Murder She Said (1961)

Murder She Said (Dir: George Pollock, 1961).

The first in a series of four MGM-British murder mysteries staring the incomparable Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie’s amateur sleuth Miss Marple. 

Adapted from Christie's 1957 novel '4:50 from Paddington', Murder She Said sees Miss Marple witness a murder on a passing train. When the police won't listen to her, she takes matters into her own hands. Surmising that the body must have been deposited at the nearby Ackenthorpe Hall, she poses as a maid and finds employment at the stately home. Here she is perfectly placed to investigate the family and staff who would all appear to have motive for murder. Meanwhile the killer racks up a few more bodies.

This has to rank as among the most lighthearted Agatha Christie adaptations, taking a far more comedic approach than usual. Somewhat surprisingly Murder She Said is the only movie in MGM’s series that was actually based upon a Miss Marple novel; later movies either shoehorned the character into another Christie novel or were original works.

Christie was reportedly unhappy with the casting of Margaret Rutherford. In fairness her Miss Marple is nothing like the one in the novels, but she attacks the part with such gusto and good humour that it is hard not to love her in the role. An invention of the movie is Miss Marple’s loyal companion and romantic interest Mr Stringer, played by her real life husband Stringer Davis. This relationship is a nice addition to the story which also serves the practical purpose of allowing Miss Marple to convey some necessary exposition to the audience. 

Excellent support is offered, especially from James Robertson Justice as the bedridden family patriarch and keep an eye out for future Miss Marple Joan Hickson further down the cast.

In its depiction of a quaintly dated post-War Britain, Murder She Said seems both of its time and oddly timeless. Christie purists may carp that too many liberties are taken with the original text and no one would suggest that this is a definitive telling. But to criticise it as such would be kind of missing the point. Murder She Said is enormously entertaining with superb performances from some British acting legends. It is all very silly, but also very funny and with some genuine moments of suspense. An excellent, infectious score by Ron Goodwin adds to the fun.