Murder at the Gallop (1963)

Director:

George Pollock

Writers:

James P. Cavanagh (screenplay)
Agatha Christie (novel)

Release Date:

December 1963 (Austria)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

(The Raciest Mystery of the Season!)

Plot:

When a wealthy old man appears to have been "frightened to death" by a cat, Miss Marple suspects one of his four relatives, all heirs to his estate, of his murder.

Plot Keywords:

Miss Marple | Murder | Cat | Heart Attack | Heart Failure

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Margaret Rutherford	...	Miss Marple
Stringer Davis	...	Mr. Stringer
Robert Morley	...	Hector Enderby
Flora Robson	...	Miss Milchrest
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Inspector Craddock (as Charles Tingwell)
Gordon Harris	...	Sergeant Bacon
Robert Urquhart	...	George Crossfield
Katya Douglas	...	Rosamund Shane
James Villiers	...	Michael Shane
Noel Howlett	...	Mr. Trundell
Finlay Currie	...	Old Enderby
Duncan Lamont	...	Hillman
Kevin Stoney	...	Doctor Markwell
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Atkinson	...	Hotel Night Porter (uncredited)
Roger Avon	...	Police Photographer (uncredited)
Jack Dearlove	...	Party guest (uncredited)
Fred Griffiths	...	Pub Landlord (uncredited)

Directed by
George Pollock

Writing credits
James P. Cavanagh		(screenplay)
Agatha Christie		(novel "After the Funeral")

Produced by
George H. Brown	....	producer
Lawrence P. Bachmann	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ron Goodwin

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Rule

Casting by
Irene Howard

Art Direction by
Frank White

Makeup Department
Eddie Knight	....	makeup artist
Pearl Orton	....	hairdressing

Production Management
Sydney Streeter	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Basil Rayburn	....	assistant director
Edward Dorian	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Barry	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Bowen	....	sound recordist
Denis Rogers	....	sound editor (as Dennis Rogers)
J.B. Smith	....	dubbing mixer
A.W. Watkins	....	recording supervisor

Special Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator
John Hardman	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maude Churchill	....	wardrobe
Masada Wilmot	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)

Music Department
Ron Goodwin	....	conductor

Other crew
Betty Harley	....	continuity

Production Companies

• George H. Brown Productions (for) (uncredited)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios (presents) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1963) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Turner Entertainment (1990) (worldwide) (all media)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Video (19??) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (200?) (UK) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Murder at the Gallop (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12 | UK:U | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

George H. Brown Productions

Trivia:

When reporting the second murder to the police on the phone, Miss Marple uses the words "Murder most foul", which also is the title of one of the following Miss Marple movies.

Goofs:

Plot holes: All that business about the plaster cast matching the boot stirrup mark really didn't have anything to do with solving the crime. So how did it show up in the first place at the murdered Enderby house?

Quotes:

Michael Shane: All right, so I lied to the Policeman that morning, about riding. What difference does it make?
Rosamund Shane: Depends what you were doing.
Michael Shane: Well, I had some business, in the City.
Rosamund Shane: Did you? I hope it was to say goodbye to her.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Murder Ahoy (1964)

Charming family entertainment

I have not read the book on which the film is based--but I understand it was a Hercule Poirot book not a Miss Marple book. Anyway in Christie's novels with Miss Marple there was no "Mr Stringer" the real life husband of Dame Margaret Rutherford. But it is Dame Margaret and Stringer Davis that makes the Marple films come alive apart from Ron Goodwin's charming score.

This is the first movie I have seen in which the author of the book on which the film is based is discussed. This movie will not survive trenchant criticism--it is best viewed as a fun movie with loads of British humour.

What strikes you is that the film is really a women's film, with even Robert Morley having to take a back seat to Dame Margaret and Dame Flora Robson who steal the show.

Of the films in the series, 'Murder Ahoy' I thought was most charming because of the supporting cast and a stronger role for Mr Stringer. "Murder at the gallop" has a weaker story and screenplay in comparison. Yet all these Miss Marple films can be enjoyed by one and all, years after they were made.