The Agatha Christie Miss Marple Movie Collection (Murder at the Gallop / Murder Ahoy / Murder Most Foul / Murder She Said)
by George Pollock
List Price:
Our Price: $36.98
You Save: $12.94 (26%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $31.25 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Arthur Kennedy, Lionel Jeffries, Margaret Rutherford, Muriel Pavlow, Ron MoodyDirector: George Pollock
Brand: Warner Brothers
Producer: Ben Arbeid
Producer: George H. Brown
Writer: Agatha Christie
Writer: David D. Osborn
Writer: David Pursall
Writer: Jack Seddon
Writer: James P. Cavanagh
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
DVD Release Date: 2006-03-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 67976
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- Murder She Said (1961): Margaret Rutherford's debut as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple Murder at the Gallop (1963): Murder and mystery start with a funeral Murder Most Foul (1964): Miss Marple joins a theatrical troupe whose specialty is death scenes. Murder Ahoy (1964): Miss Marple takes the helm in a seagoing whodunit Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE Rating: NR Age:&nbs
DVD Reviews of The Agatha Christie Miss Marple Movie Collection (Murder at the Gallop / Murder Ahoy / Murder Most Foul / Murder She Said)
DVD Review: "I think that woman is working with the police..", "Nonsense, she's a lady!"
Summary: 4 Stars
Stout collection of films starring the glorious Margaret Rutherford - for whom the word 'exquisite' was invented - as Agatha Christie's amateur sleuth and "tittle-tattling busybody" Miss Marple.
I'm a big fan of Rutherford and it seems quite obvious that she was born to play the dotty but formidable snoop, as this box-set of films made by MGM in the early 60's gives glowing testament.
The 4 films are presented no-frills and in 'matted' widescreen format - to appease the 'everything-must-fit-my-gigantic-tv' brigade. In my opinion, masking the picture top and bottom is just as bad as cutting off the sides but that's by-the-by. Apart from that, these films are beautifully shot in monochrome and contain an absolute trove of British acting alumni; to a man acting suspiciously, lurking in the shadows, leaving clues all over the place and generally hamming it up.
'Murder She Wrote'(1961) is up first: (tho it doesn't matter in the slightest what order you watch them in.) M.M. witnesses a murder on a train and her investigations lead to a spooky old mansion teeming with class actors incl. James Robertson Justice, Ronald Howard, Thorley Walters and sinister medic Arthur Kennedy, who start getting bumped off as soon as she arrives (a familiar theme in all four films).
The film also stars Brit comedy greats Peter Butterworth, Richard Briers and Joan Hickson - herself to play M.M. many years later ("Less trivia and more review please." - imaginary Amazon ed.) - in small but amusing cameos.
Assisting her in this particular case is a 'precocious' (as in irritating!), schoolboy - appallingly dubbed - who you can't help hoping will become the killer's next victim (A bit harsh perhaps. A good, hard punch in the face would probably suffice!).
As you'd expect, the contrived and slightly far-fetched plot comes to a predictable conclusion, but not before we're treated to a tour-de-force of campness and eccentricity from M.R. who throws herself into her role with exuberant relish. The plots are secondary of course ( "WHAT!?!?" -return of imaginary Amazon ed.). They may be important in Christie's novels but here, they're just a vehicle for the ripe performances of the various Anglo-Saxon thespian notables ensembled.
Next up is 'Murder at the Gallop'.(1963) a cracking thriller starring a rake of past and future 'Hammer' participants including Robert Urquhart, James Villiers, Duncan Lamont and little Robert Morley in a diverting tale of ghastly-goings-on at the 'Gallop' hotel. Also present is that marvelous actress Flora Robson as the suspect companion of a murdered heiress.
Again, the plot has holes large enough to ride a 'National' winner through, but it matters not-a-jodhpur as majestic Margaret Marple, plum firmly in mouth (and reminding slightly of Gordon Brown!), saves the day again. With her witty Ron Goodwin harpsichord-and-orchestra theme rattling away for all it's worth in the background (Eat your heart out, John Barry!).
Another fabulously cast gem 'Murder Ahoy'(1964) follows. Francis Matthews, Lionel Jeffries, Henry Oscar and the colossally good comic-actor Miles Malleson - playing a bumbling bishop - are among a top notch ship of barmy Blighty coves getting piped aboard here.
Members of a sea farers trust start getting sent to Davy Jones Locker as soon as our heroine joins; the grand-daughter of the trusts founder - Admiral Sir Bertram Marple ( Whose portrait, hanging in the trusts HQ, is of James Robertson Justice, star of the first M.M. film. All 4 films have great in-jokes like this).
Amid waves of salty humour and a dinghy-full of clues, M.M. - donning full Naval garb - gets to the bottom of things at a fair rate of knots, torpedoing the mock-serious murderer after a clever rapier fight. Scuttling ("Enough of that!" - imaginary Amazon ed. "But I haven`t used 'poop-deck' yet" - irate and corny sea-pun indulging reviewer.) his avaricious plan with plummy aplomb.
The final film is 'Murder Most Foul'(1965). More deadly goings on, this time at a tatty theatrical company which has Ron Moody and James Bolam in it's ranks, and also features Windsor Davis ("Luvvy boy..") as a bemused policeman. It also features another of my favourite actresses, the matronly and ever sinister Megs Jenkins, who delivers some delicious gallows humour with a wicked twinkle
It'll come as no surprise to find that M.M. hams her way through the evidence (and a great rendition of 'Dangerous Dan McGrew' to boot) to unmask the sweaty, grinning killer before the final curtain falls. The villain is harder to spot in this one and though it's probably the weakest film of the 4, it's still a fine finish to the series.
Assisted/thwarted in each film by the gallant but exasperated Inspector Craddock played tongue-in-cheek by Charles Tingwell, and faithful foil/companion Mr.Stringer played by Stringer Davies, Rutherford is perfect in a role that could've easily been written for her.
Watch her waddle around strange old houses, interfere in everyone's business and bluster her way through some choice and meaty lines: "In the throes of connubial bliss" she slavers at one point, jowls trembling, to a captivated Stringer as she begins to unfurl her plan to do some sleuthing.
If I were him I'd let it lie because people die in droves whenever she's in town. It's almost like she's paying hit-men so she can poke her bugle into their dark and violent lives. Live close to the edge and indulge herself in the excitement she attracts and craves.
Literally. There's an attempt on her life in every film. In one her curry is poisoned! An act so heinous it causes her to snarl: "..and I find that unforgivable." at the smirking killer.
Margaret Marple is set in a Britain that doesn't-and-never-has existed, despite the stereotypical perceptions of the rest of the world. It strongly mirrors and pre-empts 'the Avengers' ie: set in a bizarre world where the protagonists are as middle-class and eccentric as the heroes. The victims all have shady secrets that she can lip-smackingly uncover in her quest for justice and the preservation of crumpets-for-tea after the summer fete, jolly hockey sticks(wot wot), eternal sunshine and the ice-(s)cream never runs out. It's all very fine and dandy, reality knows it isn't welcome and rarely intrudes.
Director George Pollock keeps thing moving at a fair pace, the gags come thick and fast and are sometimes intelligently deep but you know you're not in Huxley's 'Brave New World' and this is not the British cinema of mavericks and visionaries like Powell and Pressburger, Coward and Lean. We're in second feature territory. The imaginative House of No Budget, the Palace of the Support Film but that shouldn't detract from the simple pleasures of these rainy Sunday afternoon family movies; really good value here in this bright and crisp collection. They only need a guest appearance by the divine Joyce Grenfell to elevate them to mini classic status.
Dennis Price was in Robert Hamer's sublime Ealing comedy 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' and here he is, fifteen years later, in a Margaret Rutherford/Miss Marple mystery. Talk about peaks and highs.
And the series is delightfully un-PC: "Oh, you don't think she's implicated do you..?" "Yes, she's foreign."
Priceless.
More The Agatha Christie Miss Marple Movie Collection (Murder at the Gallop / Murder Ahoy / Murder Most Foul / Murder She Said) reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Description of The Agatha Christie Miss Marple Movie Collection (Murder at the Gallop / Murder Ahoy / Murder Most Foul / Murder She Said)
Synopsis:Item Type: Unknown Type
Item Rating: NR
Street Date: 03/14/06
Wide Screen: no
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient ExpressPARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2004-09-07; DVD
Best price: $3.52
Price in other shops:
Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 5Acorn; Release date: 2010-08-31; DVD
Best price: $31.87
Price in other shops:
Agatha Christie's Seven Dials MysteryAcorn; Release date: 2004-03-30; DVD
Best price: $6.48
Price in other shops:
The Complete Sherlock Holmes CollectionMPI; Release date: 2006-06-27; DVD
Best price: $39.99
Price in other shops:
Agatha Christie Collection (Dead Man's Folly / Murder in Three Acts / Thirteen at Dinner)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $28.58
Price in other shops:
And Then There Were NoneImage Entertainment; Release date: 2001-11-27; DVD
Best price: $5.19
Price in other shops:
The Complete Thin Man Collection (The Thin Man / After the Thin Man / Another Thin Man / Shadow of the Thin Man / The Thin Man Goes Home / Song of the Thin Man / Alias Nick and Nora)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-08-02; DVD
Best price: $33.99
Price in other shops:
Agatha Christie's Mystery Collection: Death on the Nile/ Evil Under the Sun/ The Mirror Crack'dLIONS GATE HOME ENT.; Release date: 2009-01-27; DVD
Best price: $19.00
Price in other shops:
Miss Marple - 3 Feature Length Mysteries (The Body in the Library / A Murder Is Announced / A Pocketful of Rye)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2002-08-27; DVD
Best price: $28.00
Price in other shops:
Marple: The Classic Mysteries Collection (Caribbean Mystery / 4:50 from Paddington / Moving Finger / Nemesis / At Bertram's Hotel / Murder at Vicarage / Sleeping Murder / They Do It with Mirrors / Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side)A&E; Release date: 2006-02-28; DVD
Best price: $24.99
Price in other shops: