The Blue Geranium (Agatha Christie's Marple episode)

The Blue Geranium is the third episode of the fifth series of Agatha Christie's Marple. It was broadcast on ITV by Granada Television on 29 December 2010. The screenplay was written by Stewart Harcourt and the episode was directed by David Moore. It was an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story of the same name.

Synopsis
While visiting her friend Dermot Milewate in Little Ambrose, Miss Marple meets a young man named Eddie Seward on the bus. A few days later he is dead, having apparently been drowned. Within a few days, there is a second suspicious death, that of Mary Pritchard who seems to have died from fright. Inspector Somerset is convinced that the two deaths are murder. The rich Mrs Pritchard is disliked by almost everyone in the village because of her rude behaviour and the way she treats her loving husband George who also has had many affairs. There is no shortage of suspects. A third death - this time one of George Pritchard's former mistresses - convinces Inspector Somerset that George is the murderer. He conveniently confesses. Months later, at the trial, George intends to plead guilty. Then Miss Marple realises she has the wrong man and sets out to clear him.

Comparison with the original story
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read) The adaptation retains the main premise but has been considerably embellished and an ensemble of additional characters has been added to flesh out the original barebones plot and add a host of suspects.

The original story was narrated by Arthur Bantry and Miss Marple was just a listener. Here the Bantrys do not appear and Miss Marple is directly involved from the beginning.

Cast

 * Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple
 * Sharon Small as Mary Pritchard
 * Toby Stephens as George Pritchard
 * Claudie Blakley as Philippa Pritchard
 * Joanna Page as Hester Milewater
 * Claire Rushbrook as Caroline
 * Ian East as John the gardener
 * Kevin McNally as Inspector Somerset
 * Richard Betts as Clerk of the Court
 * Derek Hutchinson as Concierge
 * Donald Sinden as Sir Henry Clithering
 * Jason Durr as Eddie Seward
 * David Calder as Dermot Milewater
 * Paul Rhys as Lewis Pritchard
 * Patrick Baladi as Jonathan Frayn
 * Caroline Catz as Hazel Instow
 * Benjamin Harcourt as Peter Pritchard
 * Thomas Harcourt as Michael Pritchard
 * Molly Harcourt as Susan Pritchard
 * Rebekah Manning as Susan Carstairs
 * Hugh Ross as Lord Justice Carmichael
 * Greg Bennett as Villager (uncredited)
 * Pete Noakes as Party Guest (uncredited)

Other characters mentioned but not cast

 * Robert Milewater

Filming Locations

 * Hatfield House, Hertfordshire - frontage of Sir Henry's gentlemen's club