I have no problem with Geraldine McEwan’s acting ability—it’s just that, to my mind, she is not Jane Marple.
I’ve never read any Agatha Christie except the Marple stories, with the exception of The Mousetrap. I share Dame Agatha’s opinion that Joan Hickson was Miss Marple. Of course, Joan is no longer with us, and we can't resurrect her anymore than we can Jeremy Brett, who defined Sherlock Holmes, with all due respect to Basil Rathbone.
A few weeks ago I watched the Last Bus to Woodstock segment on Inspector Morse, and the very assertive older woman who witnessed the victim's catching a lift immediately hit me—Jane Marple! I didn’t know her name, but I soon learned that Fabia Drake was not only older than Joan Hickson, but had been dead twenty years.
Hopefully, now that Ms. McEwan is no longer doing the role, they will come up with someone (or maybe they already have) who can fill Joan Hickson’s shoes.
name='Girard' date='02 July 2010 - 03:16 PM' timestamp='1278080180' post='446773']
Hopefully, now that Ms. McEwan is no longer doing the role, they will come up with someone (or maybe they already have) who can fill Joan Hickson’s shoes.
I thought the ones with Julia McKenzie had already aired in the USA?
Joan Hickson is the best 'serious' Miss Marple IMO. I do of course love watching the old Margaret Rutherford classics for a bit of slapstick and escapism. I have nothing against Geraldine McEwan - superb in Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit - or indeed Julia McKenzie. Nor all the famous guest stars that appear in the shows. Two things essentially bother me about the modern shows, having read many of the Miss Marple novels over the years. The first is that I don't think the later shows are anywhere as near to the books as the Joan Hickson shows, and in some cases the bulk of the storylines have been changed. The second thing is that it's all just too lovey dovey to the point of being sickly and I honestly think that the modern Marples are a sad waste of great casting. I do find them watchable, but not nearly as atmospheric as the originals. It seems to me that they are trying too hard to appeal to a younger audience whilst assuming that they haven't the concentration abilities that the audiences had in the eighties. I think they are quite wrong to assume that.
wellendcanons.
name='CaptainWaggett' date='02 July 2010 - 02:37 PM' timestamp='1278081436' post='446782']
I thought the ones with Julia McKenzie had already aired in the USA?
You are absolutely correct! I did a side-by-side paste of Julia McKenzie and Geraldine McEwan, and I was confusing McKenzie with her immediate predecessor. Julia was in The Blue Geranium, which just recently aired here. Except for that mix-up on my part, everything else I said, I still believe. Neither lady compares with Joan Hickson's Miss Marple portrayal. Of course, everyone has his or her own opinion of what Miss Marple looked like. Even though I've never read a Hercule Poiret book, I hope David Suchet continues making them. I prefer his Hercule Poiret stories to the latter-day Marple.
I don't think anyone has 'cracked' the miss marple of the novels personally! Hickson comes across as too outwardly strong a character,mcewan too nosey and mckenzie too nice and nan like! Jean marsh would be interesting as miss marple although she'd need to shrink and eat a bit more!!
I thought the Blue Geranium was the best of the new Miss Marples.
name='will.15' date='02 July 2010 - 06:24 PM' timestamp='1278091490' post='446854']
I thought the Blue Geranium was the best of the new Miss Marples.
Though the Sittaford Mystery finally had the lesbians we'd been denied so long
I'd love to see Hannah Gordon have a crack at the role.
(okay, yeah, fine, I admit it, I'd be perfectly happy listening to Hannah read the New York white pages.)
I think she's too young looking!name='Zlatna' date='02 July 2010 - 06:53 PM' timestamp='1278093206' post='446866']
I'd love to see Hannah Gordon have a crack at the role.
(okay, yeah, fine, I admit it, I'd be perfectly happy listening to Hannah read the New York white pages.
name='jaycad' date='02 July 2010 - 02:44 PM' timestamp='1278096252' post='446882']
I think she's too young looking!
She's only two months younger than Julia McKenzie - I'm sure they could do something with the makeup.
I believe it was Agatha Christie's view that the actress who came closest to Miss Marple as she envisaged her was actually June Whitfield.
Is that so? That would be interesting too!name='Fellwanderer' date='02 July 2010 - 09:47 PM' timestamp='1278103635' post='446933']
I believe it was Agatha Christie's view that the actress who came closest to Miss Marple as she envisaged her was actually June Whitfield.
name='jaycad' date='02 July 2010 - 10:10 PM' timestamp='1278105050' post='446940']
Is that so? That would be interesting too!
She's done loads of them for the radio - keep an eye on the BBC schedules as they're always repeating them, along with the John Moffatt Poirots. They tend to be much closer to the books than the tv versions (and the radio Murder of Roger Ackroyd is much better than the tv one because it keeps the gimmick).
I find it difficult to keep track of bbc radio7 as the only radio i can receive now is via Sky tv and for some reason thename='CaptainWaggett' date='03 July 2010 - 11:52 AM' timestamp='1278154373' post='447081']
She's done loads of them for the radio - keep an eye on the BBC schedules as they're always repeating them, along with the John Moffatt Poirots. They tend to be much closer to the books than the tv versions (and the radio Murder of Roger Ackroyd is much better than the tv one because it keeps the gimmick).
schedule only shows the present programme? I enjoy the odd ghost story on radio 7 but i know in advance when
they are going to be on, i guess i'll have to buy a radio or
get a magazine guide?
(i agree about the tv 'roger ackroyd'-a major disappointment!)
I always go to the BBC7 website for my listings but that's because I mostly listen online
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio7/
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