I have a similar response, caviar.
So far, my own least favourite Aunt Jane would be Helen Hayes, who played her as slightly dotty and generally tweedy, with the Calculated Winsomeness dial turned up to 11.
I thought Angela Lansbury was surprisingly unmemorable in the role. Sshe does have her schtick, but I generally at least enjoy her performances; I can't really say that, though, for her Marple. But I can say that, despite that, I thought overall that her film of The Mirror Crack'd was probably the best telling of the story I've seen so far. (For once, Taylor's performance didn't make a film top-heavy.)
And Margaret Rutherford ... well, I love Margaret Rutherford, and even enjoy her Murder films for their general dottiness and Ealing-like tone. But no matter what name her character has, she's clearly not Jane Marple. She's an entirely different creature, so I don't really think of them as Christie stories, and I can enjoy them on that basis.
My favourite Marple is Joan Hickson. (Of course!) I love her character for her clear intelligence, her extraordinary focus, and her unaffectedness. I have to say, and sadly, I've never really warmed to Geraldine McEwan, and even less to Julia MacKenzie.
You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.
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