A Murder Is Announced (1985) (TV)

Director:

David Giles

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
Alan Plater (dramatisation)

Release Date:

28 February 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

A murder is announced in the Chipping Cleghorne Gazette to take place on October 5th, 7 PM at Little Paddocks cottage...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Miss Marple | House | Advertisement | Detective

Cast

Joan Hickson	...	Miss Jane Marple
Ursula Howells	...	Letitia Blacklock
Renée Asherson	...	Dora 'Bunny' Bunner
Samantha Bond	...	Julia Simmons
Simon Shepherd	...	Patrick Simmons
Nicola King	...	Phillipa Haymes
Elaine Ives-Cameron	...	Hannah the Cook
Ralph Michael	...	Colonel Archie Easterbrook
Sylvia Syms	...	Mrs. Laura Easterbrook
Matthew Solon	...	Edmund Swettenham
Mary Kerridge	...	Mrs. Swettenham
Joan Sims	...	Miss Amy Murgatroyd
Paola Dionisotti	...	Miss Midge Hinchcliffe
Vivienne Moore	...	Mrs. Bunch Harmon
David Collings	...	The Reverend Julian Harmon

Also Known As:

Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced (UK) (series title)

Runtime:

153 min | 159 min (DVD)

Country:

UK | USA | Australia

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Ardverikie estate, Highland, Scotland, UK

Quotes:

Hannah: [when asked about the murder] The door bell rings, I answer the door, the door bell rings again, I answer the door again,the door bell rings again, I answer the door again, the door bell rings again...
Det. Inspector Craddock: After the guests have all arived
Hannah: Oh... I go to the dinning room to clean the silver, I hear shots, I scream, somebody turns the key and lets me out, I scream again, somebody hits me! I see blood.
Det. Inspector Craddock: You scream again?
Hannah: I think so. Are you going to arrest me?
Det. Inspector Craddock: [smiles] Not today.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Drama Connections: Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (#1.1)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Sing For Your Supper

Brilliant!!

I loved this adaptation! The acting is very good all the way thro' with fantastic performances from Ursula Howells (Miss Blacklock), Renee Asherton (Miss Bunner) and, of course, Joan Hickson - who *is* (in my opinion) Miss Jane Marple - just the way that Dame Agatha described her in the books.

Having read the book several times, I'm pleased and relieved that it wasn't "butchered" as some TV adapations can be, it remained faithful to Dame Agatha's book.

All in all, a very good adapation with, in places, humourous touches.