Monday, December 13, 2004

For years I've had a soft spot for an older woman; and when I say I'm talking about a woman well into her seventies. Have I gone mad? No, I'm referring to one of the world's most famous detectives: Miss Jane Marple. I've always been a fan of the dithering old maid with the "uncanny knack of being always right." both through Agatha Christie's books and through the wonderful portrayal of Miss Marple by Joan Hickson in the BBC's dramatisation.

So yesterday was a very sad day for me and probably for millions of other Miss Marple fans. The reason is yesterday was the first screening of ITV's Marple; the first recreation of Christie's spinster detective in nearly twenty years.

Now I knew that this new version of Miss Marple's mysteries would be different than the BBC ones. Obviously Joan Hickson wouldn't be playing the lead role (due to her death several years ago) and was expecting to have a few problems adjusting to Geraldine McEwan in the lead role.

What I wasn't expecting was for the makers to change the identity of the murderer; to show whodunit before the climatic reveal; and most importantly to include lesbian relationships and dramatic bomb explosions that Ms Christie didn't. What's the point of dramatising someone's work if you're going to change the whole story? It's a bit like remaking the story of the Bible and not having Jesus surviving being on the cross.

Hopefully, in the next dramatisation, ITV will change the victim in Murder at the Vicarage so that Miss Marple herself is found facedown in the Vicar's study dead.

Posted by Antz at 8:29 PM | Permalink | | |

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