planktonrules

The Miss Marple movies that Margaret Rutherford made in the 1960s are a lot of fun. However, they play rather fast and loose with the original stories and less emphasis is placed on the Agatha Christie stories than Rutherford herself...who was a lot of fun in the leads. In the case of "4.50 from Paddington", I had a chance to see one of the Rutherford films...."Murder, She Said". The main way the two are different is that in the film, Miss Marple witnesses the murder and no one believes her. But in this 1987 show, it's a friend of hers who is the witness...just like in the original story. I guess it's okay to like both...and I do.

As I mentioned above, one of Marple's friends witnesses a murder while she's aboard a train. Some man in a passing train is strangling a woman and when the witness reports it, the dopey police assume she's mistaken and barely investigate. So, Miss Marple and this friend retrace the train's route and determine that the killing was made near a large manor home...one belonging to the Crackenthorpes. But to get into the home...that will require Marple to have someone go in her place that the family won't suspect. So, she asks Lucy Eyelesbarrow to investigate. After all, the family needs another servant...and Eyelesbarrow is a maid...and a very bright one.

Soon, the body of the dead woman is discovered on the mansion's grounds. But it's not clear who did it or if the Crackenthorpes are involved...that is until more murders occur. Who is behind this and why? See the show...it's a dandy one.

Well crafted, never dull and with a nice epilogue...it's well worth seeing and sticks very closely to the source material.

"The Stitcher Society" is named for a club for folks who have had open heart surgery. However, some of the folks who have had a new lease on life have just had their lease revoked. Someone is killing them and it seems to have something to do with the return of a most hated man to the town. He's hated because he was tried for murder...but somehow was acquitted. But everyone in town 'knows' he did it and seem anxious to get rid of him...though instead of him being killed, several others die. What's really going on here and how does a flirty realtor figure into all this?

This is a decent episode...less fantastical than most recent ones...hence it's more enjoyable. But it IS confusing...especially near the beginning due to the show giving us flashbacks and scenes out of order. Just be forewarned.