A Caribbean Mystery Adaptations

After reading A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie, I wanted to see how the story translates to screen, particularly because this feels like a book that should benefit from its setting. I watched two adaptations: the 1983 American TV film and the 2013 ITV version from the Agatha Christie's Marple series. They approach the same material in very different ways.

The 1983 adaptation is the more straightforward of the two. It updates the setting from the 1960s to the 1980s, which is immediately visible in the styling. The hair, the clothes, the overall look place it firmly in that decade. All the actors are American, including Miss Marple, who speaks with an American accent. This creates a slightly odd effect, because the character is still supposed to be from St Mary Mead. There is no attempt to reframe her as American, so the accent stands out.

In terms of structure, this version stays close to the original story. The plot unfolds in a direct, almost procedural way. The key events are all there, and while a few small additions are made, they do not significantly alter the narrative. It feels contained. It also feels smaller. Much of it appears to be shot in controlled environments, and there is very little emphasis on the Caribbean setting itself. The sea, the landscape, the sense of place are mostly absent. As a result, the “exotic” aspect of the story does not come through strongly.

One notable addition is a character who seems to develop a mild romantic interest in Miss Marple. It is not central to the plot, but it adds a slightly unusual layer, especially given how Miss Marple is typically portrayed. Otherwise, she remains consistent with the book: observant, understated, and very much in the background until the final resolution.

The 2013 ITV adaptation takes a very different approach. While it keeps the general structure of the story, it amplifies the tone significantly. Everything is more dramatic, more stylised, and more visually expressive. The setting appears to remain in the early 1960s, based on the costumes and overall design, which aligns more closely with the original novel.

Unlike the 1983 version, this adaptation makes a clear effort to foreground the location. It was filmed in South Africa rather than the Caribbean, but the production leans heavily into wide shots of the sea, bright light, and palm trees to create a sense of place. The environment is constantly visible. The setting is part of the atmosphere.

This version also introduces additional material. There is a subplot involving a Black woman and poison, which is not present in the book. It adds another layer to the story, and makes an aspect of the story even more dramatic. There is also a highly stylised dance sequence with performers in tribal dress, which feels a bit dubious, but definitely something they would have done in the 60s. In the book though they never have costume performances. 

Visually, this adaptation is far more ambitious. One scene in particular shows a character beginning to lose her sense of reality, and this is conveyed through distorted framing and movement. These choices make the episode feel more artistic, which I actually prefer.

The ending reflects this shift in tone. Instead of a controlled reveal, it takes place during a heavy downpour, with heightened emotion and visual intensity. It is effective in terms of atmosphere, but it moves away from the restrained resolution typical of Christie’s work.

In terms of faithfulness, both adaptations keep the core mystery intact, but they prioritise different aspects. The 1983 version prioritises structure and clarity, even if it sacrifices setting and atmosphere. The 2013 version prioritises mood, visual storytelling, and added drama, even if that means introducing elements that are not present in the original.

Which one works better depends on what you are looking for. If you want a direct and uncomplicated version of the story, the 1983 adaptation is the better choice. If you prefer something more stylised, with stronger visuals and a more pronounced atmosphere, the 2013 version offers more to engage with.

There is also an earlier adaptation from 1989, also part of a Miss Marple series, which I have not yet been able to watch. It would be interesting to see where that version falls on the spectrum between these two.

Overall, these adaptations highlight something important about A Caribbean Mystery. The story itself is simple, but the setting gives directors room to shape the tone in very different ways. That flexibility is what makes it work better on screen than on the page.