Teresa Reviews The Exemplary Maid (1990)
Teresa reviews The Exemplary Maid (1990) and found that the Japanese anime version was more entertaining and complete.
(Eeskujulik teenijanna)
(c)2024 by Teresa Peschel
Fidelity to text: 4½ thieves
The story was cut to include meandering scenes but everything important remains.
Quality of film: 3½ thieves
Who would have ever thought that the Japanese anime version for kids would be better?
Read more of Teresa’s Agatha Christie movie reviews at Peschel Press.
Also, follow Teresa’s discussion of these movie on her podcast.
This Estonian version of “The Case of the Perfect Maid” covers the same story as the Japanese anime version in the same amount of time, yet manages, somehow, to tell much less. Time that could have been spent on plot was spent watching Miss Marple march through what looks like suburbia of widely spaced houses with overgrown lawns. It doesn’t resemble St. Mary Mead at all. The building filling in for Old Hall resembles a student dormitory used for filming because it was empty for the summer. Considerable amounts of “Perfect Maid” got glancing mentions via Miss Marple watching a TV news report on the mysterious theft at the Old Hall by the paragon of housemaids, Mary Higgens.
Similarly, the other residents of Old Hall — Mrs. Deveraux, Mrs. Larkin, and Mrs. Carmichael vanish into the same TV news report. Gladys becomes a shadow of her impertinent, bouncy self. Edna remains as does Inspector Slack. Other villagers, mentioned by name, vanish entirely.
Lengthy conversations between Miss Marple and Lavinia Skinner are condensed. Emily Skinner still complains about her hot water bottle but doesn’t moan at length about tea with lemon, how the milk had gone off, or her need for oysters all the while insisting she didn’t want to be a bother to anyone, poor, suffering, miserable invalid that she was.
Inspector Slack looks to be about 22 and unable to button his shirt. He does remain himself, not entirely convinced that Miss Marple knows what she’s talking about.
Ita Ever makes a formidable Miss Marple, more on the lines of Margaret Rutherford than Joan Hickson. I loved the caftan she wears at home to relax in. She’s the star and everyone else — including the story — is a bit player.
