THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS

UK, 1991, 100 minutes, Colour.

Joan Hickson, Jean Simmons, Joss Ackland, Faith Brook, Gillian Barge, David Horovitch, Neal Swetenham,, Christopher Villiers, Jay Villiers, Holly Aird, Todd Boyce, John Bott.

Directed by Norman Stone.

A popular Agatha Christie novel, television adaptation. This version with Joan Hickson, the later version with Julia Mackenzie.

Joan Hickson made 12 television movies of Miss Marple stories, this one being one of the last in the early 1990s.

While Joan Hickson seems to be the perfect Miss Marple, there is a strong supporting cast, a welcome performance from Jean Simmons, and the presence of Joss Ackland and veteran actress, Faith Brook. David Horovitch played Inspector Slack in a number of the films – but he seems unusually abrupt and aggressive here.

As with so many of the films, the setting is a mansion, this time an Institute for the rehabilitation of delinquent young men. Miss Marple is persuaded by her friend, Ruth, Faith Brook, to go for a holiday at the house and concern for the health of Jean Simmons Carrie Louise. There is supporting characters and family and tensions. There is also a visit from a member of the Institute Board who is murdered while typing a seemingly incriminating letter at his typewriter.

Once again, Miss Marple is always observant, curious, but puzzled. Eventually, picking up clues, discussions with the Inspector, she does come up with a solution – and an Agatha Christie sleight of hand in presenting characters and a situation.

Audiences who enjoyed Joan Hickson and her film versions will enjoy this one.

1. The popularity of versions of Agatha Christie mysteries? Miss Marple? The three actresses? Joan Hickson and her particular style?
2. The period, immediately after World War II, with black-and-white photography of the early decades of the 20^th century? Costumes and decor, vehicles, the mansion and interiors, the theatre, the ballet, the accommodation for the young offenders? Atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The introduction to Miss Marple, meeting Ruth, memories of the past, dinner, chatting, concern about Carrie-Louise? The avant-garde ballet? Meeting Alex? Ruth persuading Miss Marple to have a holiday at the mansion? Agreeing? At the station, Edgar meeting her, his being upset, Gina and her breeziness, driving Miss Marple?
4. Carrie Louise, age, memories, marriages, children, retired, nervy? Friendship with Miss Marple? Her husband, the Institute, the rehabilitation of young men? The psychologist on the staff and his interactions? The supervision of the young men, their trespassing on the grounds? Financial situation?
5. Louis, marrying Carrie-Luis, managing the Institute, working with the staff, Alex coming to visit, Stephen in the theatre, Romeo and Juliet, the fights amongst the boys, weapons? The young men, later seeing them in their quarters, out at night, witnessing something? Invited to be interviewed by the detective, the killing in the theatre, the crash?
6. Edgar, his presence, mental condition, drinking, emotions, relegated by the others? The screening, his intrusion, the gun, Louis taking him out, the altercation, the shots? Louis taking control of the situation, the gun?
7. Miss Marple, the holiday, interaction with people, observations, especially Gina with Stephen and Alex, with her husband, comfortable in the house, Ruth arriving, their chatting?
8. The arrival of the guests, longtime friend, on the Board, his walk, talking with Louis? The news about the poisoning of Carrie Louise? His being shot, the typewriter, the information on the page and the typewriter?
9. Inspector Slack, in the other stories, his blunt and aggressive style, his subordinates, insisting on instant action, making demands (and his case for performing magic tricks)? Knowing Miss Marple, the interrogations? His headquarters?
10. The mystery, Edgar and the interrogation, claiming that he was Louis’ son, Louis denying this?
11. Walter, American, his background, marrying Gina, finding it difficult, associating with the upper crust, in the workshop, buying a horse, reconciliation with Gina?
12. Alex, directing the ballet, arriving at the house, sitting in the car, suspect? Stephen, his attentions to Gina? The two men with Gina? The theatre, Stephen and the young men, stopping the fight? Alex pretending to be the detective, the death in the theatre, Stephen and the discovery?
13. Miss Marple, thinking about parallels in St Mary Mead, making phone calls, sending Ruth to London for the financial investigation, observing? Discussions with the inspector about magic tricks, sawing a woman, the two halves, doing it with mirrors?
14. The solution, Louis and Edgar, Edgar feigning madness, Louis and the promise to acknowledge Edgar as his son, the bullet holes in the wall, and acting and shooting Louis not in the chair, Louis going up stairs and killing the guest? The financial difficulties? Manoeuvring, borrowing, relying on Carrie Louise’s inheritance? Edgar and his fleeing, pursuing him, the both drowning?
15. A satisfactory mystery, solution, clues, tying up of strands?