Tape-Measure Murder (Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple)

Tape-Measure Murder (巻尺殺人事件 - Makijaku Satsujin Jiken) was a Japanese anime television story produced by Oriental Light and Magic for NHK television. The story was Episode 13 of NHK's anime series Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple. The adaptation was written by Shinzô Fujita, directed by Masakazu Amiya and Naohito Takahashi and first broadcast on 3 October 2004. It was an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story Tape-Measure Murder.

Synopsis
Mabel West gets involved in another murder investigation while visiting her great aunt Miss Marple at St. Mary Mead. A woman is found dead but her husband does not seem to be very upset. Naturally the suspicion falls on him.

Comparison with Original Story
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read) Except for the involvement of Mabel, the plot follows the original story very faithfully except for the ending. The ending is consistent with what is implied in the original story, only here, it has been spun out in greater detail. Mabel's role is actually very small in this story, limited to asking Miss Marple some questions and following her. Oliver has no role in the episode. rea
 * The story opens like in the original with Miss Politt and Miss Hartnell discovering the body of Mrs Spenlow.
 * It is not Palk who comes to interview Miss Marple, but Constable Hearst, who first appeared in Episode 4 as the St. Mary Mead constable. Hearst does have a pin on his coat. He picked it up at the crime scene, just like Palk.
 * Gladys Brent is not mentioned. Miss Marple merely says Hearst that St. Mary Mead is a small village and if the Spenlows had quarrelled, the whole village would know about it. Here the Spenlow's maid, if they have one, does not appear.
 * Miss Marple narrates for Mabel how Mr Spenlow came to Miss Marple to learn about planting flowers. This is told in flashback. This happens in the original story as well.
 * The scene between Slack and Melchett is faithfully reproduced, but with Constable Hearst in attendance. Here it is Hearst who mentions that Mrs Spenlow was a maid of the Abercrombies at the time an emerald was stolen from their house. This fact bothers him but Melchett thinks it is not likely to the related to the present crime.
 * The background of Ted Gerard is slightly simplified. There is no mention of him having once embezzled money. Melchett, Slack and Hearst merely discuss the report that Ted and Mrs Splenlow were often seen together around the village, but Hearst and Slack think it's only to be expected since Ted was the leader of a religious group and Mrs Spenlow was a member. There is no mention of the Oxford Group.
 * The interview between Slack and Miss Marple is also depicted faithfully, with Hearst and Mabel in attendance. After discussing both camps in the village gossip, Miss Marple concludes by saying the case is really quite simple. She would leave it to Hearst to solve, since he picked up a pin, he would have good luck for the day.
 * Mr Spenlow's talk with Miss Marple later is also faithfully reproduced, including his mention of the Chinese philosopher. Here, though, it is Miss Marple who suggests building a pergola and she concludes by saying she would bring a catalogue over to his house.
 * The adaptation now departs somewhat although still following the storyline. After Spenlow leaves, Miss Marple makes a call to ask Colonel Melchett to check something about the time Mrs Spenlow was a maid at the Abercrombies. We are not told what this is about.
 * Mabel accompanies Miss Marple to the post office. Here they actually have a brief conversation with Miss Blade before the latter rushes out to meet the Much Benham bus.
 * Miss Marple and Mabel go upstairs to meet Miss Politt. Here, unlike the original story where she leaves it to Melchett to finalise the case, Miss Marple accuses Miss Politt of the crime and describes how she had done it, and why. Miss Marple also mentions the pin that had been dropped at the murder scene. Because of the way this denouement is arrangement there was no need for Miss Marple to take the tape-measure (the suspected murder weapon).
 * Miss Politt breaks down and just then, Slack and Melchett arrive and take Miss Politt away. (Either Miss Marple prearranged this or they took her hint). Very much in character, Slack praises Miss Marple for being not bad as an amateur while Melchett thanks her for solving the case.
 * Mabel reflects on whether Spenlow would be grieved to know that his wife was an ex-criminal. But Miss Marple says she had meant to confess and atone for her doings. Spenlow would probably accept her for what she was.
 * The show end with Miss Marple visiting Spenlow with her catalogue. Spenlow concludes by saying that intends to plant flowers in memory of his wife.

Characters/Voice talents
Not every character has a credited voice talent
 * Ryûzô Hayashi	as Spenlow
 * Masako Jô as Oliver
 * Fumiko Orikasa as Mabel
 * Kaoru Yachigusa as Miss Marple
 * Constable Hearst
 * Miss Amanda Hartnell
 * Mrs Dorothy Spenlow
 * Miss Politt
 * Inspector Slack
 * Colonel Melchett
 * Gladys Brent
 * Ted Gerard
 * Sir Robert Abercrombie (mentioned)
 * Jim Abercrombie (mentioned)
 * Mrs Blade
 * Uncle Henry - mentioned as parallel
 * Anthony - mentioned as parallel
 * Gordon - mentioned as parallel
 * Edna - mentioned