4.50 from Paddington (1987) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Martyn Friend

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
T.R. Bowen (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 February 1987 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

A friend of Miss Marple's sees a woman being strangled in a passing train through the window of hers. When police cannot find a body and doubt the story, Miss Marple enlists her niece to go undercover.

Plot Keywords:

Miss Marple | Train | Estate | Sarcophagus | Manor House

Cast

Joan Hickson	...	Miss Jane Marple
Juliette Mole	...	Anna Stravinska
David Beames	...	Bryan Eastley
Mona Bruce	...	Mrs. McGillicuddy
Nicholas Blane	...	Paddington Porter
Katy Jarrett	...	Mary
Leslie Adams	...	Desk Sergeant
David Horovitch	...	Detective Inspector Slack
Ian Brimble	...	Detective Sergeant Lake
Rhoda Lewis	...	Mrs. Brogan
Jill Meager	...	Lucy Eyelesbarrow
Joanna David	...	Emma Crackenthorpe
Maurice Denham	...	Luther Crackenthorpe
Andrew Burt	...	Dr. John Quimper
Pamela Pitchford	...	Mrs. Kidder
Christopher Haley	...	Alexander Eastley
Daniele Stroppa	...	James Stoddart-West (as Daniel Steel)
Bernard Brown	...	Harold Crackenthorpe
Robert East	...	Alfred Crackenthorpe
John Hallam	...	Cedric Crackenthorpe
Alan Penn	...	Patmore
David Waller	...	Chief Inspector Duckham
Will Tacey	...	Arthur Wimborne
Jean Boht	...	Madame Joliet
David Allen	...	Pianist
Naomi Sorkin	...	Dancer
Derek Deane	...	Dancer
Emma Hitching	...	Francoise
Richard Ashley	...	Detective Sergeant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Hoye	...	PC Jones (uncredited)

Directed by
Martyn Friend

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(novel)
T.R. Bowen		(screenplay)

Produced by
George Gallaccio	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Howard

Cinematography by
John Walker		(photography)

Film Editing by
Bernard Ashby

Production Design by
Raymond Cusick		(as Ray Cusick)

Costume Design by
Judy Pepperdine

Makeup Department
Sylvia Thornton	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Peter Markham	....	production manager

Art Department
Paul Birkbeck	....	title illustrations
Linda Sherwood-Page	....	graphic designer
Francis Smith	....	props buyer

Sound Department
Malcolm Campbell	....	sound recordist
Colin Goudie	....	dubbing editor
Michael Horwood	....	dubbing mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Turner	....	gaffer
Mike House	....	grip (uncredited)
John Ward	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jane Spicer	....	costume assistant

Music Department
John Altman	....	musical director
Alan Blaikley	....	composer: title music
Ken Howard	....	composer: title music

Other crew
Kate Bradley	....	location manager
Martin Coates	....	assistant floor manager
Patricia Greenland	....	production assistant
Julia L. Jones	....	assistant floor manager
Anna Kalnars	....	production associate
Verity Smith	....	assistant floor manager

Production Companies

• 7 Network
• A&E Television Networks
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1987) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• A&E Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• A&E Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• A&E Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• A&E Television Networks (198?) (USA) (TV)
• Just Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: 4:50 from Paddington (USA)
Miss Marple: 4.50 from Paddington (UK) (series title)

Runtime:

UK:110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Marylebone Station, Marylebone, London, England, UK

Company:

7 Network

Quotes:

Miss Jane Marple: But of course you must go on searching, Inspector! Now you might say that Elspeth is not a sophisticated person, but, I assure you, she has both feet firmly on the ground. She saw what she saw!

Movie Connections:

Follows Sleeping Murder (1987) (TV)

Joan Hickson trivia

I've been a mystery fan for most of my life and particularly fond of Agatha Christie's well known characters, Jane Marple and Hercules Poirot. I was surprised recently when viewing one of the old films in my collection, "Murder, She Said" from 1961. This was the first of four movies starring Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. The film was loosely based on Christie's "4.50 From Paddington". Marple poses as a domestic to investigate a murder. One of the other servants in the home is played by none other than Joan Hickson. This may not be completely relevant in commenting upon the later version, but I thought it was interesting that Hickson appeared in a Marple film 26 years before this one was released. The Rutherford movies aren't very faithful to Christie, but they're very entertaining. However, if you're an avid Miss Marple fan, you'll be overjoyed with these productions featuring Hickson. She truly embodies Agatha's character like no other actress. I highly recommend these to any mystery fan.