THE MIRROR CRACK’D FROM SIDE TO SIDE

UK, 1992, 106 minutes, Colour.

Joan Hickson, Claire Bloom, Barry Newman, Norman Rodway, Elizabeth Garvie, John Cassady, David Horovitch, John Castle, Gwen Watford, Judy Cornwall, Christopher Hancock, Margaret Courtney.

Directed by Norman Stone.

Audiences have been devoted to Agatha Christie for decades, and to her films. This book was adapted for the big screen with Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple and stars Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, Tony Curtis. It was also filmed with Geraldine McEwan.

However, Joan Hickson was Agatha Christie’s ideal of Miss Marple. She has elderly, always observant, respected by the police, alert to clues, putting ideas together, finding solutions.

Which is the case here, concerning a celebrated movie star, this time played by Claire Bloom who also had great success in Hollywood. Her direct husband is played by Barry Newman. There are a number of British character actors in support, by John Castle as Miss Marple’s nephew, Inspector Craddock, with Gwen Watford as a Dolly Bantry, her close friend, a cameo by Judy Cornwall (looking so different from her popular role as Daisy in Keeping up Appearances), Margaret Courtney as Miss Knight (but who had played Dolly Bantry in the Angela Lansbury film).

We are in St Mary Mead, Miss Marple’s home, and the mansion and its grounds. We also visit the film studios, watching a take for a film about Elizabeth of Austria, the studio offices.

It is a surprise when an incidental character, played by Judy Cornwall, dies at the reception at the mansion. It is certainly a question of who did it but a probing of why this could possibly happen. There are investigations, death threats, tantrums, and Miss Marple making a connection between the victim and the actress, leading to the solution.

This was the last film in Joan Hickson series.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie? Miss Marple? The three actresses portraying her on television? Joan Hickson’s status?
2. The setting, St Mary Mead, the village, Miss Marple’s house, the mansion and grounds, the film studios and offices? The musical score?
3. The title, Tennyson, the curse on the Lady of Shalott?
4. The celebration of cinema, the old stars, Hollywood, the magazines, fans, celebrities? The scenes of filming? Elizabeth of Austria? Performances?
5. Marina Greg, Claire Bloom and her reputation, returning to England, the mansion, with her husband, the director, the bond between them? Her dominance? Finding home again, wanting to die in England? Holding the fete, the brass band, the visitors, atmosphere of joy? The encounter with Mrs Badcock? The photographer, the photos, Dolly commenting on Marina’s look, the lady of Shalott? The drinks, Mrs Badcock and her babble, the spilling of the drink, her death?
6. The Hollywood producer, insurance, bombastic, his relationship with Lola? Lola wanting the role? Relegated? Marina and her defiance? Allowing the scene to be filmed? To dinner with Marina and her husband?
7. Miss Marple, elderly, curious, observing, Miss Knight looking after her, fussing, the comic touches? The visit from Dolly, Dolly selling the mansion? The friendship of the two women? Dolly going to the mansion, the tour of the house, the ladies, the marble in the bathroom…?
8. Mrs Badcock, jovial, friendly, chatter, helping Miss Marple? Her nice husband? Her death, her husband’s grief, the post-mortem, the fact that she was murdered?
9. Inspector Craddock, nephew of Miss Marple, his associate, Detective Slack and orders? Craddock and his manner, the interviews? Relying on Miss Marple?
10. The director and his assistant, the roses, her devotion to him, the meal, everybody upset, her death? The fact that she had realise the truth, phone calls, blackmail?
11. The entourage, the Butler, the maids, at the studios?
12. Jerry, friendship with Miss Marple, the magazines, her friend, the visit, her suspicions that Marina had bumped Mrs Badcock purposely?
13. The husband, the notes, giving them to the police? His realisation that Marina had killed? Her death? Miss Marple's comment?
14. The photographer, Miss Marple seeing her in the church, at the celebration, the photos, the revelation about her relationship, Marina and the adopted children, her pregnancy, sending them away, the German meals and the effect on her baby? The interrogation of the photographer?
15. Miss Marple, the rubella, making the connections, Marina’s at meeting the woman who caused her baby’s illness? Revenge?
16. Miss Knight moving out, all the friends meeting, the end of this series with Joan Hickson has Miss Marple.