Murder at the Gallop
| Murder at the Gallop | |
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 Theatrical release poster by Tom Jung |
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| Directed by | George Pollock |
| Written by | James P. Cavanagh (screenplay) |
| Based on | After the Funeral by Agatha Christie |
| Starring | Margaret Rutherford Stringer Davis Robert Morley Flora Robson Bud Tingwell |
| Music by | Ron Goodwin |
| Cinematography | Arthur Ibbetson |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | 1963 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English German |
Murder at the Gallop is the second of four films made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, based on the novels After the Funeral and At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie, and starring Margaret Rutherford as Miss Jane Marple, Charles "Bud" Tingwell as Inspector Craddock and Stringer Davis (Rutherford's real-life husband) as Mr. Stringer. The film changes the action and the characters. Hercule Poirot is replaced by Miss Marple and Christie's trademark suspense with light comedy.
It was made in 1963 and directed by George Pollock, with James P. Cavanagh credited with the adaptation. The music was by Ron Goodwin.
[edit] Plot
Whilst Miss Marple and Mr Stringer are soliciting donations for a charity, they visit Mr Enderby, a rich and eccentric recluse. He tumbles down a staircase, apparently the victim of a fatal heart attack. However, knowing that Enderby had a pathological fear of cats, Miss Marple becomes suspicious when she finds one in the house. When she goes to Inspector Craddock, he is sceptical.
Undeterred, Miss Marple eavesdrops when the family gather for the reading of the Will. Each of the four heirs receives an equal share of the estate. His sister Cora declares that she believes he was murdered. The next day, when Miss Marple goes to see her, she finds Cora dead, murdered by a hatpin in the back. Cora's companion of many years, timid Miss Milchrest, can provide little information.
Miss Marple decides to take a "holiday" at the Gallop Hotel/riding school, as it is run by Cora's nephew Hector Enderby (Robert Morley) and the other two heirs are staying there. One of them, art expert/dealer George Crossfield, discovers the identity of the murderer, but is locked in a stall with an excitable horse and perishes. An attempt is made to do away with Miss Marple herself, but is foiled by the intended victim (without her even realising it).
By this point, Miss Marple knows the identity and motive of the killer, but has no definitive proof. She therefore lays a trap, pretending to have a heart attack at a dance at the hotel (while doing the Twist with Stringer). The police doctor has her placed in a room by herself, declaring it too dangerous to move her until morning. During the night, the criminal makes one last attempt to silence her, but Miss Marple is ready. The killer is revealed to be Miss Milchrest disguised as Cora. She had been after Cora's seemingly worthless painting.
[edit] Cast
- Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple
- Stringer Davis as Mr. Stringer
- Robert Morley as Hector Enderby
- Flora Robson as Miss Milchrest
- Bud Tingwell as Inspector Craddock
- Gordon Harris as Sergeant Bacon
- Robert Urquhart as George Crossfield
- Katya Douglas as Rosamund Shane, an heir
- James Villiers as Michael Shane, Rosamund's husband
- Noel Howlett as Mr. Trundell
- Finlay Currie as Old Enderby
- Duncan Lamont as Hillman
- Kevin Stoney as Doctor Markwell
- Frank Atkinson as Hotel Night Porter (uncredited)
- Roger Avon as Police Photographer (uncredited)
[edit] External links
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