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14 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
If you have heart... you will love this one., 19 February 2007
10/10
Author: mary-marland1 from United Kingdom

I give this a 10 out of 10, not because the plot was hard to uncover because it wasn't... but because it leaves one caring for the characters. The acting, by all the cast, is superb, especially Joan Hickson, and it's a marvellous episode because of it's heart.

Miss Marple is called upon by Jason Rafiel's dying request to investigate, and solve, a murder that happened some seven or eight years previously, and she has to discover who, why and when as she goes along. Mr Rafiel is the same Rafiel as was in A Caribbean Mystery and so there is a sense of a connection here.

Nemesis is definitely one for the amateur psychologists among us, and if you are one of those who is only happy with lots of blood, guts and rip-roaring action sequences, then you won't like it. But if you are like me, one who loves knowing about PEOPLE and discovering what makes them tick, then Nemesis is the one for you.

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15 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
The best of the Miss Marple adaptations, 17 July 2001
Author: davism-1 from United States

Joan Hickson is at her peak in her portrayal of Agatha Christie's amateur detective character Miss Jane Marple. The title "Nemesis" is the key to the way in which the character is presented: Miss Marple, despite her appearance as a rather confused spinster, is in fact, a relentless avenger of a long-forgotten murder. She seeks justice, despite where the results may lead, on behalf of an old friendship. Hickson depicts Miss Marple as an unyielding force; far from the doddering old lady she might seem on the surface. The best version of Miss Marple, bar none.

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
My favourite piece of television ****Spoiler*****, 11 May 2007
10/10
Author: Paul Evans from Swansea, United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I have waited for ages to comment on this programme, and felt it was about time some justice was done to it. This is one of Christie's darker, more sinister and engaging works, not simply someone being killed for money, this is a dark and thoroughly engaging tale of mystery, intrigue, love and murder, made all the better by the amendments made by the adaptor. The level of acting is utterly superb, Joan Hickson is sublime in the part, as always! The rest of the cast, including the likes of Liz Fraser, Anna Cropper and Helen Cherry all perform beautifully, but it's my opinion that the show is stolen by Margaret Tyzack, the closing scene between her and Joan Hickson is simply magical, the acting is as good as it gets, chilling, moving and totally brilliant.

Please let me know if you agree with my words. I am seriously looking forward to the remake to see how well Geraldine McEwan's version is. Watch and enjoy.

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10 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
There are no small parts..., 19 January 2006
8/10
Author: Pieter050 from The Netherlands

As always Joan Hickson is wonderful as Jane M. Subtle, sharp and aware. I do not wish to dwell on her acting skills as they are praised enough on this site. I would like to criticize some of the smaller parts as the rest of the cast seemed to be hand picked by director David Tucker.

Liz Fraser's performance as Mrs. Bent (the mother of the missing girl Nora) is a joy to watch. Subtle and deeply moving as the alcohol-depending grieving mother who loves and misses her daughter desperately. A good long shot of her monologue (thanks Tucker!) so she can be enjoyed to the fullest. I was moved when I saw her the first time when it was broadcast and I am moved again, now I have it on DVD. Brava.

Joanna Hole as Madge the tour-guide I find highly amusing. She is on the edge of over-acting but her role can have it. She is SO funny as the over-organized guide who wants to do good with everyone on that bus, I find her hilarious. Her reaction after she boarded every-one on the bus is great... As always: to perform comedy one has to take it very seriously, and that's what Ms Hole does.

I do hope those two ladies have good careers (as I live in Holland I do not know if they have, not all theater productions can be googled...) -their performances on the screen deserve it.

Pieter

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12 out of 16 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent, 10 August 2000
Author: musician76_76 from Lansing, MICHIGAN

This brilliantly done Agatha Christie is by far the best Miss Marple movie. I enjoyed it better than the Book, at least the movie was easier to understand than the book. Joan Hickson is excellent, the only Miss Marple. Very strong performances by Peter Tilbury, Margaret Tyzack, Helen Cherry, and John Horsley. This is an excellent video, no Agatha Christie fan should miss this.

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Yes Indeed!, 9 February 2008
10/10
Author: fkd1963

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I totally agree with the other poster. NEMESIS is one of the best of the Christie adaptations with a superlative plot and cast.

The scene involving Liz Fraser as the mother of the murder victim is a study in acting at the finest level. This underrated woman was a fave in Brit films in the 1960s who never got a mainstream break in US films. Check her out as Julie Andrews's friend in the 1964 THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY.

All of the perfs in this prod have a chance to shine with and without the peerless Ms. Hickson who was never nommed for an Emmy for her Marple work. Shame on them! And dig the lesbian CID agents! :)

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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Best of the lot, 6 February 2006
Author: mjtsmm2027 from London

I thought this was probably the best of the Hickson adaptations. It also deviates from the book in many ways and is better for it. The new Marple is receiving criticism for being too altered from their source and yet this adaptation is completely. There is no Lionel in the book at all and Miss Temple's murder is completely different. There is something more moving about this tale than others, mainly as a result of the wonderful 3 sisters who as Miss marple says 'the world has changed and they haven't changed with it'. Fond memories of more carefree days long ago, a feeling which age can only destroy. Lovely adaptation and watchable on more than one occasion.

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9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Justice for a dead girl, 19 December 2001
Author: jaybabb (jaybabb@clearwire.net) from Lewiston, Idaho

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Herein is the situation: Jason Rafiel-an old man in a wheel chair is perhaps near death-makes some arrangements for a number of people in his will and they will get a financial award if they carry out his wishes. Objective? To achieve justice in a murder case that has since gone cold. A young girl was murdered 7 or 8 years ago and Rafiel wants justice. Lets meet some of these people now:

All of these people, (well almost all) go on a houses and garden tour-they do have something to do with each other, though they don't know it.

**Miss Marple-elderly spinster from St. Mary Mead-is called to solve a crime-what crime? She gets a letter from Rafiel lawyers asking her to see them. She eventually figures out what crime she is to investigate.

**Norma Brent & Verity Hunt-disappear at the same time. Verity was found in a ditch 6 months later-as for Norma Brent-she was never found-or is she?

**Miss Temple-school teacher. One of her pupils was Verity. Her death was painful to her. She tells miss Marple that she died because she was loved. She also says that Verity was engaged to Rafiel's son, Michael. She knows something, and she becomes a victim of murder. On her death bead-she tells her to ask them about Verity because "The truth was buried with her."

**Michael Rafiel-Mr. Rafiel's son. Was arrested and questioned about the death of Verity-was prime suspect in the murder, but was never brought to trial. He was engaged to Verity. He is also the Sole Heir to his father's fortune-but is required to live in "Rafiel House" to get it. My advice: Don't depend on appearances when it comes to Michael.

**Professor Wanstead-is with the home office-specializing in criminal psychology. He is to stay in the shadows and observe what is happening.

**Miss Cooke & Miss Barrow are miss Marple's body guards. Rafiel knew that he was putting her in danger. Their job is complicated when she agrees to stay with "The Three sisters" At the Manor house-where Verity lived and the Bradfurd Scotts where her guardians.

**Finally we have Archdeacon Brabazon-minister who once Advised Michael and Verity on getting married-plans are canceled by murder. His role is even more clear in the book. He knows something about Michael.

This is by far the best of the Miss Marple TV Productions. Enjoy!

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Really excellent version, 5 April 2008
9/10
Author: Iain-215 from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

'Nemesis' was the last book to feature Miss Marple written by Agatha Christie (the official final case 'Sleeping Murder' was written in the forties) and I've always had a very soft spot for it. I loved the characters and they are lovingly brought to life in this excellent BBC adaptation with Joan Hickson, terrific as ever, as Miss Marple.

On the whole it is very faithful to the book. A few characters are dropped, the first (new) murder is slightly different and a couple of new characters are introduced. Personally I felt that the added character of Lionel Peel was unnecessary and rather irritating. Tour guide Madge was irritating in a different way but often quite amusing. It's largely because of Lionel that I don't award 10 out of 10! The other characters are beautifully done especially Helen Cherry as a dignified Miss Temple and all of the three weird sisters but particularly Margaret Tyzack who gives a towering performance as Clothilde. She threatens to go over the top towards the end but just avoids it. The female bodyguards are good value too and the episode contains one of my favourite Hickson lines...'An Archdeacon?!'

This is another relatively early BBC Marple that looks wonderful and is has a gloriously nostalgic feel to it. Highly recommended.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Slow, but one of the better entries in the series, 27 September 2008
7/10
Author: gridoon2009

What often gets overlooked in Agatha Christie's stories is her progressive, anti-conservative attitude on a number of issues - from the role of women to the effects of tradition to people's belief in the supernatural. In "Nemesis", you can spot a lot of those subtexts - but you can also find a good old-fashioned intriguing mystery that keeps you in the dark for most of its length. Also lifting "Nemesis" above other series entries ("They Do It With Mirrors", "4:50 From Paddington", etc.), is the fact that in the crucial moments before and after the revelation of the killer you can actually feel the suspense. And finally, Jane Booker is welcome to guard my body any time. (***)

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