Murder She Said (1962)

Why so much hype?

Just perfect...

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Margaret Rutherford was the ultimate Miss Marple.Although the part has been played by several leading actresses Margaret has always been the very best although I must say Joan Hickson ran her pretty close.SPOILER BEGINSThe story starts when Miss Marple was on a train and another train travelling slightly faster was passing the train Jane Marple was on but in the same direction.She was looking at the passing train when a window blind shot up revealing a woman being strangled by a man.Jane obviously reported what she saw to the train conductor and also to the police, none of whom believed her.So she decides to investigate for herself and she gets a job at the hall where the body was probably hidden after being thrown from the train.SPOILER ENDSI'm not giving anything else away.The TV movie which starred Joan Hickson was called The 4.40 from Paddinton.Margaret Rutherford was her normal perfect and indomitable self in Murder She Said and I thoroughly recommend you watch this movie if only to discover why Margaret Rutherford was the true Jane Marple.

Copyright 31 December 1961 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. New York opening at the Baronet: 7 January 1962. U.S. release: 30 December 1961. U.K. release: 26 September 1961. Australian release: 31 May 1962. Sydney opening at the Liberty. 7,720 feet. 86 minutes.SYNOPSIS: While traveling on a train, Miss Marple, an elderly spinster with an avid taste for detective stories, witnesses a murder on another train that passes by. Naturally, the police don't believe her story, so she sets out to investigate the crime herself.NOTES: First of the four Miss Marple mystery movies. See Murder Most Foul. Except for 2009's "Glorious 39", this is the final film appearance of Muriel Pavlow, who has since acted exclusively on the stage or in television.COMMENT: This one shapes up as a Miss Marple meets Sir Lancelot Spratt movie, with delightful consequences for all. However, being a murder mystery, it doesn't quite work out that way. True, Margaret Rutherford is handed the lion's share of the action, but James Robertson Justice's role is actually disappointingly small. It's Arthur Kennedy who makes most of the running, with good support from a somewhat subdued Muriel Pavlow and a cast of interesting suspects including quota quickie stars Ronald Howard and Conrad Phillips. On the right side of the law, Charles Tingwell and Stringer Davis also manage a fair share of screen time. There's precious little left for James Robertson Justice, aside from a couple of scenes which allow him to shout and rant a treat, plus a completely out of character and rather disconcerting fade-out. The mystery itself holds the interest, despite Pollock's generally flat, steady-as-she-goes direction (he does deliver a few nice atmospheric effects), although the identity of the killer will be obvious to most viewers almost right from the start.

Yours truly is a real Agatha Christie junkie! I think she was one of the most brilliantly intelligent persons who ever lived, and if she had been any sexier my room would probably be filled with pictures of her! I read many of her novels and short stories, and evidently I watched a lot of films (acclaimed classics as well as cheap rip- offs), TV- series and mini-series that were adapted from her works. Until now I've always been reluctant to check out the quartet of movies that are directed by George Pollock and star Margaret Rutherford as Miss Jane Marple, simply because they look too much like out-and-out comedies rather than suspenseful and atmospheric murder mysteries. I never really considered Miss Marple to be a "funny" kind of protagonist. She's peculiar, eccentric, conservative, old-fashioned and maybe even somewhat asocial, but she never makes jokes or witty remarks. I certainly am not a sourpuss, but the idea of this introvert but wise elderly lady being depicted as a cartoonesque and nosy old hag didn't appeal to me at all. Since I was able to purchase the 4-DVD box at a reasonably cheap price, and since I'm always running out of movies to watch anyway, I'll be giving them a chance after all. Thus far I can't judge the other three (they look even more slapstick, in fact) but "Murder She Said" at least still tries to be a convoluted and sinister mystery-tale. Rutherford's Miss Marple is definitely more boisterous, cocky and intrusive than the sweet little lady I know from the book stories, but she undeniably becomes one with the character and gives away a stellar performance. When she takes a train back home to her cozy little village, she witnesses through the window of another train how a young woman is strangled by an unseen assailant. Miss Marple notifies the authorities, but they come back to her with the statement that a dead body hasn't been found and that no woman has been reported missing. Offended by the detective's remark that she probably imagined the whole thing, Miss Marple starts her own private investigation that brings her to the house of the obnoxious patriarch Ackenthorpe. If the woman's body was thrown from the train, than it must have been recovered and hidden on the estate. Miss Marple applies for a job as housekeeper and immediately discovers there's a tricky family feud going on. "Murder, She Said" isn't very effective as a whodunit; as we're giving very few clues to guess along, but the screenplay is compelling and new and exciting twists (like additional murders or discoveries on the estate) occur at regular intervals. George Pollock's direction here is at least less mechanical here than in the "Ten Little Indians" adaptation that he made one year later and there's a good use of filming locations, decors and scenery. Mrs. Rutherford obviously carries the entire film on her own, but she also receives good support from several great actors, like Arthur Kennedy and James Robertson Justice.

An unusual day and a totally unpredictable moment for a 'dotty old' Miss Jane Marple (Margaret Rutherford) on her supposedly 'too comfortable' journey by train. As a seemingly gray passenger on the 4.50 train from Paddington, she is not only stuck because of an impertinent little kid but something far more shocking happens in a train passing by her window. Death does not only appear to have windows in a detective story she has been reading...murder is, indeed, no longer a sheer bad dream that an 'unstable' or 'unbalanced' maid could have. It is the stimulus for the most intriguing senses being activated within the most unusual investigation. Soon, she will be the one who can provide light to the dark mystery of a murder. But, can she ever make herself too comfortable again at the weird Ackenthorpe Hall, a mansion where there is a constant vacancy for a maid... a perfect setting for an English mystery thriller with lots of relics from the past? Something that would recall the make-believe in William Gillette's SHERLOCK HOLMES; something that Hitchcock would have developed within the ultimate flair for style...What this thriller develops is not so much the style but, above all, the absolutely stunning, sympathetic, witty, intelligent, vibrant character of Miss Marple. Based upon the novel by Agatha Christie "4.50 From Paddington" she is the character with certain knowledge of criminal mind. Now, she is placed in the situation which puts her to harsh test and imposes constant alertness. Quoting the New York Times review which appeared just after the American premiere of the movie, Miss Marple proves that "the aging but still vigorous female of the species can be a better sleuth than the Scotland Yard operatives." Name of Marple, nature of marble (referring to the screenplay)...that is what highlights best her character. That is also what makes it interesting also for modern audiences. And MURDER SHE SAID beautifully introduces her to viewers. However, the true entertainment does not lie in the literary source (Agatha Christie was not happy about the numerous liberties taken) but by the actress who interprets Miss Marple, adorable Dame Margaret Rutherford.Although MURDER SHE SAID is just the first of four movies made within the adaptations, she appears as a truly creative and gifted performer from the very start. It is Miss Rutherford who dominates our attention and makes the thriller a rarity of its genre as a novel adaptation and as a cinematic production. When I saw her performance first with my friend, I was stunned throughout. In majority, thanks to her, thrill is combined with humor and cutting tongue with the most honest intentions. She executes her lines marvelously! Determined but calm and patient, witty but, as wisely advised, never 'too comfortable' - that is how she remains with viewers and allows us to grasp the idea of skillfully proceeding acting. As her male counterpart, in a way, comes Stringer Davis, her husband in real life, in the role of Mr Stringer. From the moment when the police inspector Craddock (Charles Tingwell) occurs to care little about the crime, they begin their own investigation. In their scenes, the two carry the essence of humor in the film. Just to note the unforgettable scene when, early in the morning after 'hearty breakfast,' Mr Stringer is giving Miss Marple 'a leg up' and they find both the dog and the man really 'frightful-looking.' Alone, she is absolutely captivating when encountering the Ackenthorpes, a really peculiar dynasty with just little exceptions (Emma). It seems that the only good thing the family have ever done were...delicious biscuits. It soon occurs that both things and crimes go in threes. All sorts of people from neurotic eccentrics to calm doctors gently tease our senses...They are all worth broader consideration as supporting characters, those temporary 'tresspassers' who highlight the backdrop for the mystery because the performances are exceptionally well crafted. James Robertson Justice, an eminent British actor, beautifully portrays an old, pretentious, mean, neurotic 'Chairman' of the family who cannot stand the drawbacks of his own within other people, including impertinence. He strongly and strictly prefers beef steak to beef broth. Everything and everybody seem to move around his affairs and his premonitions of what he thinks other people mean. Some of the most spicy moments appear between him and Miss Marple with memorably cutting remarks in their lines. Apart from Charles Tingwell as skeptical inspector Craddock (who appears in all four films), the cast who need particular attention are Arthur Kennedy as family's ambiguous doctor and Ronnie Raymond as 'too clever' yet sympathetic youngster Alexander, who sees the family as 'vultures' with some exceptions and who appears and disappears in the most unpredictable moments. Consider his scenes with Miss Marple...They seem to share some interests...in golf for instance.The atmosphere of the movie makes MURDER SHE SAID a pure classic thriller, old thriller with the magic of black and white and the slight features of horror in some of the scenes. It is considerably supported by lighting, sets and undertones of images. The magical effect is provided by Ron Goodwin's music score where a variety of tunes beautifully create a balance between tension and relief.MURDER SHE SAID and, finally, 'riddle she figures out' and 'murderer she finds' yet...before you decide to see this movie, which I highly recommend, prepare for great tensions and a number of misleading predictions. Worn in lots of mysteries, lots of suspicions - yes. But isn't that what should emerge from a perfect detective story? Never ignore 'dotty old maid' and never skip a 'dotty old thriller' that may truly surprise us all. Indeed, a sleuth's work is never done and Miss Rutherford makes us look forward to more ...