31 Comments
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Rod Hirsch's avatar

Sparkling cyanide? Clearly there wasn’t enough to go round.

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laura thompson's avatar

Good one 👌

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Heather Cawte's avatar

I agree *so strongly* about the Branagh Orient Express! I thought I was the only one....

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laura thompson's avatar

Excellent! No, I think there may be quite a few of us…

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Shelly Dennison's avatar

I still haven't been able to bring myself to watch the Branagh Orient Express. I can't get past the moustache.

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laura thompson's avatar

It's a gateway all by itself…

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India Flint's avatar

Somewhere there is a family of grieving squirrels…

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laura thompson's avatar

Very good!!! 🐿😱

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Ruth Brompton-Charlesworth's avatar

I don’t think anyone can get past that moustache… metaphorically or physically 😂

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Shelly Dennison's avatar

😂

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India Flint's avatar

Joan Hickson remains my favourite Marple. I want to be her when I grow up. She delivered her lines exquisitely , eg “Thank you, Inspector, I’ve never been complimented in quite that way before”…

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laura thompson's avatar

She is sublime. Nobody compares! Happy memories of watching those Marples with my dad who said nothing was so beautifully calming as her performance…

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India Flint's avatar

Just spotted “British Cinema’s” post on farcebook, regurgitated by the algorithm which is clearly monitoring all my reading, and not minding its own business.

It is an article discussing those who might next be stepping into Miss Marple’s shoes. Sadly none of the suggested names inspire me with confidence.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AdqEjepYC/

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laura thompson's avatar

Thanks India, very interesting! Have to say - I don’t think Penelope Wilton is a bad idea….

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India Flint's avatar

Mmm…I’ll sleep on that idea …

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Ruth Brompton-Charlesworth's avatar

I’m loving these countdowns and can’t wait for the finale!

In regards to No.6, I think we should all be grateful that he cut the scenes of Poirot trimming his moustache and nasal hair 🙈

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June Girvin's avatar

Lord, I had completely forgotten The Man in the Brown Suit. Yes, these are all unremittingly awful.

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laura thompson's avatar

What most of them are is WASTED OPPORTUNITIES! So annoying. Man in the B S could be so much fun, as for Murder is Easy... 😱

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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

Yikes! Branagh’s moustache looks like a snow plough. I'd give the film a miss on those grounds alone.

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laura thompson's avatar

It does!!!! VERY odd choice on his part.

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Jo Thompson's avatar

I really enjoyed this - and was so hoping for your views on that moustache - thank you!

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laura thompson's avatar

Thanks Jo!

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Helen Barrell's avatar

I grew up in the village that Joan Hickson lived in, which was very confusing as you'd see her go by in the street, so I thought that Miss Marple was real!

Can't say we had loads of murders, though. We did have a very nice village bobby called Sid, though, who I'm sure would've happily solved crimes with Joan if she'd asked. I think she was too busy tending to her garden, though.

Everyone who lived in that village then has a story about Joan. She loved to "meet" the local babies, so as soon as a mum walked along with her pram, Joan would poke her head in to see the child.

She did this with me and announced in a voice that carried far after years of acting, "Oh, what a beautiful little boy!"

Oops!

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laura thompson's avatar

At least she said beautiful! Wonderful Joan.

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Helen Barrell's avatar

My mum dressed me in a *lot* of brown corduroy, so it was an easy mistake!

Bizarrely, the artist Francis Bacon often visited the village, and it was where the guy who designed the first covers of the Bond novels lived. And Miss Marple was there in the midst of them all!

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Susan Baldwin's avatar

Oops The Alphabet Murders!! 🤦‍♀️

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Susan Baldwin's avatar

So! Gave the ABC Murders a go! Couldn’t do it! 15 mins!😂 had to revert to Joan Hicksons Bertram’s Hotel! Phew!!!

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laura thompson's avatar

Taking one for the team! 15 mins is good going...

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Natasha Poliszczuk's avatar

Joan Hickson WAS Marple. I feel very affectionately towards Margaret Rutherford, but I could not get past the fact she wasn’t right for the role. And do not get me started on KB and that moustache (surely it has a supporting role credit?)…..

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laura thompson's avatar

😂 So much love for Joan Hickson, the good stuff really does last!

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R. Chavez's avatar

Thank you for admitting the truth about #6. Can't forgive changing the biggest clue from melting pot America to one of racism.

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