MURDER AT THE GALLOP

This is the second in a series of four films starring Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie’s Miss Jane Marple, and the studio was clearly very happy to repeat à winning formula since the structure of this picture is identical to the first.

In both Jane is witness to a murder, is not believed by the police, inserts herself among the suspects, and then traps the killer by using herself as bait.

Again the suspects are primarily members of a family who stand to inherit money, and the film ends with the head of the family proposing marriage to Jane.

In this case the patriarch is played by Robert Morley, and the scenes between him and Rutherford are a delight naturally.

Also very funny is the dance scene towards the end in which Jane and Mr Stringer energetically do the Twist.  And Jane's outfit is something to behold!

My main gripe is that as with the first film there's very little detection as such.  Although Jane claims to have worked out who the killer is it's very hard to see how she did this, and in fact it's not really necessary when the murderer, once thwarted in their attempt to do away with Jane, simply confesses to the murder.

The plot is loosely based on a Christie novel that actually featured Hercule Poirot, 'After The Funeral'.  The screenwriter simplifies the story to such a degree, and the explanation is so skimpy, that I was left totally confused as regards a key plot point, namely the picture that provides the motive.  Who owned it?  How does Jane work out it is valuable?  How does she get hold of it?

I was also left unclear as to whether the initial death, of Mr Enderby, was simply an accident that the murderer cleverly took advantage of.  

Best I guess not to fret too much about these details and just enjoy the vibe.