Mark Pghfan’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Mark Pghfan’s comments from the The Parlor PI's group.

Thanks, Nicole. I didn't remember that, even though I just re-listened to the unabridged book!

I was cogitating over the poisoned pill in the aspirin bottle, and I agree that Bunny would eventually, soon have a headache. What I was wondering about is were ALL the pills the poisoned one? Did one look different from the other? How could Miss B count on Dora taking the right one?

LovesMysteries: Spot on!

Hickson's was clearly the better of the two, in every way. In the McEwan versions, I though Zoe Wanamaker was very good, but I didn't like turning the Colonel into a drunk, Mrs. Swettenham into a man chaser, or having Patrick and Julia obviously in public displays of affection before we know their true relationship.

I have to say right off the bat that this is my favorite Miss Marple and in my top five Christies overall.

As Nicole mentions, one of the key clues is so cleverly placed that one really doesn't notice it.

And a wonderful TV adaptation with Joan Hickson--a three episode one, which allows nearly all the book's activity to be presented.

Having read the books and watched the adaptations so much, it is sometimes hard to separate the differences between them!

Sounds good! I'm listening to it now, in the car, narrated by Joan Hickson.

I'm already starting on the dozenth re-read!

Yes, the business about Martine not being dead was a wonderful twist. And Cedric acing the civil service test!

Announced is my favorite Miss M, so I'm always happy to give it a re-read. Both the book and the Hickson TV version.

What do you think of the McEwan version where Bryan is an American? And how Cedric is so very young and not a good painter?

I think most of us would rather have Lucy end up with Bryan, at least for Alexander's sake. I didn't realize that in the "Notebooks", Christie mentioned her ending up with Cedric. Perhaps that he didn't specifically end up that way means she changed her mind!

I'm taking myself out of the hosting run, since I'm doing this month's.

I totally agree. If you get Miss Marple as we know her out of our minds, the Rutherford's are just a hoot!

Ah, L-M, that is the eternal question! My belief is that Christie would have her go with Cedric, who would be a challenge, since she would probably ride roughshod over Bryan. But we'll never know, will we?

There is roughly 75 years or so for a copyright, I think. After that, it can be renewed in some circumstances but otherwise it will be in the public domain for people to use without charge. The release of books doesn't seem to happen each year, though.

NicoleG: I got those on the Kindle a while ago--they were out of copyright and free. I understand that a whole not more books (not just Christie) are now out of copyright. I'll have to investigate more on this.

I have had some of the Marples copies from what was on TV and then purchased the DVDs and, like LovesMysteries, was surprised as the things that were cut out. Sometimes they weren't important but other times they helped with the story and characters.

I agree Hickson is #1 (isn't it always?!). The McEwan version has its good points, but I didn't like that Lucy ended up with the inspector. And the Rutherford version, like all of the four she made, are indeed a hoot!

NicoleG: Do you have enough money? I wish I did!

I thought we'd might like to have a discussion just on the movie/TV versions of our book of the month.

Have you watched them all? There are three, the 1961 movie Murder, She Said with Margaret Rutherford, 1980's, with Joan Hickson, and 2000's with Geraldine McEwan.

What did you like most and least about them?