Miss Marple - Murder At The Gallop [1963]

This adventure starts with the public spirited Miss Marple dragging poor old Stringer round the village collecting for one of her charities. They knock on the door of Mr Enderby, a rich old recluse and, getting no response, they enter the house just in time to see the old fellow clutch his chest and tumble down the stairs. Contrary to Craddock's inevitable conclusion of death by natural causes, Miss Marple's instincts point to murder .... of course. In view of Craddock's usual short-sighted refusal to see sense, Jane has to take the reins and begin the investigation herself. She suspects a member of the old gentleman's family has finished him off in order to inherit a share of his money. The family are staying at a hotel and riding stables business run by Hector Enderby (Robert Morley) so Miss Marple signs in for a riding holiday. As investigations proceed the body count is likely to rise. Will any of the family be left to charge by the end of the investigation? You'll have to watch the film to find out.

I've been trying to get hold of a copy of this film for ages. It's an old favourite from way back. It's just as funny as I remember and I'm delighted with the quality of the sound and picture. If it had been all grainy and crackly I would have enjoyed it anyway but it's all the better for being crisp and clear.

Highly recommended.


It's great!   February 5, 2005
Kurt A. Johnson (Marseilles, IL USA)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

When elderly spinster Jane Marple (played by Margaret Rutherford) witnesses the death of Mr. Enderby, she realizes that this is no accident. Eavesdropping at the reading of the old man's will, she overhears Aunt Cora state categorically that he was murder, and later Aunt Cora is ruthlessly murdered. There's a murder on the loose, and Miss Marple is determined to find out who it is! [Black and White, released in 1963, with a running time of 1 hour, 22 minutes.]

I must admit that my wife and I chanced across this Miss Marple movie after having become great fans of Joan Hickson's interpretation of the role, and were not too happy with it. Later, however, having accepted that this is not Joan Hickson's Miss Marple, but accepting it for its self, we came to love this movie. Margaret Rutherford brings a real presence to the role, adding a touch of humor, and making the story (based on Agatha Christie's "After the Funeral") quite entertaining.

So, if you like a good mystery, or if you like old movies, then I highly recommend this movie to you. It's great!


Excelent murder mystery   April 15, 2001
greven@dse.nl (Netherlands)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

This series of 4 movies starring margareth rutherforth as the well known miss marple are truely addictive to me and my wife and if you like a good murdermystery you will be addicted as well. The scene in which it was filmed in, the cast, all very 50's style. The B/W really gives it a true Christy touch. If only they had these on DVD as well......


Tongue-in-cheek but very ' elementary, my dear Watson......'   October 24, 2000
4 out of 10 found this review helpful

You cannot call this film a classic or a landmark in cinema history, but given the time it was made in, when the British film industry was primarily dependant purely on Bond, Margaret Rutherford, Flora Robson and co present that very traditional British habit of stiff upper lips and 'never say never'. Charles Tingwell is at times too 'official' and overtly embarrassing but given the film's great opening score, and the fact that Marple is able to name the murderer without following up any of the clues that the principal characters are there to offer, it certainly makes the overall effort deserving of five stars - Murder Ahoy was purely hot air, and that bloody baby joke in it became irritating. Incidentally, in Murder at the Gallop, watch out for amongst others, Robert Morley and James Villiers.