The Moving Finger (Miss Marple episode)

The Moving Finger is the second episode of the TV film series Miss Marple starring Joan Hickson. It was broadcast in two parts by the BBC 21–22 February 1985. The screenplay was written by Julia Jones, and the episode was directed by Roy Boulting. It is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.

Comparison with original novel
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read) The adaptation is very close to the original novel with only a few differences:
 * The action takes place at Lymston and not Lymstock with the house named "The Furze" and not "Little Furze".
 * Miss Marple arrives at Lymston earlier than in the novel, almost as soon as Jerry receives the first of the letters.
 * The character of Agnes Woddell is eliminated so the second murder victim becomes Beatrice who left Little Furze to work for the Symmingtons.
 * Beatrice's body was found by Megan slightly later than in the book, not the same evening but the next day.
 * Megan does not go to stay at "Little Furze" after her mother dies.
 * The show ends with the denouement. There is no mention of Jerry Burton marrying Megan or Joanna marrying Dr Griffith, although Miss Marple hints that both couples are good matches.

Cast

 * Joan Hickson as Miss Marple
 * Michael Culver as Edward Symmington
 * Elizabeth Counsell as Angela Symmington
 * Deborah Appleby as Megan Hunter
 * Lucy Gleeson as Robert Symmington
 * Stuart Mansfield as James Symmington
 * Andrew Bicknell as Gerry Burton
 * Sabina Franklyn as Joanna Burton
 * Richard Pearson as Mr Pye
 * Hilary Mason as Emily Barton
 * Dilys Hamlett as Maud Calthrop
 * John Arnatt as Rev. Guy Calthrop
 * Sandra Payne as Eryl Griffith
 * Martin Fisk as Owen Griffith
 * Penelope Lee as Partridge
 * Juliet Waley as Beatrice
 * Imogen Bickford-Smith as Elsie Holland
 * Gerald Sim as Coroner
 * Geoffrey Davion as Police Superintendent Nash
 * Ninka Scott as Miss Ginch
 * Patsy Smart as Mrs Cleat
 * Gordon Rollings as Mr Cleat
 * Michael Waterman as George Ellis
 * Roger Ostime as Detective Inspector Crawford
 * Victor Maddern as P.C. Johnson
 * Catherine Owen as Rose
 * Carol Gleeson as Contralto (Mrs Dovesby)
 * John Keenan as Pianist