gridoon2024 Review of Murder Ahoy

Murder Ahoy (1964)

Probably the weakest of the four, but still fun to watch

[6/10 · 31 December 2011]

If the filmmakers of the Marple series with Margaret Rutherford made the rather audacious decision of basing two of their stories on Hercule Poirot books, in "Murder Ahoy" they went one step further by making up a whole new story with Miss Marple! It's actually a pretty solid mystery, but although it has the "Christie formula", it lacks the "Christie touch". The characters of the suspects (apart from the mostly comic-relief captain of the ship where most of the action takes place on) are not distinct enough to make you care "whodunit" as much as you should (though there is one great red herring near the end). Nevertheless, Rutherford is still great fun to watch as Miss Marple, with some memorable lines ("Softly softly catchee monkey!"), and she looks smashing in her naval uniform. This film also has the most outrageous climax of the series, with Marple engaging in an extended swordfight!! **1/2 out of 4.