In "A Caribbean Mystery," Miss Marple is taking a well-deserved vacation on the placid Caribbean island of St. Honoré at the lovely Golden Palm Hotel that offers relaxation, peace of mind, and the absence of stress. One evening during an introduction party, Miss Marple has an opportunity to meet the mind-numbing retired detective Major Palgrave (Oliver Ford Davies) who rattles on-and-on about his past escapades and insists on sharing some old photographs, one of which, he claims, is of a serial killer! With her interest piqued, Marple observes the Major quickly glancing across the room and becomes suddenly astounded when he apparently recognizes a familiar face in the crowd. He quickly tucks the photographs away and seems to be rattled by the scene.
With increasing interest, our sleuth is determined to find out what distracted and upset the old fellow, and while he seems to have had too much to drink, she helps him hobble to his quarters to settle in for the night. Imagine Marple's shock when the Major is discovered dead the next day!
Determined to find the photograph that the Major quickly tucked away after seeing someone he knew across the room, Miss Marple seeks the alliance of grumpy business tycoon Jason Rafiel (Antony Sher) to help unravel clues in a series of deaths that continue to disrupt this paradise. The film has many twists and turns when trying to figure out who this murderer is, but in typical Agatha Christie style, "A Caribbean Mystery" will not disappoint.
"Greenshaw's Folly" takes us to the rambling estate of the deceased Dr. Greenshaw, whose secret laboratory findings from the early 1900's on the research of polio were hidden and kept under lock-and-key, never to be publicly disclosed. Miss Katherine Greenshaw (Fiona Shaw), the doctor's elderly, eccentric daughter and surviving heir, is a botanist with poor vision, for which she makes her own drops as a remedy, and tends to the estate recording herbs and plants in the gardens. Miss Greenshaw is a welcoming sort and her altruistic tendencies benefit family and friends surrounding her, especially the local Catholic orphanage run by Father Brophy (Robert Glenister).
When Louisa Oxley (Kimberly Nixon) and her young son, Archie (Bobby Smalldridge), must escape to a safe-house from an abusive spouse, Greenshaw's good friend, Miss Marple, finds the mansion a welcoming place for the hiding of a mother and child.
As Louisa settles into a new job as secretary at the estate and meets the staff, she begins to feel comfortable and safe. Mystery starts to occur when the butler, Walter Cracken (Vic Reeves), falls to his death while replacing a failing light bulb. Then Mr. Horace Bindler (Rufus Jones), a guest researching historical facts of the estate, goes a-missing, and snooping ole Miss Marple discovers some secrets hidden away.
Further complicating the events of the mansion are sightings of a ghost in the estate, the discovery of a body, and a mysterious figure is seen prowling on the grounds. With questions and suspicions raised, Marple is hunting out all clues and evidence to solve these crimes and restore peace to the Greenshaw estate.
"Greenshaw's Folly" was a new show to me, but with a collection of characters that always make you wonder if they really are who they presume to be. Add in the mysterious deaths, the secret laboratory, and the hidden experiments that the polio doctor performed and it combines to be quite a mystery. It's all quite mysterious and alluring as you mentally urge Marple to dig deeper into the affair to bring justice and peace to this confounded family.
Finally, Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 6 concludes this trilogy with "Endless Night," written by Agatha Christie but not including the character of Miss Marple. However, she is introduced into the mix in this film adaptation. Although Marple wasn't originally included in the story as written, this rendition seemed to flow well to me, although I admittedly haven't read Christie's original book.
"Endless Night" is a story about a beautiful couple falling in love with each other and a magnificent piece of property. A profound mansion is built to house their love and romance, but disaster in the form of a gypsy curse knocks at the door, and the young couple must face the challenges of life -- and death -- too soon.
I thought the two main characters, Mike (Tom Hughes) and Ellie (Joanna Vanderham) were exquisite. As was mentioned in the bonus material, the intention was to cast someone as Ellie that was reminiscent of Princess Grace Kelly. With her flawless beauty and innocence, her character was completely captured in a quiet elegance. Mike, on the other hand, who is not only an actor but a model, was perfectly cast, and as a couple, they were extraordinarily beautiful in their hearts and soul.
Meeting on the magnificent but cursed land, the couple fall in love with the setting and each other. This love affair culminates in marriage, honeymoon, idyllic love and romance, topped off with the exquisite and enchanting presence of the Homewood House, designed and built as a gift to Mike from a lifelong friend who wanted to try to compensate him for trying to save his younger brother from a drowning accident when they were young. The tale weaves forward as intrusive characters try to inflict their desires and personalities on the couple's relationship.
There is a love of horses, a folly in the woods for intimate love trysts, a dedicated governess, a slighted jealous mother, and the fact that Ellie is incredibly wealthy, wanting for nothing in this world for herself or her husband. But an eerie atmosphere penetrates the mood and mystery of their fantasy love as the plot seems to adapt a new and intense meaning and revelation of things not being as they seem.
Bonus features in Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 6 include photo galleries of cast and crew, a biographical account of Homewood House, and comments on Endless Night. The writing was enthralling, the acting brilliant, and especially the music and mood were spectacular -- all done in the style of the brilliant author who never fails to entertain, Dame Agatha Christie.
Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 6 is an engrossing and exciting season of minds set on murder. Settle down with your comforter, a cup of tea, a stormy night, and your cuddly pet for company, and watch this amazing Marple series.
