Customer Rating: 
Summary: Most Pleasant Evening's Entertainment
Comment: On my TV set with my DVD player all of the discs looked and sounded fine.
I enjoy Helen Hayes for being Helen Hayes and Margaret Rutherford for being Margaret Rutherford but for Agatha Christies Miss Marple Jane Hickson wins hands down. I have tried only one of the latest British entry and she, too, appears quite able but Ms. Hickson has set the standard for authenticity (which, quite legitimately, was not the objective of Ms. Hayes or Ms. Rutherford).
To one who has never been to the UK, the settings seem quite fitting to the time and place, the stories well told, the acting first rate, and the manner appealing. The last has become quite important to me over the years; I mean by it the minimization of actual violence, the emphasis on character and story, not on split second action, and very real heroes and villains diluted by touches of humanity in each case.
Obviously, these are personal judgments not value neutral standards. Those who seek more current models for detective/mystery/thriller fare will quite reasonably find more than a little boredom in Marple and Poirot. So be it. Trying to be everything to everyone produces indigestible trash.
Customer Rating:
Summary: While others have done well, Joan Hickson is the defining Miss Marple...and Nemesis is one first-rate mystery story
Comment: Says Professor Wanstead to Miss Jane Marple (Joan Hickson) after the murderer has been discovered, "So Mr. Rafiel's faith in his son is justified after all." "Oh, no, Professor," Miss Marple replies, "it wasn't like that at all. Mr. Rafiel wanted justice for the dead girl, even if it meant the sacrifice of his son." "Do you think he considered that," the Professor asks. "Oh, yes," Miss Marple says. "He knew I wouldn't flinch, even if it meant sending Michael to the gallows. He called me 'Nemesis,' you know, and he wasn't being entirely humorous."
Nor should any murderer underestimate this slightly frail, inquisitive and observant old woman, long a resident of the English village of St. Mary Mead, who is given to wearing tweeds and sensible shoes, often knitting and frequently gardening. Miss Marple has a mind as logical as a trap. As she says, "It's very dangerous to believe people. I haven't for years." When murder has been done, those aged eyes see things, especially in the behavior and habits of those around her, which lead to retribution. As played by Joan Hickson, Miss Marple is invariably courteous and very much of the old school when it comes to manners. She may occasionally offer advice, but is remarkably realistic. "Good advice is almost certain to be ignored," she says, "but that's no reason for not giving it." She may take part in a bit of gossip, but almost always she is giving a bit of information in order to get even more back. Hickson's Miss Marple is not without empathy or friends, but she essentially is a person quite satisfied to do her gardening. She does not twinkle. And nowhere are Miss Marple's defining qualities of logic, persistence and seriousness of purpose better displayed than in Nemesis (1987), one of the five made-for-television movies in Agatha Christie's Miss Marple - Set Two.
Mr. Rafiel, a wealthy man who knew Jane Marple years before, has died. She was notified at his death that he had a request...would she take a tour-bus excursion, visit the places on the tour and see if anything seems...well, curious? He describes no crime, he gives no clues. Perhaps there was no crime; he leaves it up to Miss Marple. And Jane Marple decides to honor his wish. She is surprised to learn a number of others also have signed for the tour because of Mr. Rafiel's request; some received money to encourage them. Gradually, Miss Marple learns the story of a young girl who disappeared, another young girl who was killed, of Rafiel's son who loved one of them and then vanished, of three sisters living in a decaying mansion...and of an overwhelming atmosphere of love, sadness and regret. Miss Marple, in her quiet and relentless way, learns the truth and then sees to it that justice, after all the years, is done while she gazes steadily at the murderer.
Nemesis is no British cozy.
The other four stories in this set may not quite reach the emotional depth of Nemesis, but they all are fine mysteries. They share complex and twisting plots, excellent acting, and a general seriousness of intention. Above all, they share the incomparable and defining performance of Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. Bear in mind that Hickson was already 78 when she starred in the earliest mystery of this set, The Moving Finger, and 85 in the set's latest, They Do it With Mirrors. Hickson filmed all 12 of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books; her 12th and last Marple, at age 86, was The Mirror Crack'd (1992). She died after a long career in British theater and movies at age 92 in 1998.
Finishing out Set Two are: The Moving Finger (1985), when vicious poison pen letters disrupt lives and lead to murder; Murder at the Vicarage (1986), when faith and patience are sorely tested, and a murderous plot catches Miss Marple's interest; At Bertram's Hotel (1987), when Miss Marple discovers what never seems to change has, and not for the better; and They Do It With Mirrors (1991), when ambition and certitude overcome even love. Among the many fine actors taking part in these films, keep an eye out for Joan Greenwood, Jean Simmons, Joss Ackland, Margaret Tysack, Michael Culver, Caroline Blakiston, Paul Eddington, George Baker and Cheryl Campbell.
These Miss Marple films run about 1' 40" each. They are not only fine and satisfying mysteries, in a morbid way they are also great fun. Extras include biographies of Agatha Christie and Joan Hickson, plus an index of all of the Miss Marple stories. The quality of the DVD color transfers is that of decent VHS tapes. A couple look just a little faded, but nothing that gets in the way of enjoyment.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Miss Marple wins again
Comment: My mother and I have been watching Agatha Christie mysteries for a long time. This Miss Marple set was one of the best Mother's Day gifts I have given her. We both cuddle up and watch some great movies and never guessing whodunit. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Miss Marple at her best
Comment: For the Miss Marple fan this is a marvelous collection on DVD. I especially liked it that there were two episodes on a DVD so you didn't have to get up and change the DVD. Also included were some facts on the actors.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Solving a Mystery that has No Clues!!
Comment: +++++
(Note: this review is exclusively for the Miss Marple mystery "Nemesis" on VHS)
I watched this movie without reading the 1971 Dame Agatha Christie novel that it was based on. (Christie wrote twelve full-length Miss Marple murder mysteries.) I'm glad I did this! Why? Because it forced me to really watch this movie in order to try and deduce who the murderer was.
The movie begins with millionaire Jason Rafiel (Frank Gatliff) dying of natural causes. Soon after his death, Miss Marple (the late Joan Hickson) receives a letter written by the now dead Rafiel (who was her friend) asking her to do some investigation. Miss Marple questions and comments after reading this letter:
"What kind of crime, if it was a crime, was it? When [was it] committed - where - anything? I'm most bewildered. It's like being asked to do a crossword puzzle without any clues!"
Miss Marple eventually, with the aid of her godson Lionel (Peter Tilbury) begins slowly collecting information, the most interesting being the mysterious death of two young girls named Verity Hunt and Nora Brent. However, Miss Marple is not sure of herself in her investigation and admits the following:
"Mr. Rafiel is a ghostly puppet master...laughing at [me] from beyond the grave."
Eventually a murder and suicide occur.
Who are the people associated with this intriguing mystery? They are as follows:
(1) Michael Rafiel, Jason's son (Bruce Payne)
(2) Mr. Broadribb, Jason's lawyer (Roger Hammond)
(3) Mr. Shuster, another of Jason's lawyers (Pat Godfrey)
(4) Miss Temple, retired school head mistress (Helen Cherry)
(5) Professor (of criminal psychology) Waustead (John Horsley)
(6) Miss Cooke, bodyguard (Jane Booker)
(7) Miss Barrow, bodyguard (Alison Skilbeck)
(8) Clothilde Bradbury-Scott, the past guardian of Verity Hunt (Margaret Tyzack)
(9) Anthea, Clothilde's sister and another guardian of Verity (Anna Chopper)
(10) Lavina, a married sister of Clothilde (Valerie Lush)
(11) Mrs. Brent, mother of Nora (Liz Fraser)
(12) Archdeacon Brabazon (Peter Copley)
Joan Hickson (whom Agatha Christie herself wanted to play Miss Marple) captures the essence of the heroine super sleuth in her performance. (Hickson was 81 years old in this movie!). Other fine performances to look for are Bruce Payne as Rafiel's son and Margaret Tyzack as Clothilde.
The character Jason Rafiel also appears in the Miss Marple murder mystery "A Caribbean Mystery" (1965).
Finally, the cinematography of this movie is well done. All costumes and props are authentic looking. The background music adds to each scene.
In conclusion, this is a fun and intriguing movie even if you have read the novel it's based on!!
(1987; 100 min; made for TV; British drama; full screen; color)
+++++
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