THE MIRROR CRACK'D

UK, 1980, 105 minutes, Colour.
Angela Lansbury, Tony Curtis, Edward Fox, Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor, Geraldine Chaplin, Charles Gray. (In "Murder At Midnight": Anthony Steel, Dinah Sheridan, Hildegard Neil, Alan Cuthbertson, Nigel Stock.)
Directed by Guy Hamilton.

The Mirror Crack'd is entertaining enough Agatha Christie, a very engaging and British St. Mary Mead, 1953, with Angela Lansbury modestly forceful as Miss Marple, but unfortunately edged out of centre screen by the ageing (and enlarging) stars: Elizabeth Taylor with plenty of showy acting and Kim Novak guesting with gusto. Geraldine Chaplin has an enigmatic secretary role. In fact, it is a ladies' film - only Edward Fox, full of cinema buff fan worship as Inspector Craddock, makes strong impact.

The screenplay, with many red herring cinematic tricks, is full (too full?) of in-movie references. homages and chatter and the two leading actresses thrust invective with barbed zest. Plenty of spit, more polish required. The film is from the same production team who made Murder On The Orient Express, Death On The Nile and Evil Under The Sun, the latter two with Peter Ustinov as Inspector Poirot.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie’s novels? Film versions? Ingenious plotting? Ingenuity in solving mysteries? The appeal of Miss Marple as sleuth? The perennial appeal appeal of murder mysteries, crime, clues, jigsaw puzzles, unravelling puzzles?

2. The stylish treatment of Agatha Christie’s plot? Britain, the atmosphere of 1953, life in the village? British film-making of the time? The movie world ? Hollywood in England? The range of stars and their glamour? The prologue with the mock '50s British mystery film? Musical score and its atmosphere?

3. The title, the quotation from Tennyson.. The Lady Of Shallot and her face frozen? Marina Gregg and her freezing during the cocktail party, at the finale?

4. The atmosphere of the prologue - British black and white film-making of the '50s, creaky plotting, midnight, the Inspector and the analysis of all the complicated plot twists? The puzzle? Audience curiosity being roused? Frustrated by the breaking film? The indication of the theme of movie-making and movie hallucination for the film? The use of Anthony Steel, Dinah Sheridan and other stars of the times? The ploy to introduce Miss Marple? Her explaining the characters in the film, the impossibility of their doing the deed, solving the mystery and her being right? An enjoyable way of introducing the film and the detective?

5. Angela Lansbury's interpretation of Miss Marple? (Echoes of Margaret Rutherford - but so different?) Her place in the village? at the film screening, her home, her age, her alertness, love of gossip and analysis of human nature, her presence at the fair, her fall, the doctor's visit and her recuperation, her method of getting information from Cherry, the visit of Dermott and sharing the detecting of the murder? Her seeing Miss Zielinsky telephone? Her waking up in the middle of the night with the solution? Her explanation of what had happened? Her compassion for Jason Rudd, for Marina Gregg? A good interpretation of Agatha Christie's character? The reason for audience liking her and her continued appeal?

6. The background of filmmaking - film people, Hollywood types, their phony talking, socialising, impressing the fans, courtesy to the fans, discussions about the roles of directors and producers? The loudmouth producer's style? Stars and their glamour and self-opinion? Publicity stunts? Bitchy interchanges? Tests, make-up, costumes? The shooting of scenes? The reality and unreality? Fans and their admiration? Stars and their readiness to re-enact their roles - even in real life?

7. The establishment of the village and its atmosphere, Mrs Bantry and the taking over of the house? The build-up to the fair and the crowd? Marina Gregg and her participating in the activities of the fair after the fanfare? Heather Babcock and her admiration? Her being invited into the house, to talk to Marina Gregg? The impact of her incessant chatter - the audience sympathising with Marina and her courtesy? The sudden freezing? The portrait of the Madonna and Child? Lola Brewster's performance? The significance of Heather Babcock's story? Its being referred to in Cherry's recounting of the story? The final flashbacks and Marina entertaining the troops? The kiss and the freeze-frame? The party atmosphere, the people and their interaction at the party, the possibilities of Heather Babcock being killed - as victim, or by mistake for Marina Gregg?

8. Elizabeth Taylor's style as Marina Gregg - the star, her reputation, Oscars, marriage to Jason Rudd. her grand entrance at the fair, meeting the people, the cocktail party and her listening to Heather Babcock, the bitchy exchange with Lola, her breaking things and indication of breakdown, the interchanges with Lola during the filmmaking? The scene with the cup of coffee? Her relationship with her husband? Her acting with Inspector Craddock and his seeing through it? The threatening letters? The build-up to the finale with Jason? Her death and lying regally in death? The explanation of the pregnancy, birth of her child, breakdown? (Agatha Christie is said to have taken the basic incident from the life of Gene Tierney and the birth of her blind child).

9. Jason Rudd an American director type, his phone calls and running of the film, relationship with Ella and breaking it? His devotion to Marina? His offhandedness with the Inspector? The directing of the scenes of the film? His realising of the truth? The final interchange with Marina and his decision to kill her? His crying at the truth? His being saved from prison by Marina? Rock Hudson in this role?

10. Kim Novak and Tony Curtis acting it up as star and producer? Lola's entry, posing, bitchy talk. self-importance, scene with Inspector Craddock, ruining Marina's scene, planning big scenes for herself? Her pressure on her husband? and his acting the producer with loud mouth?

11. Ella and her love for Jason, her efficiency, her jealousy of Marina. the phone calls, her coping with situations. the ugliness of her murder?

12. Inspector Craddock and his relationship with Jane, his eerie first entrance. his knowledge of films and enjoyment of them, interviewing people at home, at the studios? Sharing experiences with Miss Marple? Miss Marple solving the crime?

13. The glimpses of the village - Cherry and her observing of things. the Vicar and the comic sequences, the doctor and his visit? Mrs Bantry?

14. How enjoyable a blend of humour, puzzle. sorting out motivation and action? The murder mystery as the highlighting of the sombre aspects of human nature?