Whodunnit? A new Miss Marple investigates a case of stolen identity

By Blog on the Box on Sep 9, 09 11:07 AM

A few little niggles about Agatha Christie's Marple.

1 Apart from an opening scene Miss Marple herself, played by newcomer Julia McKenzie, was not seen for the first 40 minutes or so. Viewers, already alienated by a new face, were not given the chance to warm to the actress.

2 A pet hate, this. Why on earth did we have the daft camera angles of the sort usually seen in juvenile programmes - including a staircase shot at a 45 degree angle - which completely clashes with the genteel feel of the whodunnit.

3 Another pet hate - too many guests stars. Take Ralf Little, for example. He played a sergeant investigating a series of murders but had too little to do.

Having said all of that the first story in the series - A Pocket Full of Rye - was an entertaining two hours.

McKenzie was settled in by the end and although she is no Geraldine McEwan, and definitely no Margaret Rutherford, is set to make her own mark on the character.

The script was played for laughs - as it should. Where else but a Christie novel would the police tolerate an interfering old busybody talking to witnesses and suspects.

Despite some reservations the series is well worth watching.