If you've viewed the Joan Hickson Miss Marple episodes in the order they were released, then you've watched as the opening changed from black and white to washed out colours to fully coloured.
This particular episode emphasizes this colour transition. The first scene features a couple driving a bright red automobile. Then they stop the car amid a lush green background. This is NOT by accident. Later on, the cinematographer washes the scenes in baby blues. This episode is a truly masterful display of colours.
Alas, the story itself is not nearly as colourful. It's slow and somewhat byzantine. Furthermore, Miss Marple is merely an accessory to the story, which is focused primarily on a young couple haunted by secrets from the past.
I particularly did not enjoy the climax, which I found to be stilted and obvious. Any time a phone conversation ends with "I'll be home in an hour." And a young woman is left alone waiting in a large house, you can be certain an attempt is about to be made on her life.
Sadly, at that point the mystery devolved into a run of the mill "slasher" type climax. Which resolved itself with a deus ex machina finish that I found to be too contrived to be credible.
IMHO, here's the best moment of the entire mystery . . .
GWENDA: Why didn't we think of that?
MISS MARPLE: Because you believed what he told you. It's very dangerous to believe people. I haven't for years.
Geraldine Alexander and John Moulder-Brown make a splendidly handsome couple. But they cannot save this dreadfully slow story. Be Advised: This not one of the better Miss Marple episodes. But it IS cinematically colourful.
This particular episode emphasizes this colour transition. The first scene features a couple driving a bright red automobile. Then they stop the car amid a lush green background. This is NOT by accident. Later on, the cinematographer washes the scenes in baby blues. This episode is a truly masterful display of colours.
Alas, the story itself is not nearly as colourful. It's slow and somewhat byzantine. Furthermore, Miss Marple is merely an accessory to the story, which is focused primarily on a young couple haunted by secrets from the past.
I particularly did not enjoy the climax, which I found to be stilted and obvious. Any time a phone conversation ends with "I'll be home in an hour." And a young woman is left alone waiting in a large house, you can be certain an attempt is about to be made on her life.
Sadly, at that point the mystery devolved into a run of the mill "slasher" type climax. Which resolved itself with a deus ex machina finish that I found to be too contrived to be credible.
IMHO, here's the best moment of the entire mystery . . .
GWENDA: Why didn't we think of that?
MISS MARPLE: Because you believed what he told you. It's very dangerous to believe people. I haven't for years.
Geraldine Alexander and John Moulder-Brown make a splendidly handsome couple. But they cannot save this dreadfully slow story. Be Advised: This not one of the better Miss Marple episodes. But it IS cinematically colourful.