Murder at the Gallop (Dir: George Pollock, 1963).
Following the success of Murder She Said (George Pollock, 1961) aging amateur detective Miss Marple returns to investigate the death of the elderly Mr Enderby, supposedly frightened to death by a cat. Eavesdropping at the reading of Enderby's will, where his estate is divided between four family members, Miss Marple's suspicions are confirmed when the deceased's sister Cora suggests that the old man was murdered. When Miss Marple visits Cora to question her, she finds the sister too has been murdered. Deciding to investigate further, Miss Marple books herself a holiday at The Gallop Hotel and Riding School, an establishment run by Enderby's nephew Hector and the other surviving heirs.
Following the success of Murder She Said (George Pollock, 1961) aging amateur detective Miss Marple returns to investigate the death of the elderly Mr Enderby, supposedly frightened to death by a cat. Eavesdropping at the reading of Enderby's will, where his estate is divided between four family members, Miss Marple's suspicions are confirmed when the deceased's sister Cora suggests that the old man was murdered. When Miss Marple visits Cora to question her, she finds the sister too has been murdered. Deciding to investigate further, Miss Marple books herself a holiday at The Gallop Hotel and Riding School, an establishment run by Enderby's nephew Hector and the other surviving heirs.
The second of MGM’s Miss Marple movies was the first not to be based upon a Miss Marple novel. Rather, Murder at the Gallop is based upon Agatha Christie’s 1953 novel 'After the Funeral', which featured her other most famous creation, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
Poirot is nowhere to be found in this adaptation in which he is supplanted by Margaret Rutherford’s bluffly brilliant interpretation of Miss Marple. Rutherford's real life husband Stringer Davis returns as loyal companion Mr Stringer, as does Charles Tingwell as the weary Inspector Craddock. Standout among the supporting cast is Robert Morley; his excellent comic turn as Hector Enderby threatens to steal the movie from Ms Rutherford. The quality cast also features neat performances from acting legends Flora Robson and Finlay Currie.
As with Murder She Said, the movie paints a picture of a quaint post-War Britain that never really existed and must have seemed archaic to audiences in the so-called 'swinging' sixties. But I feel this is kind of the point. The movie is very tongue-in-cheek and never takes itself too seriously; gently mocking genteel middle England, while at the same time romanticising it.
Again, this maybe not be an adaptation for Christie purists, but like the previous movie it is a lot of fun. There are some genuine moments of suspense amongst the jollity and Miss Marple even does the twist. What's not to love?
Again, this maybe not be an adaptation for Christie purists, but like the previous movie it is a lot of fun. There are some genuine moments of suspense amongst the jollity and Miss Marple even does the twist. What's not to love?
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