Description

Joan Hickson stars as Agatha Christie's most beloved character, theprim and proper Miss Marple, in this classic whodunit.Not only does Miss Marple haveto crack the case, she has to figure out just what the case is in the enigmatic mystery?Itbegins with a cryptic letter from a recently deceased friend asking her to right an injusticebut giving no details.With no who, what, why, where or when, it seems an unfathomablemystery.The only clue is a ticket for a bus tour of historic homes!In true Christiefashion, not all of the passengers are on the tour by chance.And when one of them iskilled, Miss Marple is on the trail.But the further she gets, the more strange and sinisterthe case becomes... ... Read more

Reviews (13)

See my review of each individual Aunt Jane movie
In case it gets cross posted this is a review of [Collection 2 (1986) ASIN: 630340488X] This collection contains five Aunt Jane Movies ("The Moving Finger," "Nemesis," "The Murder at the Vicarage," "At Bertram's Hotel," "They Do It with Mirrors,"]. There is no way to rank these movies as to which one is best. They are like shoes; everyone has a different favorite.

I did look it up to find that all of Agatha Christie's full Miss Marple novels were made in to movies with Joan Hickson as Miss Jane Marple. And this set has 5. Agatha Christie Collection 1 - Boxed Set ASIN: 6303111564, contains 4 more. Then there are three individual films not in the collection boxes.

If you do not obtain them all you will be haunted for the rest of your life wondering what you missed.

See my review of each individual Aunt Jane movie
This collection contains five Aunt Jane Movies ("The Moving Finger," "Nemesis," "The Murder at the Vicarage," "At Bertram's Hotel," "They Do It with Mirrors,"]. There is no way to rank these movies as to which one is best. They are like shoes; everyone has a different favorit.
I did look it up to find that all of Agatha Christie's full Miss Marple novels were made in to movies with Joan Hickson as Miss Jane Marple. And this set has 5. Agatha Christie Collection 1 - Boxed Set, contains 4 more. Then there are three individual films in a third set ... (VHS).
If you do not obtain them all you will be haunted for the rest of your life wondering what you missed.

Not a "who done it?" a "what was done?"
This is one of those films [incase it is cross posted this is a review of "Miss Marple: Nemesis (1986) ASIN: 6303404855] that need to be watched twice. So much is packed from the beginning that you may forget it by the time you need the information. Then you can say "Oh, that was why."
A previous stated "This play isn't about a murder, it's about Miss Marple." And many of the characters repeat this through out the film. And this is maybe not standard but one of the plays where everyone and then some shows up in one place. It is not quite like "And Then There Were None (1945)" ASIN: 6304679661, but in a way more complicated.
Everyone is wrapped up in saying how good the plot is, how good Agatha Christie is, and how well Joan Hickson played Miss Jane Marple. Slow down and look at the Scenery and props. This has the look and the feel of the time from the buildings to the busses. It makes you feel that you are part of that time. At least you want to visit there.

Quaint
Anything that can inspire MatronsApron to write a song about it must be of some merit. A compelling series of mystery stories, each with its own type of clanicity.

A noticing kind of person......
Step back into Britain of the 1950s. WWII is over and this is your opportunity to enjoy a vanished world of vintage buses, cars and trains. Carry your leather suitcase into the vine covered cottage, or visit your old school chum in her palatial mansion. Observe the Vicar and his wife on their bicycles. Visit the Norman Church for Evensong and note original frescos installed during the Middle Ages. If you're free for a holiday, take a motorcoach trip and visit Blenheim and Stourton. Dine at a first class hotel in London where the waiters wear white gloves or have tea and cakes with Miss Jane Marple--she might even offer you a glass of elderberry wine.

Miss Marple is a noticing kind of elderly woman who lives in the Village of Saint Mary Mead. Occasionally she travels hither and thither to visit friends or take advantage of a lovely trip planned by a nephew. She always has her knitting needles in hand, working on a baby blanket or a sweater for a nephew. Jane Marple--Godmother and Aunt to several young people--I wish I had known her personally--but this is the next best thing after the books. "There she goes, tail up and head down" on the trail of another murderer--and she will get her man or woman as the case may be.

I agree with the reviewer who said one doesn't buy these DVDs with the expectation of Criterion remastering. Even so, the quality of the films on these DVDs is pretty darn good. I collect Criterion DVDs and expect them to be the fully restored works of art they are. However, some of the films Criterion has restored were so badly damaged they are NOT better than the Miss Marple films even when Criterion has done it's best. Also, many of the Criterion films are Black and White films from the 1930s and 1940s and of interest because of their filmography and/or the innovative techniques their directors employed. Some of these films were shot on a shoestring budget and it shows. Technology has improved dramatically since the 40s. The reason I buy the older Criterion films is to see how clever directors worked around technological constraints.

Call me blind, but I think the quality of the Miss Marple tv films is pretty good. Although some outdoor scenes are faded in spots (the films were shot in color) the director had access to camerawork not available in the 40s. Also, these scripts are excellent and filled with interesting detail. Most Criterion films average 1-2 hours of playing time (not counting the "perks" which you may or may not be interested in) whereas Series 2 of the Miss Marple films offers the viewer 500 wonderful minutes.

I am grateful that I have access to DVD copies of the Miss Marple stories, and I can watch them any time I want to. When I am watching them, I am reminded of life in the days when I was a young girl. Plus, today's tv entertainment is pretty much directed to the younger set whereas the Miss Marple films are probably better appreciated by older folks like me who lived through the forties and fifties--or younger folks who wish they had.

The British actors in the BBC productions are consumate professionals. Joan Hickson was told by Agatha Chistie that she thought Hickson was the BEST Miss Marple ever! Incidentally, I believe Ms. Hickson appears in the Criterion version of THE LADY VANISHES and I know she is in one of the Margaret Rutherford films. If you've read Christie's novels, you know Hickson fits the description of Miss Marple far better than Margaret Rutherford. Christie described Miss Marple as tall and thin with fine white hair and twinkly blue eyes--a gentle person in a cardigan sweater carrying a bag with her knitting needles and latest project--not an agressive broad in a tweed suit. Many other fine British actors are featured in these films--Joss Ackland, Claire Bloom, Rosemary Crutchly all favorites of mine who can out perform the "mega" stars any day of the week.

I love the vintage settings, costumes, clothing, china, knick-knacks and bric-a-brac, jewelry, shoes, hats, handbags, luggage, handkerchiefs--nothing is missing. I still own a handkerchief sachet with hand embroidered handkerchiefs my grandmother made --and one makes a very important appearance in a Miss Marple tale. The BBC maintains a museum in Stratford on Avon where one can view the costumes and other props used in various productions. The Miss Marple films give me a vicarious thrill and a trip down memory lane. Tea anyone?? ... Read more

Description

One of fiction's most popular detectives comes alive in this scintillatingadaptation of Caroline Graham's bestselling Inspector Barnaby mystery. The beautifulrural area of Midsomer is filled with more than its share of intrigue and colorfulcharacters. Keeping an eye on it all is Inspector Barnaby, a contemplative, comfortablymarried man with a worrisome college-age daughter and a slow, bumbling assistant,Sergeant Troy.In THE KILLINGS AT BADGER'S DRIFT, an old lady witnesses a shocking event. Butbefore she can tell anyone what she has seen, she dies from what seems to be naturalcauses. Her dearest friend drags the unwilling Inspector Barnaby into the case. He soonbegins to see that certain things just don't add up, then a second gruesome killingconfirms his suspicions. Barnaby's investigations into the murders reveal an unexpectedsordid side to the sleepy village. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Poor Annabella...
Badger's Drift is the best kept village in Midsomer... at least, that's what the sign says. The mystery starts when Ms. Emily Simpson, an 80-year old retired school teacher, stumbles upon "something" in the woods. Her best friend and neighbor, Ms. Bellringer, knew something was wrong when Ms. Simpson came home that night - she didn't close her door, she slammed it. And she failed to padlock her tricycle... Emily was always afraid of thieves, you know. When Ms. Simpson is discovered with a broken neck, as from a fall, Ms. Bellringer just knows it must have been foul play.

Chief Inspector Barnaby and Sergeant Troy take up the investigation. Questions: Why does Dennis Rainbird, the local undertaker, seem so eager to get Ms. Simpson's body in the ground? What's really going on with Dr. Lesseter, who claims that Ms. Simpson was in perfect health? Isn't it odd that no one ever sees Mr. Henry Trace, the wealthiest man in Badger's Drift, out of his wheelchair? And just what is Michael Lacey "painting" in his studio?

Don't worry - none of these are spoilers. They're just the sort of devilishly odd questions you might ask yourself while watching one of the best episodes in the _Midsomer Murders_ series.

Enjoy... ... Read more

Description

In sleepy Midsomer, a rural English hideaway, life moves with easy,predictable rhythms. But when the secretary of a local writer's circle is discoveredmurdered, the village is overcome with rumor and speculation.It is up to Inspector Barnaby to cast light on the case, but what the calm and collectedpoliceman discovers only deepens the mystery. It seems that the victim was a man ofmany secrets no marriage certificate is found to match the wedding photos in his home,no relatives come forward and he has no national insurance number. And when thewoman he was wooing admits that she saw a blonde stranger arrive at his house twonights before the murder, Barnaby is faced with quite a quandary. Who was this woman,and who was the victim really?Based on the bestselling Barnaby novels by Caroline Graham, Midsomer Murders isclassic British crimedrama in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Well worth watching
Midsomer is one of those quasi-mythical areas in the heart of England that everyone would like to believe exists. Rolling green countryside, small villages with thatched cottages, rose gardens, well-tended farms, and a population with more than its fair share of quirkiness and a tendency to commit murder.

The local police seem to have plenty to do, the investigations ably led by Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and his sidekick Sgt. Troy. Barnaby is somewhat unusual for a TV detective in that he doesn't seem to have any quirks - he's a straightforward, decent, happily married cop. He has a beaming smile and a pleasant manner. But his mind is sharp and let a suspect or witness push his or her luck with him and they soon get a glimpse of the steel beneath the surface.

The basic formula is that pioneered by Morse. Feature length episodes give plenty of time to set up the characters, let the viewer see something of what is going on around the place and admire the scenery, and allow several more inter-linked murders to take place before the initial case is solved.

At first I was not too taken with Midsomer. The set-up was a bit predictable and seemed engineered with an eye to the export market, and Barnaby somewhat bland after the dysfunctional Morse and the dyspeptic Dalziel (do you get "Dalziel and Pascoe" on American TV? If not, you're missing something - watch out for it). But the place and the man have grown on me and now I'm a fan and a regular watcher. Give them a chance.... ... Read more

Description

The Causton Amateur Dramatic Society is preparing to performAmadeus, and Inspector Barnaby is persuaded to paint the set. In the final act the scriptcalls for Salieri, played by Esslyn Carmichael, to slit his throat. In rehearsals the blade ofthe razor is wrapped in plastic, and the effect is convincing. But on opening night, theaudience is amazed at the reality of the death scene--until they realize it is not brilliantlystaged, but horrifyingly real!Barnaby is immediately called on to make some sense of the tragedy. Could Esslyn'ssuspicion of his wife's affair have drove him to suicide? Or was it murder? It is up to theredoubtable Barnaby to uncover the truth. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

If you love British murder mysteries...
then check out the "Midsomer Murders" series. "Death of a Hollow Man" is set in a community playhouse which provides a wonderful backdrop for egos, back-biting, romance and eventually, murder. All the clues are there if you watch and listen. John Nettles brings a warmth to Chief Inspector Barnaby that is quite engaging as you watch him comfort his wife and then interrogate the witnesses. The characters are very interesting with plenty of human foibles and you will find yourself wishing "well" to some and "bad" to others. Very enjoyable. ... Read more

Description

One of fiction's most popular detectives comes alive in this scintillatingadaptation of Caroline Graham's bestselling Inspector Barnaby mystery. The beautifulrural area of Midsomer is filled with more than its share of intrigue and colorfulcharacters. Keeping an eye on it all is Inspector Barnaby, a contemplative, comfortablymarried man with a worrisome college-age daughter and a slow, bumbling assistant,Sergeant Troy.A master of a New Age commune is prematurelytransported into the Other World, and all fingerspoint to a ruthless tycoon who had visited thecommune to see his long lost daughter. But Barnaby is not convinced that the billionaireis to blame and, ignoring pressure to close the case, delves into the past lives of thecommune's inhabitants. Eventually, Barnaby discovers that one of them is not who hepretends to be. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Entertaining and Enlightening
Bramwell is one of the best series to have ever been aired on television for what might at first glance seem to be a trivial reason--its protaganist is a well-rounded, entirely admirable yet flawed, capable, intelligent, insistent, compassionate, and attractive young woman. Good women are hard to find in television, and its even harder to find a female protaganist (whose show is named after her) who is not more interested in alcohol than food, sex than her career, fashion than family. I urge Acorn to release the entire Bramwell series on DVD. My local library has an incomplete video collection and I and my friends are eager to purchase the series for ourselves. Our daughters need good female role models, and in t.v., those are few and far between.

Great series...Here's how to get more eps!
This is a fabulous series, well scripted, fabulous acting. Riveting drama, it truly captures Victorian England at the time. Unfortunately, I have only been able to get 7 episodes of this series. There are 22 episodes, why would only 7 be distributed?? It is completely assinine, and makes no sense. While looking for more info, I was told this series didn't get "good ratings". I hear this over and OVER about quality TV programs! I don't want pablum TV, I want TV that doesn't insult my intelligence.

Carlton UK Television was the original broadcaster of this series via WGBH Boston PBS, Acorn Media distributed the first boxed set. They can be reacehd at www.acornonline.com or at 1- 888-870-8047 I recommend you call or write, and kindly request the rest of the series. If fans can bring back Farscape (if only the miniseries...that's another story www.watchfarscape.com) Bramwell can be disrtibuted in boxed set form!

Where are Series IV, V and VI?
I agree with viewer from Durham, NC and am anxious to locate the rest of the series on VHS here in America. I found a few on ebay but only in British VHS, which is not same as American VHS. PBS/WGBH/Masterpiece Theater are no help either. With all of the other excellent series available one would think "Bramwell" would be as well. Someone is missing a major market in America. I am a professor of women's studies, and my college students LOVE this series. Ironically, because it's so difficult to obtain, they are more appreciative of viewing my precious personal copies. WE NEED THIS ENTIRE SERIES ON VHS AND DVD. I realize that some viewers were very unhappy with the way the last episodes of Series VI ended, but that's no reason not to make the entire series available to the MANY people I see on internet eager to obtain it. Please make Series IV, V and VI available!!!! Can anyone help?

Why are these so hard to find?
Where is series 4?!!! It was on TV 3 years ago and isn't available anywhere even on BBC America. Its very frustrating. I missed the episodes and thought it would be no problem since they would be released on home video. Think again...I-III -Very excellent series and I wish more viewers would speak up about these. Release on DVD!!!

Victorian England done the BBC way
If you love BBC productions of Victorian England, you will love this young, spunky, idealistic, but realistically flawed female doctor. Elinor is ahead of her time and also of her time. We watch as she sometimes rushes to judgement and falls prey to the prejudices of others. She's not afraid to make a mess and then clean up after herself. She is often frustrating, complex, and ultimately admirable. ... Read more