The Agatha Christie Miss Marple Movie Collection

The bestselling mystery author of all time, Agatha Christie created several outstanding sleuths, the most lovable being Miss Jane Marple, the septuagenarian snooper from St. Mary Mead: in fact, killers don't stand a chance when this innocuous-looking but highly intuitive spinster starts poking into their business. Christie's 12 novel-length adventures featuring Miss Marple have been adapted for both the large and small screens, and this extra-less four-disc collection gathers together a quartet of feature films starring Academy Award-winner Margaret Rutherford (considered by many viewers to be the best interpreter of this beloved character). Murder She Said (1961), first and best of the series, finds Miss Jane turning detective after witnessing someone being strangled aboard a passing train. A combination boarding house and riding school is the setting for Murder at the Gallop (1963), a droll entry pairing Rutherford with sublime character actor Robert Morley. Murder Ahoy (1964) takes place largely on a ship populated mostly by young criminals undergoing rehabilitation—or so it seems. Last, but by no means least, Murder Most Foul (1964) has Marple joining a Grand Guignol-type theatrical troupe to ferret out a real-life killer. In the best tradition of English mysteries, the Marple yarns are “fair play” whodunits sporting intricate plots, oddball characters, and a dazzling array of false alibis and fiendishly clever motivations. But the films wouldn't work nearly as well without the presence of Rutherford, whose dowdy frame conceals a sprightly personality, making her perfect for the role. Recommended. (E. Hulse)