A Caribbean Mystery *** (1983, Helen Hayes, Barnard Hughes, Jameson Parker) – Classic Movie Review 9650

Director Robert Michael Lewis’s 1983 TV movie A Caribbean Mystery stars Helen Hayes, who successfully takes on the part of Miss Jane Marple at the age of 83 for an excellent Agatha Christie mystery.

Miss Marple takes a break from her holiday knitting to investigate when her friend, a retired British major, Geoffrey Palgrave (Maurice Evans), is bumped off at a Caribbean resort (actually it was filmed in Santa Barbara, California) just before he can reveal a killer’s identity to her.

Hayes is brisk and capable, and it is all very smooth and satisfying.

Also in the cast are Barnard Hughes as the grouchy old millionaire Mr Rafiel, Jameson Parker as Tim Kendall, Season Hubley as Molly Kendall, Swoosie Kurtz, Stephen Macht, Beth Howland, Maurice Evans, Brock Peters, Cassie Yates, Zakes Mokae, Lynne Moody, George Innes, and Michael Preston.

The screenplay is by Sue Grafton, later a mystery writer, and Steve Humphrey.

It first aired 22 October 1983.

The BBC remade this tale (as Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery) with Joan Hickson as Miss Marple in 1989.

In 2013, it was adapted again for the sixth series of ITV’s Agatha Christie’s Marple, starring Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple and Antony Sher as Jason Rafiel.

The 1989 version is the only adaptation shot in the Caribbean – on location on the island of Barbados. The 2013 version was filmed in Cape Town.

A Caribbean Mystery is directed by Robert Michael Lewis, runs 95 minutes, is made by The Stan Margulies Company and Warner Bros Television, is released by CBS (1983) (US) (TV), is written by Sue Grafton and Steve Humphrey, based on the novel by Agatha Christie,  is shot by Ted Voightlander, is produced by Stan Margulies and is scored by Lee Holdridge.

Double Oscar-winner Helen Hayes had previously made the Christie movie Murder Is Easy and went on to make just one more Marple movie, Murder with Mirrors. She won Oscars for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) and Airport (1970). She was a Golden Globe nominee for Anastasia (1956) and Herbie Rides Again (1974).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9650

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