(no subject)
Been "watching" (read: listening to while I write) "Agatha Christie's Marple" on BritBox lately. It's a British TV series that lasted six seasons. I like the first incarnation well enough -- Geraldine McEwan -- though she's no Joan Hickson (who remains the quintessential Miss Marple to my mind). Geraldine's Marple is considerably more active, dashing across the lawn when she found a body or trotting along a busy street. She's got Hickson's knack for portraying Miss Marple's darker side though. Both of them make you believe they'd carry out justice themselves if they didn't have a policeman handy.
Halfway through the show, Geraldine evidently retired, however, and the producers simply slotted in another Marple without explanation. I haven't seen Julia McKenzie's episodes yet, but she appears to be a kinder, softer version which I'm not sure I'll care for. Rather like the movies with Margaret Rutherford -- you need a lady of a certain appearance to portray Miss Marple. I'll give her a good chance, though, because I love the books so much. The TV show takes some liberties (a lesbian relationship is out and proud in one episode, where in the books it is only hinted at, for example), but so far it's nothing that throws me totally out of the story. If you have BritBox, you should check Marple out for yourself.
Halfway through the show, Geraldine evidently retired, however, and the producers simply slotted in another Marple without explanation. I haven't seen Julia McKenzie's episodes yet, but she appears to be a kinder, softer version which I'm not sure I'll care for. Rather like the movies with Margaret Rutherford -- you need a lady of a certain appearance to portray Miss Marple. I'll give her a good chance, though, because I love the books so much. The TV show takes some liberties (a lesbian relationship is out and proud in one episode, where in the books it is only hinted at, for example), but so far it's nothing that throws me totally out of the story. If you have BritBox, you should check Marple out for yourself.