The Body in the Library (1984 TV film)
Encyclopedia
The Body in the Library is a 1984 television film adaption of Agatha Christie
's 1942 detective novel
The Body in the Library
which was co-produced by the BBC
and the A&E Network
. The film uses an adapted screenplay by T. R. Bowen
and was directed by Silvio Narizzano
. Starring Joan Hickson
in the title role, it was the first film presented in the British television series Miss Marple
and premiered in three parts from December 26 to 28, 1984 on BBC One
. In the United States the film was first broadcast on 4 January 1986 as a part of PBS's Mystery!
. In his review in The New York Times
, critic John J. O'Connor wrote:
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
's 1942 detective novel
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
The Body in the Library
The Body in the Library
The Body in the Library is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie and first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in February 1942 and in UK by the Collins Crime Club in May of the same year. The US edition retailed at $2.00 and the UK edition at seven shillings and sixpence...
which was co-produced by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and the A&E Network
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
. The film uses an adapted screenplay by T. R. Bowen
Trevor Bowen
Trevor Bowen , is an English actor and screenwriter who has appeared frequently in United Kingdom television dramas since the mid 1960s.-Early life:...
and was directed by Silvio Narizzano
Silvio Narizzano
Silvio Narizzano was a Canadian film director, educated at Bishop's University, Quebec.His best received film was Georgy Girl , which was entered into the 16th Berlin International Film Festival...
. Starring Joan Hickson
Joan Hickson
Joan Hickson OBE was an English actress of theatre, film and television, famed for playing Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series Miss Marple.- Wivenhoe :...
in the title role, it was the first film presented in the British television series Miss Marple
Miss Marple (TV series)
Miss Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie. It starred Joan Hickson in the title role, and aired from 1984 to 1992. All twelve original Miss Marple Christie novels have been dramatised. The screenplays were written by T. R...
and premiered in three parts from December 26 to 28, 1984 on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
. In the United States the film was first broadcast on 4 January 1986 as a part of PBS's Mystery!
Mystery!
Mystery! is an episodic television series that debuted in 1980 in the USA. It airs on PBS and is produced by WGBH...
. In his review in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, critic John J. O'Connor wrote:
"Miss Christie would no doubt approve of Joan Hickson, the veteran British character actress who plays Miss Marple... This BBC/Arts & Entertainment co-production offers an especially good example of Agatha Christie in adaptation. The characters are nicely realized and the suspense holds. Miss Hickson is lovely, neither as awesome as Miss RutherfordMargaret RutherfordDame Margaret Taylor Rutherford DBE was an English character actress, who first came to prominence following World War II in the film adaptations of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest...
nor as overly cute as Helen HayesHelen HayesHelen Hayes Brown was an American actress whose career spanned almost 70 years. She eventually garnered the nickname "First Lady of the American Theatre" and was one of twelve people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award...
. And the supporting cast is admirable, particularly Gwen WatfordGwen WatfordGwendoline "Gwen" Watford was an English film, stage, and television actress. She married actor Richard Bebb in 1952....
as Dolly and David HorovitchDavid HorovitchDavid Horovitch is an English actor best known for playing the character of Inspector Slack in Miss Marple.-Life and career:...
as Inspector Slack. As someone notes about the case, 'you'll have to admit it has all the bizarre elements of a cheap thriller.' Once hooked, you won't be able to turn it off."
Plot
Miss Marple aides her neighbours the Bantrys when a lovely young girl is found dead in their library. The girl is traced to a seaside resort and the desperate family of a wealthy old man.Cast
- Joan HicksonJoan HicksonJoan Hickson OBE was an English actress of theatre, film and television, famed for playing Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series Miss Marple.- Wivenhoe :...
as Miss Marple - David HorovitchDavid HorovitchDavid Horovitch is an English actor best known for playing the character of Inspector Slack in Miss Marple.-Life and career:...
as Detective Inspector Slack - Gwen WatfordGwen WatfordGwendoline "Gwen" Watford was an English film, stage, and television actress. She married actor Richard Bebb in 1952....
as Dolly Bantry - Moray WatsonMoray WatsonMoray Watson is an English actor.Watson's father was killed in Belgium in World War II. He was educated at Eton College and made his first appearance on stage whilst still a student at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art at a matinee performance in memory of Ellen Terry at Hythe, Kent...
as Colonel Bantry - Frederick JaegerFrederick JaegerFrederick Jaeger was a German-born actor who found success working in British television.Jaeger was born in Berlin, but moved to England following Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany. He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1948, and became a British citizen two years later...
as Colonel Melchett - Valentine DyallValentine DyallValentine Dyall was an English character actor, the son of veteran actor Franklin Dyall. Dyall was especially popular as a voice actor, due to his very distinctive sepulchral voice, he was known for many years as "The Man in Black", narrator of the BBC Radio horror series Appointment With Fear.In...
as Lorrimer - Anthony SmeeAnthony SmeeAnthony Smee is an English theater producer, writer, and actor who has worked in radio, theatre, television, and film since 1972.-Partial filmography:*You're the Stranger Here *Hilary and Jackie *Parting Shots...
as Basil Blake - Debbie ArnoldDebbie ArnoldJeanette Debbie Arnold is an English actress and voice artiste. She is best known for her work on British television, although she is also a veteran stage actress. She is one of the top voiceover artistes in England.-Career:Arnold was born into showbusiness...
as Dinah Lee - Andrew CruickshankAndrew CruickshankAndrew John Maxton Cruickshank was a Scottish supporting actor, most famous for his portrayal of Dr Cameron in the long-running UK BBC television series, Dr Finlay's Casebook, which ran for 191 episodes from 1962 until 1971.-Life and career:Andrew Cruickshank was born to Andrew and Mary...
as Conway Jefferson - Ciaran MaddenCiaran MaddenCiaran Madden is a British stage, film, and television actress. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and is an Associate Member of the academy...
as Adelaide Jefferson - Keith DrinkelKeith DrinkelKeith Drinkel is a British actor, born in York on 14 November 1944. He was educated at St Michael's College, Leeds and is now based in Brighton....
as Mark Gaskell - Hugh Walters as Mr Prescott
- Jess ConradJess ConradJess Conrad OBE is an actor and singer from England.-Career:Having started his career as a repertory actor and film extra, Jess Conrad was cast in a television play "Bye, Bye Barney" as a pop singer...
as Raymond Starr - Trudie StylerTrudie StylerTrudie Styler is an English actress and producer. She is the second wife of the musician Sting.-Life and career:Styler was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. She attended North Bromsgrove High School, where one of her teachers was Clifford T. Ward...
as Josie Turner - John MoffattJohn Moffatt (actor)John Moffatt is an English actor and playwright, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Hercule Poirot on BBC Radio....
as Edwards - Arthur BostromArthur BostromArthur Bostrom is an English actor, most famous for his role as Officer Crabtree, in the long-running BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!.-Biography:...
as George Bartlett - Stephen ChurchettStephen ChurchettStephen Churchett is a British actor and writer.One of his most notable roles was as solicitor Marcus Christie in EastEnders, on and off from 1990 to 2004....
as Major Reeve - Astra Sheridan as Pamela Reeve
- Raymond FrancisRaymond FrancisRaymond Francis was an English actor best known for his role as Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart in the Associated-Rediffusion detective series Murder Bag, Crime Sheet and No Hiding Place...
as Sir Henry Clithering - Ian Brimble as Detective Constable Lake
- John BardonJohn BardonJohn Bardon, is an English stage and screen actor. He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in 1988 as 'Best Actor in a Musical' for Kiss Me, Kate, sharing the award with co-star Emil Wolk.-Acting career:Bardon is best known for playing Jim Branning in the popular British soap opera EastEnders...
as PC Palk - Anne Rutter as Mrs Palk
- Karin Foley as Mary
- Colin Higgins as Malcolm
- Sarah Whitlock as WPC
- Sydney Livingstone as Mr Brogan
- Andrew Downer as Peter Carmody
- Sally Jane Jackson as Ruby Keene
- Kathleen Breck as Bridget
- Martyn Read as Hugo McLean
- Karen Seacombe as Florrie Small
- John Croft as Inch