A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED

UK, 1985, 153 minutes, Colour.

Joan Hickson, Ursula Howells, John Castle, Renée Asherson, Nicola King, Simon Shepherd, Elaine Ives-Cameron, Ralph Michael, Sylvia Sims, Matthew Solon, Mary Kerridge, Joan Sims, Paola Dionisotti, Kevin Whately.

Directed by David Giles.

This is the Joan Hickson version of Agatha Christie’s 1950 novel. For many, Joan Hickson is the best embodiment of Miss Marple, very much as Agatha Christie created her.

This film opens dramatically with the newspaper announcement of a murder to be committed at 7 o’clock at a particular house, a range of people reading the announcement, curious, ensuring that they will be present. The owner of the house, Miss Blacklock, takes a rather detached attitude.

Guests gather at the house at 7 o’clock. The lights go out. An intruder threatens people, there are shots, Miss Blacklock is wounded in her ear, the intruder is shot dead.

As anticipated, so much of the film is interrogations by the rather stern-faced but often kindly detective, played by John Castle. His assistant is played by Kevin Whately, almost like an audition for Morse.

There are many suspects, different clues around the village as with the local military man from India and his ambitious wife and the disappearance of his revolver. There is the unravelling of the identity of the intruder, his Swiss background, conniving for money, relationship with the local waitress.

One of the strengths of the versions of Agatha Christie novels is the strong British supporting cast with veterans like Renée Asherson, Joan Sims and a strong performance by Ursula Howells, holding the film together, as Miss Blacklock.

As some of the people in the village start to investigate, there are further murders, even to Miss Blacklock’s close friend and companion, played by Renée Asherson.

A complex back story emerges, international bankers, marriages, reappearing in-laws, Miss Blacklock’s ailing sister.

For most audiences, the revelation of the truth will be quite a surprise!

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie novels, with Joan Hickson as Miss Marple?
2. The atmosphere of the 1940s, the look, the lifestyle, customs and presuppositions, costumes and decor, the postwar period?
3. The title, the opening, the announcement of the murder, and the papers, Miss Blacklock and the venue for the murder, the gossip in the town, the introduction to the variety of characters, the preparation for the occasion, in the house, buying the sherry, the preparations?
4. 7 o’clock, the lights out, the shooting, the torch, Miss Blacklock, cut to the ear, the Swiss man’s death? His background story, the thief, asking for money, the relationship with the maid? The revelation that he did all this for a lark, for the money?
5. Inspector Craddock, serious, his range of interrogations, present, shrewd, the conversations with Miss Marple, change of perspective, his manner of treating each of the suspects?
6. The Colonel, pompous, India, his wife and her style, the issue of the missing gun?
7. Hinchcliff and Murgatroyd, companions, Hinchcliffe and the war experience, their presence, conversations, trying to find out who did it, Hinchcliffe and the solution of where the record was? Murgatroyd realising who was absent? Hinchciffe driving off, Murgatroyd being murdered?
8. Bunny, attractive character, a companion to Miss Blacklock, dithery, the story of the past, the trust in Letty, the conversations with Miss Marple, with Inspector Craddock? The death?
9. The back story about Letty Blacklock, secretary to the financier, his wife, his sister and children, the mystery of Pip and Emma? Inspector Craddock going to visit the millionaire’s wife in Scotland? The identity of Pip and Emma? The widow, her husband in war, deception, her son, boarding with Miss Blacklock? The revelation? Julia, posing as the cousin, Patrick, Patrick an actual cousin? Their motivations to go to Miss Blacklock, support?
10. The vicar, his wife, Miss Marple staying with them?
11. Julia and Patrick, it and the house, modern, their attitudes, with Miss Blacklock?
12. Edmond, writing the novel, Communist, his mother and her fuzziness? Edmond and his attraction to Philippa, the visits, the conversations?
13. The range of suspects, the various clues?
14. Hannah, refugee, better, the cook? The revelation about the witness – and Miss Blacklock attempting to kill her?
15. The final focus on the woman as being the killer, the issue of the separate doors, the moving the desk, the oiled lock, the torch, the shops, the gun on the floor? The focus on a woman?
16. The final visit, Miss Blacklock attacking Hannah, the revelation of the truth, the setup?
17. The credibility of the situation, Miss Blacklock and her sister, taking her place, the money issues?