The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

Thank you Cherrytree I will record it.

I liked it. Not a clue what's going on, though.

And Much Deeping very Costswolds-looking.

Can someone please tell me what Mark does for a living? He seems to have a lot of time on his hands...

It seems to have passed me by, oldgimmer!!

For some reason I think he's an antique dealer.

Yes, I think he is.

He owns an upmarket antique shop in London ( one which doesn’t seem to have any customers.)
His main job is to look enigmatic and change his suits a lot.

In the book he was a writer.

Well I enjoyed it especially the spookiness. I didn't really know who Rufus Sewell was but he kept reminding me of Profumo in Christine Keeler (Ben somebody). Something about the strange eyes. I have read some Agatha Christie books but instantly forgot them. She always seemed to be the grown ups' Enid Blyton to me. Maybe I'll be shot down in flames for that! I've always loved Rita Tushingham too - those eyes!

The Pale Horse seems to be a very successful and enjoyable tv drama, well plotted and well played.

It is just that it shares little in common with a book with the same name written by Agatha Christie, so the title is a bit misleading.

Witzend, I too absolutely love Joan Hickson and think she was definitely the best Miss Marple. I have just taped the whole Joan Hickson (Miss Marple) series from the Alibi channel to watch at my leisure. I also love Margaret Rutherford and have the boxed set of her films. The one I couldn't take to was Julia McKenzie in the role, just wasn't for me.

I must say I found JuliaMcKenzie one off putting. I do not watch much television and it was the first time I had come across the dramatisation of a book, where the script-writer had actually changed the plot, changing the killer and introducing a lesbian storyline, presumably to make it more 'woke'?

Plot changes are necessary when transferring from printed media to broadcast, and that is acceptable, but intrducing major changes in plot or characters just because you can, shows a sad lack of enterprise and originality.

I loved Joan Hickson too as Miss Marple. I can’t put it into words but I found her perfect

Watched this last night. Have never read the book, but have watched a previous tv version where I think Miss Marple was involved, can’t remember if it was Julia McKenzie or Geraldine McKewan, either way it seemed pretty rubbishy.
I rather enjoyed this version, but pleased if it’s only two episodes as otherwise I think it would drag on a bit.

Calendargirl Pale Horse is not a Miss Marple book. Joan Hickson did not appear in it, at least not in the official series she did.

A lot of people have enjoyed this drama, a shame the author is so unsure of herself, that she had to hide her work behind another author's name and title.

Another fan of Joan Hickson here. Loved the way she portrayed herself as a benign doddery old lady, but really was razor sharp, she captured Miss Marple perfectly. Also loved Margaret Rutherford. Somehow, Julia McKenzie and Geraldine McKewan just didn't get it right.

MOnica

No, I realise that it is not a Miss Marple book, this did not stop ITV making a MM version, with Julia McKenzie in the role. Nicholas Parsons played the murdered priest.
I have just googled this info.

A rather odd thing happened towards the end of part one as Mark was walking across the fields to Much Deeping (why didn't he drive?). In one shot the image was reversed so that his shirt buttoned the wrong way and his breast pocket was on the right side of his jacket. Continuity cock-up or the influence of the witches? I think we should be told!

It's a conspiracy!

I'm going to have another look, somehow I missed that. Perhaps I'd nodded off at that point.

Didn't like the book although an AC fan. I will watch for no other reason than Rufus Sewell.

What a load of tripe

An excellent summary, BlueBelle.

Thought Rufus was looking slightly less florid tonight, bless him. Lovely neat ears too.

I hope we weren't supposed to understand what was going on.

Since I’ve never read the book, I just enjoyed it for what it was. And I did quite enjoy it. Good ending.

Was it set in the 1960s? I think it was. The witch with the green cord trousers was wearing a rather nice fairisle cardigan at one point and it had dropped shoulder sleeves. I'm just not sure that was a thing in the sixties. I would have expected raglan or set in sleeves at that date. I also think I spotted a field with big round bales and I don't think they were around then. Just me being picky!