The best Miss Marple of them all! (Spoilers)
Let me start by saying that "A Murder Is Announced" is my favorite Agatha Christie book and one that I re-read every 3 or 4 years. Besides the ingenious plot, it contains some of my favorite Christie characters: the endearing Bunny and Amy Murgatroyd and the unforgettable Miss Blacklock.
The Joan Hickson 1985 version is also the best Miss Marple on film. By far. The cast is beyond terrific: Renee Asherson is the perfect lovable, muddle-headed Bunny (the 2005 Geraldine McEwan version had Elaine "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" Paige as an unrecognizable Bunny); Nicola King is lovely as Philipa and Simon Shepherd, with his matinee idol looks, makes a dashing and believable Patrick. All the cast is wonderful but especial mention must go to Samantha Bond who almost- not quite, but almost- unbalances the movie with her gorgeous, fresh beauty and her riveting personality- difficult to look away from her when she's in the scene. And Ursula Howells, the quintessential Miss Blacklock- just as I envisioned her in the pages of the book.
The Geraldine McEwan version is not bad at all- how could it be with such a great actress as Zoe Wanamaker in the principal role! However, Miss Wanamaker is such a formidable presence that she makes all the other actors pale by comparison and fade into the background, especially all the four younger ones. But it contains two masterful inventions. Having Mitzi overhear the "Who wasn't there" discussion at the butcher shop and telling Miss Blacklock about it, makes the murder work. And best of all, when Miss Blacklock discovers the body of Bunny, she lies down on the floor and puts her head next to Bunny's. Although Ursula Howells is the perfect Miss Blocklock, Zoe Wanamaker brought out far more efectively the tender affection that she had for poor Bunny, making her murder all the more heartbreaking.