stepfather wanting to get rid of her, the poison, carrying her downstairs, the oven, the police and Jerry rescuing her? Miss Marple’s plan?
16. Inspector Graves, the investigations, interactions with Miss Marple, lower key investigating than in many of the other films?
17. The irony of the Agatha Christie plot, the poison pen letters being a distraction, nothing to do with the ultimate murders, Symmington, Rose’s murder and motivations, his infatuation with Elsie, wanting to get rid of his wife, staying respectable, the attack on the maid because of what she had seen and not seen, the attack on Megan?
18. The effect on Megan, saying she did not love Jerry, but the experience, changing her mind, Miss Marple as matchmaker?