RIP, Barry Brundell MSC.

News to hand that Barry Brundell died this afternoon at St Joseph’s  MSC confreres were with him.

Barry turned 83 this month.  He made his first profession on February 26^th 1959, studied at Croydon, Canberra Monastery and at the Australian National University. He and John Bosman were sent to Rome as students in 1963, studying at the Gregorian University, and ordained in the scholasticate chapel, Via Aventina, March 26^th 1966.

Barry was appointed to Daramalan College and shared in the drama of a letter to the Canberra Times on the Encyclical Humanae Vitae – which led to his being transferred to Downlands. However, he moved to St Paul’s seminary, lecturing, then becoming Rector. He completed a PhD at the University of New South Wales on philosopher, Pierre Gassendi.

In the 1990s, Barry returned to Rome and was superior of the MSC International Students’ Community, doing some lecturing at the Gregorian.  On his return, he was parish priest of Kensington, then Erskineville.

He was the editor of Compass Theology Review from 1998 to 2016.

In recent years he has lived at Kensington Monastery and St Joseph’s.

May he rest in peace.

St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral: A DIOCESAN CELEBRATION of the 60^th Anniversary of the Blessing and Opening of the Cathedral and the 50^th Anniversary of its Consecration, Sunday August 21^st, 2022.

Acknowledging the opening of this landmark cathedral

The Aboriginal Madonna

The stained glass windows

The bishop of Darwin at that time, John O’Loughlin MSC

Thanks to Malcolm Fyfe MSC, Vicar General

A great photo – MSC Vietnam celebrating its 19^th anniversary

Scroll down for the full photo.

A picture is worth 1000 words.  A picture of MSC Vietnam on 15^th August 2003 would have the hopes of Peter Huan and Thoi.

19 years later we can see the fulfilment of hopes. (And acknowledging Thang stationed at Coogee, Vocation promotion and hospital chaplaincy, Quy teaching Scripture and courses at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva, Fiji, and Chung in Melbourne for the Siloam ;program at Heart of Life.)

And after two years of covid, Chris McPhee is visiting Vietnam again.

And ‘Uncle Bob’ who was Provincial Superior at the time of the Foundation, has been able to return after two years. (And thanks to Bob for this photo.)

OUTFIT

UK, 2022, 105 minutes, Colour.

Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch, Dylan O'Brien, Johnny Flynn, Simon Russell Beale.

Directed by Graham Moore.

What’s in a name? In the past, the word “outfit” referred to what one was wearing. But, then came the gangster films and many of us thought first of mob organisations when we curb the word “outfit”. Both meanings are relevant here.

This is a surprisingly interesting drama. In fact, while the setting is Chicago in the 1950s, it is a British film, filmed in London studio, a single set, the interior of a tailoring shop, with some glimpsing shots outside the store in the snow. And the cast is principally British plus two American actors.

Audiences familiar with the work of Mark Rylance will correctly have strong expectations – after all, he was the director of the London Globe Theatre for a decade and has been a significant presence on the large and small screen (Cromwell in Wolf Hall and an Oscar for his performance in Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies). We watch his meek and reticent manner at times as Leo Burling, insisting to those who refer to as a tailor that he was a “cutter”, making the top-class suits by hand. In fact, he does the voice-over and begins by explaining to us the various steps of choosing fabrics, measuring, cutting, sewing, producing his work. And he has a local assistant, Mabel, a strong-minded character played by Zoey Deutch.

But, even though we are focusing on the cutter and listening to his commentary, we notice the Al Capone tradition of Chicago, of a range of people coming in to deposit envelopes of money, checked on by the brash son of the local mob boss, Richie (Dylan O’Brien), always accompanied by his protector, Francis (Johnny Flynn). We are later surprised to see London theatre actor, Simon Russell Beale, as the father, the local boss.

The action takes place overnight. Richie and Francis come back to the shop, Richie wounded by an ambush from other gangsters. Leo sews him up. However, there is a confrontation between Richie and Francis and a jolting twist to the plot. We know that Leo is shrewd but we perhaps did not realise how shrewd in his handling of the consequent situation, the arrival of the young man’s father, information concerning two ambitious from other gangs in the city, the temptation to Francis that he could take over the leadership of his gang. And Mabel returning and caught up in the twists.

And, continually interesting, looking at Leo, listening to him, his shrewd and quiet manipulating of characters and events, even to the arrival of the rival gang, Lafontaine (led by Nikki Amuka-Bird).

At the centre all the intrigue is a tape-recording and somebody in the gangs feeding the information to the FBI.

This is a very well-written film, the intricacies of the plot, the tones of language to express each of the characters and their character, written by first-time director, Graham Moore, who had won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay in 2014 for the Bletchley-Alan Tuering drama, The Imitation Game.

This will not appeal to those who are eager for fast-paced action. But, it will of great interest to a generally adult audience which values plot, complexities, character.

1. A small budget drama, a single set, interiors of the shop, glimpses of the outside street and snow? A British film, filmed at a London studio? The British cast, American presence? Well reviewed and received?
2. Chicago, the mid-1950s of gangsters and the alcove tradition? Gangs, overall bosses, presuming audience knowledge of and response to this kind of gangster film?
3. The title, audience thinking of gangsters? Focus on the details of his work, making suits, outfits?
4. Mark Rylance and his screen presence, age, appearance, delivery of his lines, command of the screen?
5. Leo, the voice-over, explaining the step of making a suit, the fabrics, the four, the choices, measuring and marking, cutting, sewing, putting the suit together? The range of two throughout the film, and the fabrics and stock hanging in the shop?
6. Leo, his story, the war, the threat of blue jeans, British poverty after the war, moving to the United States and setting up? The revelation of the truth by the end, his work as a thug, the threats, the burning of the shop, the death of his wife and daughter? Coming to the United States, the connections with Roy Boyle and his gang, his son calling in, the sinister presence of Francis? The deliveries to the box in the store? The payments?
7. Mabel, from the area, her work in the store, devotion to Leo, her collecting images from buildings around the world, the gift from London, her wanting to travel, not wanting Leo to look after her, but her concern about Leo? The revelation of her relationship with Richie? The scene between the two? Roy discovering this?
8. The action taking place over one evening, Leo and his working, Richie and Francis coming, the issue of the tape, the gangs, LaFontaine, the threats? The return, Ricky wounded, Francis and his reaction, the gun, Roy, stitching the wound? Francis and his sense of menace, shooting Ricky? Their putting him in the trunk? This and his going out to sea Roy?
9. The gang situation, the police and their searching, the local gangsters, the French gangsters? Information, threats, ambushes?
10. Mabel, arriving, the revelation of her being the source of information to the FBI, the tape?
11. The arrival of Roy, his bodyguard, dominating presence, love for his son, searching for his son? Leo, the stories, notice, quietly talking, the threats to Mabel, the threat of torture? The phone call, Leo and interpretation, Roy and his decision to go after the gangsters? Francis and his staying, the continued menace?
12. LaFontaine, confrontation with Francis, his hiding, Leo’s setting him up, not telling the truth, Francis emerging, shot? The discussions with LaFontaine, her admiration for his work with the suits, the phone information for Roy, the rendezvous, his team destroyed?
13. Francis, the possibility of being in charge of the whole gang, the outfit? Greed, shot?
14. The truth about the tape, selling it to LaFontaine, the fourth tape, Leo and his hiding it, Is Also hiding the tape recorder, recording the hall evening’s events?
15. Mabel, going off to Paris, going to the FBI?
16. Francis, reviving, the confrontation with Leo, wounding Leo? Leo packing, to leave and start again, the story about his shears, the gift from his wife, and his images of fire, using the shears to kill Francis?
17. Leo, phlegmatic, packing, leaving, the impact of the events, but his being willing to start again?

SNIPER: ASSASSIN'S END

US, 2020, 95 minutes, Colour.

Chad Michael Murray, Sayaka Akimoto, Tom Berenger, Ryan Robbins, Lochlyn Munro, Emily Tennant, Michael Johnson, Vincent Gale.

Directed by Kaare Andrews.

It is surprising to find that the Sniper franchise, beginning in 1993, has continued for almost 30 years, the original sniper, Tom Berenger, appearing in almost all of them. Then, there was the introduction of his son, played by Chad Michael Murray being introduced and also appearing in, to date, five films.

As the title indicates, this is a film about assassins, specifically a woman Japanese assassin who completes a task but lays clues that the sniper involved is Murray. He is tracked down by a very earnest’s CIA investigator but Murray is able to elude his pursuers and goes to visit his father.

There is further investigation to unmask the real assassin but she appears at the father’s house, is captured, is turned by the CIA and agrees to participate in action that will root out the corporate villains and hired assassins behind the initial assassination.

Which is what happens, as the audience would expect, quite a number of fights, some moments of reminiscence in chats between father and son, and the father having the opportunity to fire the bullet that could save his son’s life.

Parallel to this story is that of another agent, Zero (Ryan Robbins) who has an extraordinary capacity for moving from city to city on the American West coast, unmasking villains, being captured, needing to be rescued and final fights – and a postscript where he is talking to the assassin, preparing the way for a sequel.

1. The longevity of the sniper franchise, Tom Berenger continuing, Chad Michael Murray continuing?
2. The range of cities visited, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, the Montana countryside? The musical score?
3. The opening, the assassination, the skill of the assassin? Leaving evidence for Brandon Beckett to be the killer? The response of the authorities, Franklin, his staff, the pursuit of Brandon, capturing him, the interrogation, his being on vacation? Being transported, the assassin, the thugs, the attack on the car, Brandon survival, driving away, cars, the parking lot, the driver? The lift in the truck, making his way to see his father?
4. The background of Thomas Becket, the many episodes, his relationship with his son? Living in the backwoods, the sequences of his reminiscing about his past, targets, shooting, comrades death? His supporting his son?
5. The background of the pharmaceutical company, the presence on stage, the issue of deals?
6. Zero, his role as an agent, interrogating Brandon, the clashes with Franklin? The range of his investigations, city to city, the company, the tough security guard and confrontation, the injured man in hospital, tough, pulling a gun? His keeping in touch with agent Clover? The phone calls?
7. The range of thugs, the truck, the assassination attempt, the deaths?
8. The setting up, the police at the Beckett’s hideaway, the assassin, her presence, Brandon and the fight with her, her being taken? Franklin and his decisions?
9. Zero, going south, the island, tracking down the managers of the company, getting to the island, the encounter with the security guard, his being the master organiser? With the head of the company?
10. The assassin, the situation, the conditions explained to her, her going in with Brandon, the fights? Brandon taken by the card? His father, the possibility of the shot, hesitation, firing?
11. Satisfactory ending? Action show? And zero persuading the assassin to be ready for a sequel?

CODIGO EMPERADOR

Spain, 2022, 106 minutes, Colour.

Luis Tosar, Alexandra Masangkay , Georgina Amoros, Dennis Gomez, Laura Dominguez, Migeul Rellan, Maria Botto,.

Directed by Jorge Coira.

This is an interesting political drama from Spain starring a regular star from this kind of film, Luis Tosar.

The episodes at the beginning of the film suggests quite an ambiguity. Juan, Luis Tosar, befriends a young Filipino maid who is abducted by thugs in a van, going to her house, sympathetic, but the audience realising that this is a set up and he is installing surveillance material in the house where she works, the home of a German industrialist involved in importing bomb-making clerical chemicals from Argentina to Spain. However, this begins a relationship between the two, he a lonely man, working for the agencies, she with hopes to make some m Juany, return to the Philippines with her many sisters and set up a home there.

It is revealed then that Juan is responsible to a supervising political operator. While the sting on the import of the chemicals proceeds throughout the film, involving Juan in travel all over Europe as well as a climax in the port of Bilbao and the discovery of the chemicals, he is also involved in investigating an allegedly clean politician. All kinds of surveillance, a team of experts in IT as well as agents, men and women, who go into action.  Juan also has a link with the young woman, student, working in a bar, whom he helped when she was a drug addict at the age of 15.

The politician makes a bad decision, goes online with a false name,  Juan setting him up with the drug addict girl but with photos of the Filipina. Meetings are arranged, the politician compromised, especially when he meets the girl serving as a waitress at a political function.

 Juan, has also been recording the conversations and results, pressured by a journalist to give him a scoop. While he is able to effect the return of the maid to the Philippines, the rest of the film and its ending is quite ambiguous again. It would seem that  Juan has made a decision to unmask the political conspiracies.

1. Political thriller? The title? Agencies? Counter agencies? Agents in reporting? Plans, plots, consequences?
2. The Spanish setting, the city, agencies, media outlets, politicians’ homes, public events? The musical score?
3. The political intrigue, heads of agencies, their aims, undermining of politicians, creating scandals, issues of national security, drug smuggling, bomb chemical smuggling?
4. Juan, his age, the loner, committed to the agency, is reporting to Galan, Galan and the decision-making, the variety of agents, networking, technology, the surveillance, cameras, computers, various apps, photos?
5. The issue with Angel, wife and family, politics, the intrusive surveillance, nothing on him? Going online, the sites, the women, Juan setting him up with Wendy, the photos, the fake name? His using a fake name? Juan manipulating the dates, his relationship with Marta, her drug addiction as a teenager, rehabilitation, studies, working at the bar, Juan and his hold over her, arranging the dates with Angel? The first meeting, the hotel, his behaviour, her reaction? At the political rally, her work as a waitress, Angel following her, the hotel room, her brutalising herself, the blood, setting him up? Juan going in, the conversation, the cover? Angel feeling that he had lost his political position? Juan reporting to Galan and, that there was nothing to fear, Angel and his reputation, his new position?
6. The encounter with Wendy, the Filipino maid, no permit, her job? Abducted, rescued by Juan, calling himself Alex, getting into the house, setting up the surveillance? The relationship with Wendy, the sexual liaison, the effect on her, on him? The phone number? The various meetings?
7. The bomb plan, the surveillance of the Germans, the elaborate plan with the chemicals, from Argentina, to Spain, the Port of Bilbao, the contacts? Wendy as the maid in the house, her being arrested, interrogated? The plan at the port, Juan and his infiltration, finding the chemicals? Anna going in? The shootout, the success of the mission?
8. Juan and his rivalry with Azcona, Galan playing them off? The taking of Wendy, Juan and his reporting to Galan and, her release, together, his giving her the money, the ticket? Her plans to return to the Philippines, her sisters, building a house, the resort, and her reminding him of the guest house?
9. Juan, shrewd, his tapes, the contact with the journalist, giving her the contacts, the codes?
10. Spanish politics, agencies, rivalries, corruption?

SURVIVE THE GAME/ KILLING FIELD

US, 2021, 95 minutes, Colour.

Chad Michael Murray, Bruce Willis, Swen Temmel, Michael Sirow.

Directed by James Cullen Bressack.

Yet another of the many Bruce Willis films made during the 2010 is in 2020 is. It generally received poor reviews and was attacked by Willis fans.

The plot is familiar enough, very limited in the extent of its vocabulary, a lot of fights, a lot of shootings and deaths.

The film focuses on two veteran police, Bruce Willis and  Swen Temmell, who have been pursuing drug dealers for some time. Following a lead, they confront the dealers but Bruce Willis is wounded and his partner pursues some of the dealers through the countryside till they come to a farm owned by Chad Michael Murray – with some flashbacks indicating the death of his wife and daughter two weeks earlier.

A lot of chases around the property, attacks and ambushes, Bruce Willis eventually getting free from his captors, despite his wound, the arrival of the kingpin who is a snarling young upstart, some sketches of some of the drug gang. The one who stands out with a sense of menace is Michael Sirow, interrogator, ultra-serious, with his kit for torture.

Some heroics on the part of the partner. Some using of his head by the owner of the farm. And final resolution.

Just one of the many Bruce Willis films of the time.

LAS LEYES DE LA FRONTERA/  THE LAWS OF THE FRONTIER/ OUTLAWS

Spain, 2021, 130 minutes, Colour.

Marcos Ruiz, Begona Vargas, Chechu Saslgado, Carlos Oviedo.

Directed by Daniel Monzon.

The frontier here is a city in northern SpaSwen Temmelin, Gerona, in 1978. It is a focus on a group of young people, self-centred, no consideration for the law, involved in drug dealing and, eventually, in bank robberies. However, it is framed by sequences in the early 21^st-century, a lawyer visiting a prison and waiting to be called to see prisoners, then a flashback to this man’s life as a teenager, then coming back to the present and his visiting one of his friends from that early time.

Something of the Spanish tone, religious overtones and serious families is presented in the discussion about the death of Pope John I at the time. Which is located in September 1978.

Nacho is 17, bullied at school, wearing glasses, giving the impression of something of a geek. However, he likes to spend a lot of time at games arcades, even helping out with closing the store and friendly with the manager who gives him free games. But, he encounters a man in his 20s and a woman whom he thinks is his girlfriend. They befriend him, play games with him in the arcade, and he persuades them not to rob the manager. They invite him to join with them, meet their friends, the various rendezvous, the games, introduced into drugs… This is affirmation from people instead of being bullied. However, at home, he is more alienated from his father.

The young people have no regard for any laws at all. And Nacho becomes more and more involved, participating in the drugs and deals, standing as a lookout for a bank robbery, then even participating. However, he is attracted to the young woman, she seeming fairly free in her manner, an episode at the beach and a sexual encounter while his friends set him up with a very sympathetic prostitute. Which means then that Nacho is quite transformed, standing up to his bullies at a later encounter.

There is quite some melodrama in the latter part of the film, drug dealing with local tourists, an episode at a service station which one friend is trying to rob but is shot by the manager, later the car crashing. And a final robbery that Nachi becomes involved in but his friend urges him to escape and live a better life.

And there is an ambiguous portrait of the local police, and a rather proper police investigator from the city – who has an encounter with Nacho’s father, enabling his son to live the better life, which means that the older man, now a lawyer, has been helped by his friend in prison, the sympathetic policeman, his supportive father.

1. The title, law, the breaking of the law, gangs, drugs and dealing, the amoral life?
2. Spain, the late 1970s (and the death of Pope John Paul I and a Catholic family)? The city of Gerona, streets, buildings, arcades, clubs, homes? The beaches? Pharmacies, bank, prison? The musical score and the times?
3. The opening, Nacho, his age, visiting the prison? The film as his memory?
4. Nacho’ story, age 17, bullied at school, the devout family, taunts from his sister? Going to the arcade, playing the games, the friendship with the owner, closing the store for him? Allow the free games? The encounter with Zarco and Tere? The approach, friendship, the using him, his being aware of this? The attraction of the two?
5. Zarco, his background, crime, relationship with Tere, the later revelation that she was his sister? The range of friends, the drug background, the clubs, the contacts? Crime, robberies? Developing the technique for the pharmacy stores, for robbing banks?
6. Nacho, timid, but being friendly, joining the group, playing the games on the arcade, but stopping them from robbing the owner? His first drugs, the effect? The attraction to Tere? Her being tantalising? The reaction of his family? Going to the beach, the sexual encounter? Being taken to the prostitute, her charming him? His further attraction to these people and their world? Wanting to be part of it? His role as a lookout, his role in the pharmacies and Tere pretending to be giving birth, his role in the robbery of the banks, his insistence on participating?
7. Tere, attractive, with Zarco, with Nacho, with the others, dancing, alluring to Nacho?
8. The other members of the gang, their roles, friendships? The drugs for the French tourists? The Germans on the beach? Driving for the drugs, the service station, the shooting? The crashed car? The bodies?
9. The police in the town, drinks at the clubs, attitude towards the gang, interrogations, torture? The new policeman, his reserve, suit, examining the car wreck? Disapproval of the torture?
10. The buildup to the final bank robbery, Nacho insisting on participating?
11. Chino, the interrogation, on the lookout, going to phone, Tere seeing him? The drive away, the shooting, the car chase, the motor bikes, Nacho shooting the officer on the motorbike? His wound? Abandoning the car? Zarco urging him to freedom?
12. Nacho, his return home, the alienation from his father, his father helping him, going to the holiday house, the testimony of the neighbour, fishing, the wound from fishing, the interrogation by the police? The father, giving his story of his protests in the past, the help from his father, able to live a proper life? The detective letting him be?
13. A year later, Nacho going to the club, the final encounter with Tere, her slipping him the bracelet?
14. The present, the discussions with Zarco, the long imprisonment, 28 years, his health? Tere visiting him every month until she died? Nacho going to her funeral? Her insistence that he visits Zarco? His career as a lawyer, his cases, promising to help Zarco?
15. The title, the laws of the frontier, the attitude of young people in the 70s, care-free? No moral anchoring? Self-centred? Prison consequences? And the possibility for a better life – and Nacho reflecting on the 28 years, studies, failed marriage, legal work?

DAY SHIFT

US, 2022, 113 minutes, Colour.

Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, Meagan Good, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Tyler Souza, Scott Adkins, Snoop Dogg.

Directed by J.J.Perry.

Give this film five minutes, wait until Jamie Foxx has a confrontation with an elderly woman vampire, a hefty fight, confrontation, her contortions, and then you will know whether you want to continue watching.

Here is a Californian mythology (remembering Eddie Murphy in A Vampire in Brooklyn), many vampires in the San Fernando Valley, their chief, Audrey, working as a real estate agent, undercover, so to speak, with plans to buy up properties to house even more vampires!

And, part of the mythology, is an industrial union of vampire fighters. And we see them get to work, demolishing the vampires in spectacular fights throughout the film. Even British action star, Scott Adkins, has a cameo role.

At the centre of the film is Jamie Foxx, with difficulties in paying off his debts, alienated from his wife, Meagan Goode, loving his daughter. He actually tries to pull in some vampire teeth with a local broker, Peter Stormare, which leads to his being tracked by Audrey, whose daughter it was that he killed in the initial fight.

Fortunately Bud has a very good friend, John, an interesting presence by Snoop Dogg, tall and lanky and easy-going. He facilitates a financial deal, for Bud to go back to work as a hunter, but having the day shift. At which stage, enter Dave Franco as Seth, buttoned up suit and tie, knowledge of all the codes, sitting behind his desk, but sent out by the boss as supervising Bud. Seth begins as something of a nerd, manifests all kinds of difficulties as a geek, but, along with another woman they encounter, Heather, he becomes an Uber-vampire, all the characteristics of the vampire but on the side of good when they can!

So, a comic perspective on everything, a lot of confrontations with vampires, especially at an apartment where they just keep on coming and coming – and being killed and being killed.

But, love of family and saving family becomes important, Audrey kidnapping Bud’s wife and daughter, taking them to a subterranean world, an empire for the vampires, leading to a final confrontation, John prepared to give up his life for his friend, Heather and Seth becoming somewhat super heroic, and very happy ending for the family.

This is not a career move for Jamie Foxx, rather he seems to be enjoying himself.

Which is the aim of the whole film, directed by expert stunt director (John Wick films, Fast and Furious films), J.J.Perry with his first feature.

A Netflix entertainment for a night at home.

A CARIBBEAN MYSTERY

UK, 2013, 90 minutes, Colour.

Julia McKenzie, Antony Sher, Oliver Gordon Davies, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Charity Wakefield, Robert Webb, Warren Brown, Charles Mesure, MyAnna Buring, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Daniel Rigby.

Directed by Charlie Palmer.

This is a third film, made for television, version of Agatha Christie’s popular A Caribbean Mystery. There was an American version with Helen Hayes as Miss Marple. There was also a Joan Hickson version.

This is a very glossy version, life on an island in the Caribbean, the resort, club atmosphere, parties, the beach – with the touches of voodoo.

The scene is set very early, Miss Marple listening to the ramblings of an old man with one eye (very important for a final clue) who declares that he recognises someone on the island who is a killer. Needless to say, he does not last long. There is also the feigned murder of one of the workers at the resort – and then her actual death. And there is also the murder of a rather happy-go-lucky gold digging American woman.

There are plenty of candidates for the murderer, a birdwatcher flirting with the American woman, his wife observing, the photographer husband of the American woman, rather proper Canon who disapproves of voodoo, a tycoon with his body-building assistant and his female assistant…

Miss Marple is there, observing everything, trying to put everything together – but, finally giving some thought to the effect of the glass eye and unmasking the killer.

The local police are brought in and there are some dialogue lines very critical of colonial attitudes of the British towards those in the West Indies. The police do their work – and Miss Marple doesn’t do a lot of talking with them but she does unravel the mystery at the very end.

There is nice twist also with the character of the tycoon, played by Antony Sher, and his motivations for being on the island.

As with Agatha Christie stories, most audiences will not pick the killer.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie stories? Miss Marple? The various screen versions?
2. The Caribbean setting, the resort, the interiors, the beach, the cliffs and the sea? The musical score?
3. The discussions about voodoo, the performances at the resort, belief and disbelief, the disapproval of the Canon? The talk about voodoo, the feigned death of the worker at the resort?
4. Setting the tone, Major Palgrave and his chatter, photos, wild stories, seeing the murderer, the issue of his blood pressure, going to his heart, collapse and death? The blood pressure tablets? His having one eye – and Miss Marple using it is the revealing clue?
5. The range of guests at the resort, the managers, Molly and her husband, her inheriting the resort, the devotion of her husband, the work? Molly and her seeming madness, strange behaviour, on the cliff, on the beach, demented? The birdwatcher, flirtation with Lucky, observed by his wife? Lucky, American, questionable background and husbands, her photographer husband, his drinking? The Canon and his being very proper, against voodoo, painting Molly, the attraction? Mr Rafiel, wealthy, dark glasses, sardonic colonialist remarks, befriending Miss Marple, sharing the enquiry? Jackson as his assistant? Esther, assistant, gossiping, inheriting? The servants, their background, suggestions of voodoo, the old lady, with tourists, telling the tales?
6. The Major’s death, the enquiries, the local police, their strong stands, criticism of British colonial attitudes towards them? Their presence, the interrogations, polite towards Miss Marple? Her not explaining situations to them throughout the enquiry?
7. Victoria, taking the money, the blood pressure tablets, the feigned death, the concern of her husband, her real death? The old lady and her husband coming forward to Miss Marple?
8. Lucky’s death, on the beach, over the cliff and the body transported, her wearing Molly’s scarf? Mistaken identity?
9. The clues, suspicions? The impending storm? Tim going out for the candles?
10. His return, the police, his wanting to talk to Molly for five minutes, his being unmasked, the confrontation, the gun, the threats to Molly to kill herself, shooting at Miss Marple, with blanks? The unmasking of his story, Molly in England, under his influence, his disappearance, reappearance with a new name, marrying her, coming to the resort, and the Major recognising that he had previously been a killer?
11. Satisfying Miss Marple mystery in exotic locations?