Marky B

Having just watched "Nemesis" last night with the wonderful Joan Hickson,I was beginning to wonder whether ITV are making a mistake with their new production. No disrespect against Geraldine McEwen,but Joan Hickson was Miss Marple and the BBC productions of the 80's and 90's for me are beyond bettering. scarf
Ta Ta
Marky B thumbs_u

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Wilfried Mueller

I like Joan Hickson as well - although I never heard from her untill she appeared as Miss Marple on TV. Nevertheless she is dead now. But can this mean: No more Miss Marple films in the future? Definiately not!
And that although Dame Agatha wrote to her: "One day you will be MY Miss Marple."
Shortly after she appeared on the small screen for the first time a lot of people said: The best Miss Marple is and was Margaret Rutherford. I like Margaret Rutherford as well and her Miss Marples have been the very first Agatha Christie I have seen. But both actresses are different. Dame Margaret played a more "funny" Miss Marple (like Tony Randall did as Hercule Poirot).

Give Geraldine McEwen a chance (from her I also have never heard before). After we have seen the first episode we can discuss again.
And because the first will be THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY we can compare both productions.

Nevertheless I am glad that I have all the Miss Marple on DVD now, so I can watch them as often as I like in brilliant quality!

Wilfried Mueller, Germany

Steve Crook

Geraldine McEwan is quite well known in the UK.

She was the definitive 'Lucia' in Mapp and Lucia. She was also very good in the strange TV series Mulberry, as the mother in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and the title role in the 1978 TV version of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

She has even appeared in Red Dwarf as Casandra, the computer that can foretell the future.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Marky B

I log your point,Wilfred.
However,I just feel the Joan Hickson series is still fresh in our memories and as they were the definitive versions,the Geraldine McEwen approach will be forever compared.
I loved Margaret Rutherford and I thought her series of films in the sixties were more comedy style. Helen Hayes played an American Miss Marple and Angela Lansbury played a smoking Miss Marple (!),so those two are best forgotten.
I would feel the same if the BBC started making their own series of Hercule Poirot films sans Daivd Suchet.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

David Brent

I agree Marky B it would take something very special to take away the Mrs.Marple crown from Joan Hickson.
Trouble is as there are no new Agatha Christie stories being written it means that with time we'll know the ending to each mystery by heart.
Have you noticed in Joan Hickson's film career how she always seemed to look older than she was?
Even as a young actress playing minor parts she always had that 'lived in'look.
For me Poirot doesn't come close to Miss Marple for great whodunnit television.I'm sure the great English countryside & the lovely villages featured contributed to her success.
Have you ever noticed how all the main characters in Agatha Christie's stories always seem to have servants?
They never had it so good!
Cheers
Dave

Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Marky B

I think I messed up the reply with a quote there. duh
Anyway,I think the Poirot series is a bit too glossy for me,whereas Miss Marple recreates an England alas no more,the type I never knew but only wished I did.
Ta Ta
MArky B thumbs_u

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Wilfried Mueller

According to the several replies I must say that it is great pleasure for me to see a smoking Miss Marple. Why not? Has Agatha Christie ever written that the old spinster doesn't smoke? No, she hasn't, but because Agatha Christie herself never liked alcohol (she used to drink Ginger Beer) there is no reason to try it in a film. For me the most important thing is: The set is believable. In "The Mirror Crack'd" it is a very nice athmosphere.
Well, it has absolut nothing to do with the olf Miss Marple, but.... when I see for example what modern directors of operas do..... the Carmen is sitting on a motorbike..... Tosca appearing in Nikeshoes on the stage.... and now, in 2004 in Bayreuth female singers apperaing naked on the stage.......
We can be happy that there is a "Agatha Christie Trust" which looks for those things.......

"Murder on the Orient Express" with Molina was terrible, but on the other hand..... "Death on the Nile" with David Suchet is superb. Another view of this great novel. Different to the huge succes with Sir Peter Ustinov.

Why, yes, please why, we don't give a new actress a chance? If not, we would haved never seen Joan Hickson because untill the 80's everybody said: Margaret Rutherford is the best...... (because we had never seen another actress). Or would you have said: Yes, Mrs. Kidder in "4.50 From Paddington" would be a much better Miss Marple than Margaret Rutherford????

So please be open to accept a new Miss Marple. Be open to accept a new actress.

And: The actress is only one view of the hole lot. Nobody said: What's about the new screenplay, what's about the new directors, the sets, the costumes, the music, the athmosphere,..... athousand things more.

Let's wait. THEN we will dicuss....

Wilfried Mueller, Germany

Ascoyne D'Ascoyne

I understand from a great fan of Gracie Fields who knew the lady well in her last years that she appeared as Miss Marple in a series made for American television.It would be interesting to see how she played the part but I doubt if any record of these productions survive.

urz13

Funnily enough I was watching Murder She Said with Margaret Rutherford the other day and there was Joan Hickson playing a cleaner / domestic help. Interesting coincidence. Personally I'm quite looking forward to the new ITV production because I like Geraldine Mckewan, but the trouble I find with Miss Marple is that Agatha Christie wrote comparatively few stories and generally I remember the plot as soon as I see the first few scenes.

Wilfried Mueller

Well, it is correct that Agatha Christie wrote "only" 12 novels appearing Miss Marple. But don't forget the shortstories which never have been filmed.

Wilfried Mueller, Germany

nytwings

I'm going to add to this old thread since we've all had time to see Geraldine McEwan's series. She was a lovely Lucia, but she is NOT Jane Marple.

The fabulous Joan Hickson never hit a sour note, and it's not McEwan's fault that she has. The stories and character have been reworked almost beyond recognition. Miss Marple was a Victorian lady grown old, not a bit modern in her behavior. I suppose they're trying for a younger audience, and if someone isn't familar with the stories or the earlier series they may enjoy the revisions.

Not I.

daybaker

I never particularly liked Joan Hickson, I found her too severe, but then I do not read the books.

Since Geraldine is no longer playing the part, I hope they keep the stunt casting, at least. It is rare to see a cast of such wonderful actors in one place, even if it entails altering the plots a bit.

I mean, Harriet Walter in a cameo on stage as the Duchess of Malfi for 1 minute?

winsfordtown

I agree Geraldine McEwan totally miscast but who ever follows her also has to deal with the way ITV have destroyed the essence of the books. To make matters worse they transposed Miss Marple in to other Agatha Christie novels.
I don't care how much the Christie estate claim to give their approval Agatha Christie went on record to chastise the film makers who tinkered with 'Mrs McGinty's Dead' for Margeret Rutherford

dremble wedge

Yes, that was bizarre wasn't it?

I love 'em, they're great fun.

If you want a totally faithful recreation of the books then you have the Joan Hickson adaptations. If you want something more fun then you have Rutherford and McEwan (and Julia Mackenzie as she's doing it now).