Murder at the Gallop Reviews

Taken from Agatha Christie's After the Funeral, MURDER AT THE GALLOP is another mystery romp featuring Christie's female detective Rutherford (as Miss Marple). This time Rutherford's legendary scene-stealing abilities are matched by Morley as these two British character actors go at each other, but in a tongue-in-cheek manner. Rutherford and Davis are busily collecting alms for "The Reformed Criminals League," one of her favorite charities, when they witness the death of Currie. He is frightened by a cat and drops dead immediately. The police automatically ascribe this demise to a weak heart, but Rutherford isn't so sure and attends the reading of the dead man's will. It is there that she learns the old coot had a lot of money, which he has left to four members of his family. Currie's sister also suspects foul play and is soon rewarded for her suspicions by a quick and painful exit. Robson, Currie's sister's friend, accuses Rutherford of having done the old man in, but the inspector, Tingwell, clears Rutherford so she is free to continue her snooping. Rutherford is now determined to get to the bottom of this, so she moves into the riding club (The Gallop) owned by Currie's nephew, Morley. Once ensconced, she learns that the three remaining heirs are all interested in acquiring what is an apparently worthless painting owned by the late woman. The picture in question is, in fact, a French masterpiece worth a bundle of francs. Another relative, Urquhart, bites the dust, and Rutherford has an idea of who the killer is but not enough evidence to prove her allegation. She goes into a wild dance and pretends to have a heart attack as she yells, "I know who the murderer is," then drops to the ground. She's placed in a room to recover, and the killer slips in to dispatch the tweedy spinster. But the murderer, Robson, didn't count on Rutherford's pluck and is soon nabbed by Tingwell, who was alerted by Rutherford to the attempt on her life. As she is about to leave the riding academy, Morley proposes marriage to Rutherford but she declines. It must have been Pollock's life's desire to direct such brilliant performers, and he makes the most of it in one of the best of the "Miss Marple" films starring Rutherford. The same writers also wrote the screenplays for the pictures that preceded and followed this. They had the formula down pat.