MURDER MOST FOUL

Ron Moody and Margaret Rutherford

MURDER MOST FOUL (1964). Director: George Pollock.

"It may upset you, Inspector, that women sometimes have superior minds -- you just have to accept it." -- Miss Marple.

Miss Marple is a hold-out on a jury because she's convinced of the defendant's innocence, and she sets out to prove it by joining a theatrical troupe where she believes the true murderer is ensconced. The troupe is run by H. Driffold Cosgood (Ron Moody), who has little interest in signing up Marple as an actress until she intimates that she has money. (She auditions by reciting "The Murder of Dan McGrew.") Other members of the group include psychic Eva (Alison Seebohm); Sheila Upward (Francesca Annis), who is engaged to Bill (James Bolam); Ralph Summers (Ralph Michael) and his wife Maureen (Pauline Jameson); and others. But as more murders occur, Inspector Craddock (Charles Tingwell) has to wonder if Miss Marple will finish her sleuthing before she herself is bumped off?

Margaret Rutherford and Charles Tingwell

Murder Most Foul is very loosely based on Agatha Christie's novel "Mrs. McGinty's Dead," which actually featured her Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and not Miss Marple. While the novel is much better than this film, I must say the movie is still a delight, with a wonderfully plucky Rutherford and many other talented cast members, such as Ron Moody. Stringer Davis appears, as does Dennis Price as agent Harris Tumbrill and Megs Jenkins as Mrs. Thomas. This was the third of the four Miss Marple films that Rutherford starred in. As usual composer Ron Goodwin just repeats the same theme music for each movie. Smoothly directed by George Pollock, who also helmed the other three films. The conclusion is unexpected. 

Verdict: A well-done combination of laughs and suspense. ***.