Ron Goodwin: Miss Marple Theme Music

I recently watched the four Miss Marple films, starring Margaret Rutherford. These black and white movies were made in the early 1960s. The first, in 1961, was Murder She Said. This was followed by Murder at the Galop (1963), Murder Most Foul and Murder Ahoy, both released in 1964. For me, Rutherford is Miss Marple, although others will surely disagree. 

Ron Shillingford (Chandos Liner Notes, CHAN 10262) wrote that the idea behind Goodwin’s theme was to recognise that Miss Marple was “an old fashioned lady, but she was always one step ahead of the police and was also ‘with it.’”  So, the composer devised a melody that was basically a gavotte, complete with harpsichord, but supported by a “60s rhythm-section feel” to present both sides of her character. It is highly successful.

In 2004, Chandos Records included the Miss Marple Theme on their survey of Ron Goodwin’s film music. It can be heard on YouTube. Whilst writing this short post, I came cross another version of this music. The Pure Vinyl label issued an LP in 1993, which featured a Miss Marple Symphonic Suite made up of music from all four films. It was coupled with a similar production from derived from the score of Force 10 from Navarone. The Odense Symphony Orchestra was conducted by the composer. It too can be heard on YouTube.

Ron Goodwin is probably best remembered for his film scores, which included such hits as 633 Squadron, Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Where Eagles Dare and Frenzy. Much of his career was spent in recording light orchestral music, providing backings for artists such as Max Bygraves and Peter Sellers, as well a being “composer in residence” for Walt Disney’s British productions.