Searching for clues at the local hop. Possibly while hopped up. Later, they were hopping mad.
Murder at the Gallop (1963) is a bit unusual. It’s a movie derived from an Agatha Christie novel that switches the lead detective from the famed Hercule Poirot to the nearly as famed Miss Marple, and it incorporates a more broad form of humor than do most, or all, of Christie’s works. I often think Christie is hiding just a bit of a grin as she sticks it to the target British stereotypes du jour, but this work takes advantage of several opportunities to go for the guffaws.
And, for all that, it is a successful show on its own terms. Marple is, possibly, a bit more aggressive than she often is in other shows, but enjoyably so, and the evil-doer is just one of a cast of reproachable and reprobates. Said cast are potential heirs to the fortune of their brother, who fell down the stairs to Marple’s witnessing. But what does he have that’s so valuable? My Arts Editor actually cringed when we examined the art due to be transferred. And, so, we’re off and running!
Throw in excellent acting, admirable cinematography, a nice plot, and quirky characters, and it makes for a lovely hour and a half or more of light detecting.
