Murder at the Gallop (1963)

This film was released the same year that lead Margaret Rutherford played Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII in The Mouse on the Moon (1963) which in addition to her Miss Marple role in this one probably contributed to the actress receiving her only Academy recognition; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing the Duchess of Brighton in The V.I.P.s (1963). The film follows Murder She Said (1961) and precedes Murder Ahoy (1964) and Murder Most Foul (1964); all four feature Rutherford (as novelist Agatha Christie’s Marple) Stringer Davis and Charles Tingwell.

Directed by George Pollock (who was also the director of the other three listed above) and based on the Christie novel After the Funeral with a screenplay by James P. Cavanagh this charming murder mystery features Rutherford as Miss Marple a kindly old Britisher known by the local police inspector (Craddock played by Tingwell) who collects money for reformed criminals and solves cases. Craddock isn’t even sure there’s a case to be solved but he respects Miss Marple even if he doesn’t take what she has to say seriously all the time; she’s assisted by an equally elderly Mr. Stringer (Davis). The suspects in this particular crime which begins after the death of a wealthy estate owner and friend of Marple and Stringer’s named Enderby (Finlay Currie) that was originally ruled a heart attack include: Robert Morley as Hector Enderby the man’s nephew who’s also the owner-manager of the Gallop a hotel for hunters that includes stables; Flora Robson as Miss Milchrest the servant of Enderby’s long estranged sister Cora; Enderby’s fourth cousin George Crossfield (Robert Urquhart); Enderby’s niece Rosamund Shane (Katya Douglas) and her husband Michael (James Villiers); all are present for the reading of the will. Naturally each is a suspect with a financial motive in the original crime but some become victims of subsequent murders which begins to narrow that list.

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