Directed by Guy Hamilton and written by Jonathan Hales and Barry Sandler, based on the Agatha Christie novel “The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side”. Miss Jane Marple comes to solve the mystery when a local woman is poisoned, but a visiting movie star seems to have been the intended victim. Starring: Angela Lansbury, Geraldine Chaplin, Tony Curtis, Edward Fox, Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor, Wendy Morgan, Margaret Courtenay, Charles Gray and Maureen Bennett.
There’s one thing that’s forever dependable with any Agatha Christie adaptation and that’s having a stacked cast, and The Mirror Crack’d is definitely no exception. It goes without saying that this is a fun ensemble to watch, there’s a lot of personality in the mix, especially with having Angela Lansbury and Elizabeth Taylor, it’s only a shame they don’t get more screen time together. Kim Novak is a boisterous presence who does not hold back, capturing the classic envious, volatile actor persona. Rock Hudson is another particular highlight, he brings some surprisingly sincere emotion into the mix, his character has a much more complicated arc than most featured in the film.They all really deserve a mention, it’s a very well-cast film.
For anyone who’s a fan of Angela Lansbury’s Miss Marple, it’s an absolute must watch, to see her take on the mantle again and bring her signature cheekiness and quiet, quick wit. Interestingly here she feels deployed in a slightly different manner, she’s working from the sidelines but makes her presence known. It works really well to give plenty of chance for the other characters and performances to make their mark, without anyone eclipsing one another. It also unsurprisingly moves well, there’s a good pacing, good reveal and it has a light, entertaining tone throughout. As well as, of course, peppering in plenty of drama.
It’s also a particularly interesting one for fans of this era of Agatha Christie adaptations, as The Mirror Crack’d is quite different. Instead of the typical theatrical style, it feels like it’s shot through a distinctly late 1970s, early 1980s lens of television dramas. Akin to some classic high stakes soap operas, but without the insincerity and overt melodrama. It blends in the charming, fun characteristics of those shows without overwhelming the story. It translates Christie’s novel into its own time, it’s unusual but still feels perfectly familiar of all the other beloved adaptations.
The Mirror Crack’d benefits from its new 4K restoration to bring out all of its colourfulness, both visually and tonally. These are such classic stories, they’re forever entertaining and while are perfectly of their era, also feel timeless. There’s a terrific ensemble at work, with some powerful women playing a highly dramatic and highly enjoyable game of cat and mouse, and maybe a scorpion in there too. It’s quintessentially British entertainment with an American twang and does actually keep you guessing. While a lot of these mysteries may be relatively easy to sniff out, this one takes some interesting turns.
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