The Mirror Crack'd

Watching

I had a set of Agatha Christie DVDs and a friend borrowed 1....I bought this to complete my set (again). It's perfect in every way! And shipped quickly!

I always want to see any production of Agatha Christie, and usually enjoy it overall. Her stories are that good. To me, the classic interpretation so far is the BBC television series with Joan Hickson as Ms. Marple and David Suchet as Poirot. They were so authentic and true to the books, while being very well done. The 80's and 90's seemed to yield the best of the crop. But, I even enjoy Margaret Rutherford's series, though they are so loosely adapted. This decade's offerings give the heartburn, even the newer ones with Suchet. They have taken the stories much farther afield than I can swallow, stellar production and casting notwithstanding.But here's Rock and Liz together again - in Agatha Christie. This is one of the more glamorous of the Marple stories, and there is plenty of glamour here. My goodness, the superbly correct butler was the wonderful Charles Gray. All these people together - Kim Novak, in an over-the-top Lola Brewster. Everyone loves the vitriolic exchanges between the two actresses in the story, which is why they indulged in so much license with that aspect. Edward Fox is interesting in his reaction to Marina (Lizzie) in the interview, calling her on pulling out a scene from one of her movies when his questioning got too close. Then, she immediately switches back to near serendipity. Tony Curtis as the producer follows the more outrageous type. This really was quite a mix of British and American actors. It was interesting seeing a number of the local characters showing up later in the BBC series in different roles.Miss Marple (Angela Lansbury here) seems to be the hardest to define. She is varied from the first book treatment, and some in the BBC series as well. It seems hard to land on a persona for her. She is an atypical old lady, with her perky persistence when she's really onto something. Unfortunately, most have taken that aspect and run with it, ignoring her foundational substance. The newer ones especially seem to make her out to be a liberated know-it-all. With that, she has become a very vapid, shallow character. In this version, there's a cigarette smoking (or attempt), which comes across quite strangely - a bit of a caricature really. They have her starting out as the know-it-all at the local movie night, but she becomes more biddable as it goes along. She demonstrates the life experience correlations, which are so pivotal in her sound assessments. Aside: Note the stark contrast in the size of the rather diminutive figure of Edward Fox next to the full sized Lansbury and Hudson. With Lansbury, in particular -- she literally looms over him, adding another incongruous dimension to the depiction here.Geraldine Chaplin is the secretary, holding herself very tightly, with all sorts of complications going on beneath her surface. The Heather Babcock character was effective, that being an important one. They really had the vicar fuddled up in this.And the location and sets - quite wonderful, as are other versions. There's a lot of the old world charm still intact in the British isles. They cleverly carried out the story with overall accuracy, adding and subtracting with an eye to please modern viewers and the run time of the film. I can note the variances, but enjoy the overall film. You usually find that British productions of Christie and anything really, have a way of stereotyping Americans rather unflatteringly. It's funny that in this American production, they made it even worse. But, it's about film personalities, and I guess they are fair game.If this film has piqued your interest, you might find the book enjoyable. You'll not be disappointed, I think, with its wider scope and development. Also, if you have opportunity and are enough of a fan of Christie, you probably have seen the BBC Marple series. If not, I think you would enjoy it. This film definitely has the usual Hollywood treatment, but it's light entertainment for its spectacle value, if nothing else.

“The Mirror Crack’d” is an interesting enough film to watch once, even if it is rather lackluster and doesn’t really work. For one thing it is part of the series of Agatha Christie films produced by John Brabourne (Lord Brabourne) in the 1970’s and early 80’s which included “Murder On the Orient Express”, “Death On the Nile” and later, “Evil Under the Sun”. Those were opulent looking event films, set in exotic places with all-star casts and memorable music. Something about this film seems too small, more like a made-for-TV movie with a surprising cast of well-known actors.The English village setting in Kent may not be quite exotic enough compared to the rest of the series and is little-used after the opening. Almost the entire film takes place indoors at the St. Claire estate or within Miss Marple’s home. Miss Marple is also not the flamboyant Mr. Poirot and in addition here is kept to the sidelines away from the main action until the film’s final denouement. Thus all Angela Lansbury has to do to sit in a chair and discuss matters with her nephew, Inspector Craddock of Scotland Yard (so well-played by Edward Fox that he almost steals the show). It does not help that Lansbury was given an awful, amateur-looking makeup job to appear elderly.The film is set in 1953 and has to do with a Hollywood film being shot in the village of Saint Mary Meade.The primary cast is made up of very big names from the 1950’s, who together would have been unaffordable in that decade. Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis play the major roles with relative newcomer Geraldine Chaplin holding her own in this ensemble. With this plot the film also becomes one of those Hollywood self-contemplations that are usually darker than this (“Sunset Boulevard”, “A Star Is Born”, “The Bad and the Beautiful”). Here it’s played all for laughs, though a little too broadly at times. Still, the barbs Taylor and Novak throw at each other are themselves worth the price of admission.The mystery keeps you guessing but is fair enough to give the audience some real clues to figure out the murderer. The setting and cinematography are quite ordinary and the music is totally forgettable, not the memorable Richard Rodney-Bennett score of “Orient Express” or the sophisticated Cole Porter score of “Evil Under the Sun”. Angela Lansbury would become totally identified as sleuth Jessica Fletcher in twelve seasons of “Murder, She Wrote” in just a few years. As for the rest, the main reason to see the film is to see these great actors together even if they weren’t given a script worthy of them.

The star power alone is incredible!! Add a classic Agatha story...very good!!!!

Angela Lansbury doesn’t look as bad as some reviews described and she DOES NOT look like the photo featured in the description (which appears to have been darkened to increase shadows). Movie is enjoyable; interesting well-known cast.

My MIL is a fan of Angela Lansbury. This dvd was a great addition to her collection.

Great Movie & Great Service!

Great cast, but Edward Fox features more prominently detecting than Anglea Lansbury's Miss Marple! So I felt such a great actress as talented as Angela Lansbury was largely wasted. It's still a good story though, and the guest cast are all in fine form, especially the wonderful Liz Taylor. I'd give this movie a reasonable 8/10.

A good mystery story by Agatha Christie with an excellent cast. The film keeps you interested all the time and has a strong narrative. A well-presented and satisfying film. Good Blu-ray transfer with vivid colours.

Great DVD and a stellar cast

I bought this for my mum as a Christmas present. Arrived really quickly in the mail through the letterbox (didn't have to sign for it) and was well protected with bubble wrap. My mum really enjoyed the film as she loves Agatha Christie stories.

Is interesting and pleasant to se gathered so many star of such scenic value as you find in this picture:Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Hock Hudson, Tony Curtis,etc... So, You can hope? Great performances, beauty and pleasant sueprises on every steps. Is fairly worth to see. Very good picture, indeed.