Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Margaret Rutherford | ... | |
Ron Moody | ... |
H. Driffold Cosgood
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Charles 'Bud' Tingwell | ... |
Inspector Craddock
(as Charles Tingwell)
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Andrew Cruickshank | ... |
Justice Crosby
(as Andrew Cruikshank)
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Megs Jenkins | ... |
Mrs. Gladys Thomas
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Ralph Michael | ... |
Ralph Summers
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James Bolam | ... |
Bill Hanson
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Stringer Davis | ... | |
Francesca Annis | ... |
Sheila Upward
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Pauline Jameson | ... |
Maureen Summers
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Annette Kerr | ... |
Dorothy
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Alison Seebohm | ... |
Eva McGonigall
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Windsor Davies | ... |
Sergeant Brick
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Neil Stacy | ... |
Arthur
(as Neil Stacey)
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Maurice Good | ... |
George Rowton
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Although the evidence appears to be overwhelming in the strangulation murder of a blackmailer, Miss Marple's sole 'not guilty' vote hangs the jury 11-1. She becomes convinced that the real murderer is a member of a local theatrical troupe, so she joins them in order to gather information. The clues lead back many years to a single disastrously unsuccessful 1951 performance of a dreadful play written by the group's hammy director, H. Driffold Cosgood. Although at that time, several of the current cast members were only children, more murders follow before Miss Marple ultimately exposes the killer. Written by duke1029
In this, the third of a series of four films of Margaret Rutherford depicting Miss Marple, we are lavishly entertained by a witty whodunnit which is set, most appropriately, within and around a travelling theatre troupe. In my view, this is the best of Rutherford's renditions of this character - and, as ever, she is massively supported by a rock-solid cast which merges mirth with menace in adequate proportions.
The decent, yet slightly inept, Inspector Craddock (Charles Tingwell) is ably assisted, in a needy negative way, by the clearly less able policemen, Wells and Brick (Scott and Davies) in trying to convict an 'obvious' criminal for a heinous murder. Adding to this, the ineptitude of a firm and forthright judge (Andrew Cruickshank) alongside an evidently incapable jury, leads us once again to the necessity of 'our Jane' solving the crime for us. To do so, she must join a theatre group which is riddled with a relevant variety of seemingly good suspects - but which is led by an over-the-top character, Driffold Cosgood (played to perfection by the brilliant Ron Moody). The bit where Cosgood changes his mood and his mind in mid-sentance (..."Dear Lady...") is a piece that is worthy of Shakespeare as a refusal is turned into a plea - but there are plenty of other endearing and engaging moments throughout the rest of an accomplished production.
With your port, or a nice bottle of wine, wait until it's dark and raining outside, then snuggle up to this wonderful jaunt through the curious backdrop of a theatre and its performers presenting a different kind of 'playing' than one would normally expect.