Agatha Christie's Miss Marple Collection - Murder Ahoy / Murder At The Gallup / Murder Most Foul (4 Discs) (Box Set) (DVD) | 
 enlarge | Director: George Pollock
Actors: Margaret Rutherford, Lionel Jeffries, Ron Moody, Charles Tingwell, James Bolam
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £34.99
Buy New: £9.98
You Save: £25.01 (71%)
New (23) Used (2) from £7.99
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 525
Format: Box Set, Black & White, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Region: 2
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 350 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 2.5
EAN: 7321900658874
ASIN: B00012SYQY
Theatrical Release Date: 1961
Release Date: February 2, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Never mind purists who bemoan Margaret Rutherford's incarnation of Agatha Christie's celebrated spinster sleuth. These four British films, produced between 1961 and 64, are jolly good, regardless of their tenuous connection with Miss Marple as written, or with Christie herself. One of the films, in fact, Murder Ahoy, is an original screenplay credited as "an interpretation of Miss Marple." And two others, Murder at the Gallop and Murder Most Foul were based on books featuring Christie's other famed detective, Hercule Poirot." But no matter. The redoubtable Rutherford indelibly makes Marple her very own, or, as she proclaims to Inspector Craddock (Charles Tingwell), with whom she locks horns throughout all four films, "I am always myself." Rutherford makes a formidable first impression in Murder She Said, based on Christie's 4:50 from Paddington, in which the armchair sleuth goes undercover as a servant after witnessing a murder on a train. In Murder at the Gallop, based on After the Funeral, where there's a will, there's murder. In Murder Ahoy, Marple discovers a ship of thieves. In Murder Most Foul, Marple deadlocks a jury and joins a theatrical troupe to prove the defendant's innocence. The Marple films are endearingly modest productions, redeemed by peerless performances and mostly sharp scripts. Ron Goodwin's theme music used in all four films is an irresistible piece of '60s symphonic pop that's a classical gas. None of the actors are suspect. Rutherford gets able support from her real-life husband, Stringer Davis, who portrays Marple's Watson-esque sidekick. Venerable character actors Robert Morley and Ron Moody enliven Gallop and Foul, respectively. And in Murder She Said, that's Joan Hickson, who would go on to acclaim as Miss Marple in the celebrated BBC series. But it's tough to steal a scene from Rutherford, whose Marple displays a keen mind, and, in Ahoy, surprising prowess with a sword! --Donald Liebenson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
The best loved eccentric actress of post war cinema in her unique portrayal of Miss Marple December 17, 2007
Klaus Meyer (Berlin, Germany)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
Academy award winning Dame Margret Rutherford is properly one if not the best loved eccentric actress of the post war cinema.
At the age of nearly 70, she first played the film role with which she was most often associated in later life, that of Miss Marple. In a series of four films (1961-1964) - loosely based on the novels of Agatha Christi - Margaret's portrayal of Miss Maple captured audiences worldwide now and then. . She took great umbrage when she learned that Christie herself had expressed concerns about Rutherford's ample figure, as Miss Marple was usually described as a trim, tallish spinster. Her acting sparkles, it is tough and touching. The language is just wonderful. All four movies are a great pleasure to watch. And the tune....perhaps my all time favorite of film music.
 "I think that woman is working with the police...", "Nonsense, she's a lady!" September 11, 2007
Paul Ess. (Holywell, N.Wales)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
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's 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 every-thing-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.) In this, M.M. witnesses a murder on a train, and her investigations lead to a spooky old mansion, teeming with class actors inc, James Robertson Justice, Ronald Howard, Thorley Walters, and Arthur Kennedy as a sinister doctor, 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 cameo roles.
Assisting her in this particular case is a `precocious', (as in irritating!), schoolboy, appallingly dubbed, who you can't help hoping will become the killers 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 me 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 heroin joins up, as the grand-daughter of the trust's 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, Ms 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 iterates 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 she is, and 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.
The inimitable Margaret Rutherford as the inimitable Jane Marple July 15, 2007
C. O. DeRiemer (San Antonio, Texas, USA)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Margaret Rutherford was a scene-stealing, eccentric force of nature in all her movies, and I suspect in her stage roles as well. She had a shape like a sack of produce, a double chin that trembled with a life of its own, little eyes that could widen in shock or squint with suspicion and, when her characters were aroused, a forceful stride that took all before it. Her personality was simply unique. The only other actor I can think of who matched her in eccentricity, potential ham and acting skill was Alastair Sim, another memorable British screen presence.
In Murder She Said, Rutherford plays Agatha Christie's Miss Jane Marple. Rather, she plays Rutherford's Miss Jane Marple. She made four Marple films, but I doubt if anyone reading Christie's stories would ever have envisaged Rutherford in the part. Now, for many people, Marple is Rutherford. She's that strong a character.
Jane Marple is on a train when she looks out at another train passing by on the next track. In the window of one of the carriage rooms she sees, for a few moments, a woman being strangled. When she reports this and the police search the train at the next station and the area where Miss Marple says it happened, there is no body to be found. The trains were passing Ackenthorpe Hall, an estate run with a loud voice and an irascible temper by old Ackenthorpe (James Robertson Justice), a bed-ridden man who believes he's on his last legs and intends to keep his family, most of whom have their eyes on the estate, firmly in line. It's only a short while before Miss Marple decides to investigate Ackenthorpe Hall, where she believes the body must have been hidden. She manages to get herself hired as the maid, a position which frequently is vacant because of Ackenthorpe's rudeness. "There is one thing I cannot tolerate," he tells her as she stands in front of his bed in her maid's uniform, "and that is impertinence!" Miss Marple is having none of that. "Well, we should get on admirably," she says. "Neither can I!" She also must deal with a precocious grandson, young Alexander. "You know, it isn't just that you don't look like Jane Mansfield. You're not my idea of a maid, either," he tells her. "Well, quite honestly," she tells the kid, "I don't think you're everybody's idea of a boy." The only non-family members in the place appear to be Miss Marple, Dr. Paul Quimper (Arthur Kennedy), the housekeeper, Mrs. Kidder (Joan Hickson, who years later made a quieter and equally memorable Marple) and a surly groundsman. Needless to say, Miss Marple finds herself in the middle of clever dialogue and grave danger as she eventually discovers the motive for murder and unmasks the killer.
This is the first of the Marple movies. The others are fun, but rely much more on Rutherford's personality. Murder She Said benefits not just from Rutherford, but from a clever, witty script, a mystery which plays reasonably fair and which is tough to solve, solid acting by the other players, especially Arthur Kennedy as the sincere but slightly ironic doctor who plans to marry Ackenthorpe's daughter and James Robertson Justice's Ackenthorpe. Justice specialized in blustering characters and few were better at it than he.
As far as the other three movies in the package go (and you can't buy any of the movies separately yet), Rutherford is the reason to see them. They all feature murder and Rutherford's indomitable determination to trap the killers. Murder at the Gallop (1963) features Robert Morley as well as Rutherford on a horse. (Miss Marple was a champion equestrienne in her younger days). Murder Ahoy (1964) features Lionel Jeffries as well as Rutherford in a sword duel with the murderer (Miss Marple was a champion fencer in her younger days). Murder Most Foul (1964) features Ron Moody and Rutherford as a crack shot (Miss Marple was a champion pistol shooter in her younger days). All four films were directed by George Pollock.
Margaret Rutherford was 71 when she made Murder She Said. She first began making movies when she was 44. Noel Coward wrote the part of Madam Arcadi, the spiritualist, for her when he created Blithe Spirit. She played the role in the 1945 movie version which starred Rex Harrison. If you can find the DVD, it's worth getting just for Coward's dialogue and Rutherford's way with it. And for a very satisfying time, watch The Happiest Days of Your Life. It's the only movie I'm aware of where Rutherford and Alastair Sim co-starred. It's a very funny film, and the two of them outdo themselves as they try to outdo each other.
better than I remembered April 7, 2007
Susan Belcher (St Helens, England)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I remember watching these on BBC2 on a Saturday morning as a kid. Forget swap shop, tiswas and gordon the gopher. Margaret Rutherford's Miss Marple ruled.
I was concerned about buying this as things from childhood rarely live up to the memory of them, milky bars just aren't the same (yuk), but this set of films is outstanding. It is said that revenge is best served cold, in this case Miss Marple is all the better for being seen fresh after the gap from childhood to adulthood.
I never realised that Margaret Rutherford had such great comic timing, and she was so subtle. I love the fact that the fun they had together can be seen in the finished produce, and, of course, look out for Joan Hickson (probably the best Miss Marple of all time) as the muttering part time help at the big house.
I can see why Agatha Christie like Margaret Rutherford, she may or may not have liked these versions (depending on who you read) but Christie and Rutherford had one thing in common, an enjoyment of murder mysteries. Rutherford being involved in the investigation of a true life crime.
There is one disappointment with this series - why didn't they make more of them. There were four films - there just seemed to be more of them.
Definitive September 15, 2005
R. J. de Bulat (UK)
28 out of 28 found this review helpful
Rutherford is the definitive Miss Marple, a part, as another reviewer states, she made her own. I was so pleased to see this boxed set for sale and was not disappointed: this set has something that others have never managed to achieve - a sense of time and place in which the character seems so real and ideally placed. When I watch these films I find myself back in another time when the act of murder most foul was just that, rather than commonplace, but more than this I feel the films in much the same way as when I first saw them as a youngster: they are classics of their kind and delightful to watch.
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