Bowen did nothing with the screenplay to improve on the story. The best I can say about 'THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE' is that it is a close - but not completely accurate - adaptation of Christie's novel. The 1986 adaptation of 'THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE' proved to be one of those productions in which my opinion of it matches the original novel. And I have seen some excellent adaptations of her mediocre novels.

Mind you, I have seen mediocre or bad adaptation of some first-rate Christie novels. There was nothing extraordinary about it, aside from Miss Marple's continuous relationship with Inspector Slack.

The plot seemed like a typical murder mystery set in a small village. When I first read Christie's 1930 novel, I must admit that it did not particularly move me.

However, both Miss Marple and Detective Inspector Slack realize that both are innocent and continue their investigation of the murder. Anne Protheroe and Lawrence Redding each confess to the crime, convinced that the other was guilty. Lestrange, small time poacher Bill Archer and even the good Reverend Clement himself. While investigating Colonel Protheroe's murder, Miss Marple and Detective Inspector Slack unearth a good number of suspects including the Colonel's new widow Anne Protheroe, her lover Lawrence Redding, the Colonel's only child Lettice Protheroe, the high-strung curate Christopher Hawes, St. Reverend Clements ends up eating his words when Colonel Protheroe's murdered body is found inside the vicar's study. Mary Mead that even the local vicar, the Reverend Leonard Clement believes his death would be a great service to the village. The magistrate, Colonel Protheroe is so disliked by most of the citizens of St. 'THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE' featured the elderly sleuth's investigation of the murder of a wealthy magistrate and former Army colonel in Miss Marple's town of St. But in 1930, Miss Marple appeared in her first full-length novel called 'The Murder at the Vicarage'.įifty-six years later saw the first adaptation of the 1930 novel - a 102 minutes television movie that starred Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. Another seven years passed before Christie introduced her second most famous character, Miss Jane Marple, in a few short stories. The novel also introduced a new sleuth to the literary world, Belgian-born Hercule Poirot. The year 1920 witnessed the beginning of Agatha Christie's career as a mystery novel with the release of her first novel, 'The Mysterious Affairs at Styles'. 'THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE' (1986) Review

Joan hickson the murder at the vicarage