Murder She Said

DIRECTED BY GEORGE POLLOCK
“All these four movies combined mystery with comedy in a way that it entertains
even 40 years after the films were made!”

British director George Pollock (b. 1907) is best remembered for directing four Miss Marple films (Murder She Said – 1962, Murder at the Gallop – 1963, Murder Most Foul – 1964 and Murder Ahoy! – 1964).

All these four films of George Pollock combined mystery with comedy in a way that it entertains even 40 years after the films were made. The elements that hold up them were great casting, good screenplay and charming Ron Goodwin’s music and sound effects.

It is almost forgotten that Pollock and Rutherford had worked together in Blithe Spirit (1945) before doing these films.

Pollock also directed 1965 film called Ten Little Indians, which was based on 1939 Christie novel And Then There Were None.

FOR METRO - GOLDWYN - MAYER (MGM)
“The character of Miss Marple had been around for nearbly three decades in print before Murder She Said was filmed!”

MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) purchased the rights for most of Agatha Christie's work in the late 1950's, planning a television series, but instead decided to go the feature film rounte. A decision of which Agatha wasn't very fond of. She has always been allergic to the adaptions of her books by the cinema and sold the rights to MGM in hope that they might have more skill in adapting them.

MGM chose Margaret Rutherford for a role of Miss Marple. This was rather unusual choice as Rutherford in physical appearance wasn't similar to the character of sleuth as she was presented in Agatha Christie books.

WRITING CREDITS - BASED ON 4.50 FROM PADDINGTON
“Agatha Christie claimed not to be disappointed by the movie, because she had expected the worst all along.”

Murder She Said was based upon an Agatha Christie novel 4.50 From Paddington (1957) adapted by David Osborn.

The film title (Murder She Said) was changed both from the British (4.50 From Paddington) and American title (What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw!).

While Christie admired Rutherford as an actress and she even dedicated to her in admiration her 1963 novel The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, she did not consider her to be the right person for a role of Miss Marple.

SCREENPLAY BY DAVID PURSALL AND JACK SEDDON
“The part of Mr. Stringer was written especially for Stringer Davis, who was Margaret Rutherford's real-life husband."

All these four films were produced by George Pollock and scriped by David Pursall (? - 2003)and Jack Seddon (1924 - 2001).

David Pursall and Jack Seddon also did a screenplay for The Alphabet Murders (1966), a Poirot mystrey from MGM, starring Tony Randell as Hercule Poirot. It's also interesting to notice that most of the screenplays the two did together, they worked in almost every film together.

The adaption of this novel eliminates the character of Elspeth McGillicuddy as witness to the murder on a passing train. Instead Miss Marple is the eyewitness.

While in a novel Lucy Eylesbarrow has an importnant role and becomes one of the author's most popular and memorable character (despite she only appeared in this novel) in this adaptation of the novel, you can notice Lucy hardly for a few moments.

The character of Miss Marple's friend and a librarian, Mr. Stringer, was not part of the original story. The part was written especially for Stringer Davis, who appeared in all the MGM Marple films and who was played by Rutherford's real-life husband.

SYNOPSIS FOR MURDER SHE SAID
“Miss Marple witness a murder on a passing train."

Miss Marple (played by Margaret Rutherford) takes a 4.50 train that will take her to the village of St. Mary Mead. Train runs parallel for a moment with another train on the next track. What happened next is buried in her memory - she sees a woman being strangled on a passing train. The train then separated and the image was gone.

She tells to the Ticker Collector (played by Peter Butterworth) what she just saw. But he doesn't take her seriously, expecially when he notice that the old sleuth was reading a book with title Death Has Windows. He suggest to Miss Marple that she perhaps just had a little nap with a bad dream. But Miss Marple insists that she saw a murder, so the Ticker Collector takes her name and address and says he will report to the police as they arrive to station in 5 minutes.

When next morning Miss Marple is looking through the newspapers there is no word of a murder. Then Inspector Craddock (played by Charles Tingwell) comes to visit her. He tells Miss Marple that they search in all train but no body was found and nobody saw nothingh. So they come to conclusion that maybe Miss Marple has mistaken cuddle with a stranglation. Miss Marple is indicant with this suggestion, she may be an old spinster but she can make a difference between a cuddle and a murder!

Through the visit of Inspector Craddock, we can for brief moments also see the character of Lucy (played by Lucy Griffiths), who is Miss Marple's "maid".

When Miss Marple sees that everyone is doubting in her story and nobody actually believes her, she takes the matter in her hands.

First she goes to visit her friend and a librarian Mr. Stringer (played by Davis Stringer) in the library. During the scenes in the library we can also see Mrs. Hilda Stainton (played by Barbara Leake), who comes in the library to pic up one specific book.

Miss Marple with a help of Mr. Stringer now begins to investigate. They uses maps and a railroad schedule to determine the most opportune place for a body to have been thrown from the train.

Next morning the two take a walk down the railway to find some clues. Miss Marple finds some brownish fur.

And after indentifying Rutherford Hall, the ancestral home of Ackenthrope family, as the most likely the site where a body could be hidden, Miss Marple goes to Domestic Employment Agency, which is run by Mrs. Brinster (played by Richard Bries) and gets herself a job as a maid at a hall near the murder scene. Receiving assistance from Mr. Stringer she starts searching for clues.

When the new maid - Miss Marple - comes to Ackenthrope family she learns there are only three members of the family. Emma Ackenthrope (played by Muriel Pavlow) , her nephew Alexander (played by Ronnie Raymond) and her father Mr. Ackenthrope (played by James Robertson Justice) .

We learn that Mr. Ackenthrope is an invalid, so he is always in bed. In the words of her daughter Emma "he is difficult at times" and in the words of Alexander "he is mean with money". Mr. Ackentrope and Miss Marple do have some "pleasant fights".

We also learn that the boy Alexander is there during his holiday, he is roguish boy and he is ofthen poking fun at someone. When Alexander first meets Miss Marple he says to her that "she isn't his idea of the maid". And she replies to him "that he probably won't be anybody's idea of the boy".

We also get to meet the gardener, Mr. Hillman (played by Michael Golden) , he seems to be very rude and cold person. We meet also Mrs. Kidder (played by Joan Hickson), she comes there three from the village three times a week to do some work in the house.

Next we also get to know Dr. Quimper (played by Arthur Kennedy), we also learn that he seems to come to the house often because of health care of Mr. Ackenthrope.

Next day Miss Marple goes playing golf near the scenes where the body should be thrown out of the train to look for mor clues. Alexander joins her and soon the traces leads Miss Marple to some buildings where Ackenthorpe family used to have horses but not anymore. Miss Marple in company with boy Alexander (the boy has no idea what Miss Marple is truly doing) tries to look around the building and they find some "compact" but soon the gardener comes in and sends the two of them away.

But at night Miss Marple returns to the old buildings and in some old stony coffin she discovers the body of the woman she saw being strangled in the passing train!

Miss Marple informs Mr. Stringer about the situation ant tells him to call the police anonymous to inform them about the body. Next day the police comes to the Ackenthorpe house and now that the body is finally found, an official investigation can begin also for police. We again see the Inspector Craddock and with him is also another inspector - Sergeant Bacon (played by Gordon Harris) .

Miss Marple still stays in the house as a maid and she tries to conduce who the murderer is...

We get to know to the rest of the family. Cedric Ackenthrope (played by Thorley Walters), Harold Ackenthrope (played by Conrad Phillips), and Bastley Ackenthrope (played by Ronal Howard). We also meet Albert (played by Gerald Cross).

Some family secrets and some other clues came out.... But to know how the movie ends...you will have to watch it! I'm not putting any spoilers on this page ;)

MARGARET RUTHERFORD as MISS MARPLE
“Margaret Rutherford is best remembered for two roles: Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Jane Miss Marple.

A beloved actress of the British stage and screen, Dame Margaret Rutherford (1892 - 1972) is best remembered for two roles: Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Miss Jane Marple.

Rutherford went on to star in four Marple movies between 1962 and 1964; Murder She Said (1962), Murder at the Gallop (1963), Murder Most Foul (1964) and Murder Ahoy (1964).

Rutherford along with her husband (Stringer Davis) also had a small role in Christie's 1965 film called The Alphabet Murders (featuring Tony Randell as Hercule Poirot).

Rutherford accepted the role with reluctance. In her autobiography, she describes that she didn't find murder amusing and didn't want to be a part of anything that exploited violence. It was the film's director, George Pollock, who changed her mind. Note that Pollock and Rutherford had worked together before, in Blithe Spirit. He persuaded her that the role of Miss Marple was not so much concerned with crime, but she was more involved in a game --like chess-- a game of solving problems, rather than murder.

Despite Agatha Christie hatred of the MGM film, Christie still became great friends with Rutherford and dedicated one Miss Marple book to her in adminiration. Rutherford was not precisely the physical type Agatha Christie had in mind for her sleuth.

Rutherford was awarded the O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire) in 1961 and was knighted in 1967 by Queen Elisabeth II. Rutherford also won an Oscar for her role in The VIPs in 1963.

ARTHUR KENNEDY as QUIMPER
“Arthur Kennedy appears as Dr. Quimper in Murder She Said."

Arthur Kennedy (1914 - 1990) had a role of Dr. Quimper in Murder She said. We get to know him as Ackenthrope's doctor.

One can soon see that he comes to the Ackentrophe house often because of health care of Mr. Ackenthrope.

His acting career was quite long and he particapated in many film, most of them are foreign language movies and he played the role of doctor in quite few of them.

MURIEL PAVLOW as EMMA
“We get to know Muriel Pavlow as Emma Ackenthrope in Murder She Said."

Actress Muriel Pavlow (b. 1921) we meet as Emma Ackentrope, the daughter of Ackentrophe in Murder She Said.

We can see her some four decades later in another film based on Christie novel. In Dumb Witness (1996, David Suchet starring as Hercule Poirot) as Julia Tripp

JAMES ROBERTSON JUSTICE as ACKENTHORPE
“We get to know James Robertson Justice asAckenthrope.

James Robertson Justice (1905 - 1975) particapated in many films during his 30 years-long career.

In Murder She Said (1962) we get to know him as Ackenthrope, an invalid, so he is always in bed.

Mr. Ackentrope and Miss Marple do have some "fights", which are enjoyable to watch. Some memorable quotings between the two of them...

In the end of the movie he also propose Miss Marple to marry him. But Miss Marple turns him down with a line "Well, if ever I do embark on such a venture, there is someone else." But Ackenthorpe's response to this is... "Nonsense! I don't believe it. Who on earth would have you?"

In the words of her daughter Emma "he is difficult at times" and in the words of Alexander "he is mean with money".

THORLEY WALTERS as CEDRIC
“Thorley Walters appears in Murder She Said as Cedric."

Thorley Walters (1913 - 1991) we meet as Cedric Ackenthrope in Murder She Said.

In his qiute long lasting career for six decades he had loads roles in different movies.

CHARLES TINGWELL as INSPRECTOR CRADDOCK
“Charles Tingwell appears in all four Miss Marple's films as Inspector Craddock."

Charles 'Bud' Tingwell (b. 1923) is a quite well known actor, he has had particapited in many films throught his long career. He is still filming, and some of his recent movies is also Inocennce.

We can see in all four Miss Marple movies as Inspector Craddock. By mine opinion he is quite good actor and I personally liked him very much. He is very pleasant and enjoyable to watch!

In Murder She Said we can first see him, when he visits Miss MArple regarding "the murder". He tells Miss Marple that they search in all train but no body was found and nobody saw nothingh. So they come to conclusion that maybe Miss Marple has mistaken cuddle with a stranglation. Miss Marple is indicant with this suggestion, she may be an old spinster but she can make a difference between a cuddle and a murder!

Actor Conrad Phillips (b. 1930) we meet as Harold Ackenthrope in Murder She Said.

The British actor Ronald Howard (1918 - 1996) beside in Murder She Said we can see also in one movie based on Christie's books. We can see him in The Spider's Web (1960, as Jeremy).

JOAN HICKSON as MRS. KIDDER
“Agatha to Joan - Someday I would like you to play my Miss Marple."

British actress Joan Hickson (1906 - 1998) is best known as Miss Marple, as she many decades later become the famous sleuth.

In a 1993 interview, Hickson recalled Agatha Christie left her a note saying, 'Someday I would like you to play my Miss Marple.'

Hickson's first assocation with Christie work was in 1946, when she played Miss Pryce in the play Appointment with Death. It is almost forgotten that Joan Hickson also had a small role in the 1980 production of Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

In this 1962 movie we meet Joan Hickson as Mr. Kidder. She comes to Ackenthrope house from the village three times a week to do some work in the house. We can see her in few scenec, in the last one she finds a corpse when she goes home.

STRINGER DAVIS as MR. STRINGER
“Stringer Davis was Margaret Rutherford's real-husband. He appeared in all MGM Marple films."

British stage actor Stringer Davis (1896 - 1973) was serving in the British army in 1945 when he married an actress Margaret Rutherford, an old friend from his regional repertory days. Upon his return to England, Davis elected to accept minor roles in the films and theatrical productions starring Rutherford.

The part was written especially for Stringer Davis, who appeared in all the MGM Marple films and who was played by Rutherford's real-life husband.

He appears as a librarian and as a good friend of Miss Marle. Two two is very enjoyable to watch together. One of the most memorable quote from this movie is this one... Mr Stringer: "Miss Marple, whatever it is: no, no, no."

RONNIE RAYMOND as ALEXANDER
“We get to meet Ronnie Raymond as a young boy named Alexander."

There is not a lot fact about this actor. We can meet Ronnie Raymond (not known) in Murder She Said as a young boy Alexander, he seems to be at an Ackenthorpe's house during his holiday.

He is roguish boy and he is often poking fun at someone. When Alexander first meets Miss Marple he says this to her: "You know, it isn't just that you don't look like Jane Mansfield. You're not *my* idea of a maid, either."
"she isn't his idea of the maid". Miss Marple's response to this with: "Well, quite honestly, I don't think *you're* everybody's idea of a boy."

He is enjoyable to watch, I was rather surprised and sad when I saw based on IMDB that he was only in two movies as a boy and after that there is no imformation about him.. One wonders what happened to him..?

MICHAEL GOLDEN as HILLMAN
“Michael Golden as the gardener Hillman in Murder She Said."

Michael Golden (1915 - 1983) was an actor that we could see in quite few movies.

One of them was Murder, She Said, in this movie he appeared as a gardener, Mr. Hillman. He appears be very rude and cold person.

BARBARA LEAKE as MRS. STAINTON
“She had a short role in Murder She Said, we can see her in scenes in the library."

Barbara Leake (1903 - 1991) had a short role as Mrs. Hilda Stainton in Murder She Said.

We can see her during the scenes in the library when she come to the library for the specific book. It was a rather short scene but one could see she had got a sharp tongue in the role of Mrs. Hilda Stainton.

She participated in some other films, but not in many, so she is rather irrecognizable actress.

GORDON HARRIS as BACON
“Beside in Murder She Said we can see him also in Murder at the Gallop."

Gordon Harris (? - 1966) we can see in Murder at the Gallop (1963) as Sergeant Bacon also.

But in other movie (Murder Ahoi - 1964 ) we can see another actor (a younger one) as Sergeant Bacon. In Murder Most Foul (1964) there is also another actor to play sergeant Bacon.

It's also interesting to note, that he died only 3 years after Murder at the Gallop was filmed...one wonders what was the cause.

PETER BUTTERWORTH as TICKET COLLECTOR
“Peter Butterworth had a small role in this movie."

After Miss Marple sees a woman being strangled on a passing train, she tells to the Ticker Collector what she has just saw.

But he doesn't take her seriously, especially when he noticed that the old sleuth was reading a book with title "Death Has Windows".

He suggests to Miss Marple that perhaps she had a little nap with a bad dream. But Miss Marple insist that she saw a murder, so the ticket collector takes her name and address and says he will report to the police as they arrive to the station in 5 minutes.

RICHARD BRIES as "MRS. BRINKSTER"
“He had a small role as an owner on employment agency. Note that Bries is still filming."

Richard Bries had a small, short role in Murder She Said, he was present only in one scene.

Mrs. Brinster is an owner of Domestic Employment Agency, to which Miss Marple makes a visit and gets herself a job as a maid at a hall near the murder scene.

LUCY GRIFFITHS as LUCY
“We can see Lucy Griffiths also in Murder Ahoy."

Lucy Griffiths (1919 - 1982) has a very small role as Lucy in this film. Note that she also apeared in Murder Ahoy (1964) as Millie.

While in a novel Lucy Eylesbarrow has an importnant role, as Miss Marple hires her and sents her to the Crackenthropes home to investigate the murder (in this movie Miss Marple is the one who does that) ans so Lucy became one of the author's most popular and memorable character (despite she only appeared in this novel), in this adaptation of the novel, you can notice Lucy hardly for a few moments in the beginning of the film, when Inspector Craddock visits Miss Marple regarding "the murder"