The Mirror Crack'd
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Movie Reviews of The Mirror Crack'd
Movie Review: The Mirror Crack'd
Summary: 5 Stars
Movie arrived in excellent condition in the expected week.
Can't claim. I watched the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Movie Review: good Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
this is a good movie and Angela Lansbury makes a wonderful Miss Marple. And Elizabeth Taylor is great as always.Movie Review: One of the best of its kind
Summary: 4 Stars
A group of Hollywood actors and filmmakers (including Tony Curtis, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and Kim Novak) come to Miss Marple's small country village to shoot a movie, and needless to say, given the fact that this is based on an Agatha Christie novel, someone turns up dead. Miss Marple's nephew (Edward Fox), a Scotland Yard detective is called in to investigate, but as you would expect, he is assisted along the way by Miss Marple (Angela Lansbury).
I've seen many films and telemovies based on the novels of Agatha Christie, over the course of my life, but "The Mirror Crack'd" stands out as being one of the best. It is true that, plotwise, if you've seen one such mystery, you've seen them all, but this film stands out because (i) it is clearly made with a higher budget than most of these mysteries (which are usually made for television), and so has higher production values, (ii) there are actually enough clues given to the audience for them to solve the murder and (iii) the script is really funny. Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak, as two rival actresses, spend most of their screen time insulting each other and some of the insults that they sling are absolutely hilarious. These liven up the script no end and make this film a thorough pleasure to watch.
Angela Lansbury is not my favourite Miss Marple (that is still Margaret Rutherford), but she does a far better job of playing Miss Marple than many of the actresses who have come after her. My main criticism of Lansbury in this role is that she is too young for the part. When this film was made, Lansbury was only 59, so is buried under very heavy make-up in order to disguise this fact. Nevertheless, for fans of "Murder She Wrote" (which started four years after this film was made), Lansbury is already in "Jessica Fletcher" mode and this film can essentially be viewed as being another episode of this series, albeit a longer and better made one.
Movie Review: Lansbury before She Was Jessica Fletcher
Summary: 4 Stars
The team that that brought you Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile are putting their talents to the other great Agatha Christie sleuth, Miss Marple. The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side was the best book to use the all star treatment.
St. Marysmead is being invaded by Hollywood. They are making a movie of Mary Stuart but the costars are bitter rivals. It all comes to a head when there is a murder attempt on the film's star Marina (Elizabeth Taylor) at a welcome party, just when her rival Lola (Kim Novak) enters. Instead of Marina, a village woman is killed.
Marina's husband Jason (Rock Hudson) is trying to keep the peace but a second murder attempt happens and Marina is completely unraveled. Of course there is always another murder - Agatha is never satisfied with just one! And like her counterpart, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple (Angela Lansbury), collects the suspects and solves the mystery.
This film is pure camp and does not measure up with the two mention Poirot films but it's nice to see all the fading stars. This would be Rock Hudson's last film and it is fitting that his costar is his best friend, Liz Taylor. Also nice is to see Tony Curtis and Kim Novak in films again.
Even though the film was not a success, it did lead to Angela Lansbury's biggest success, Murder, She Wrote.
Just sit back and enjoy the film.
Movie Review: Angela's take on Miss Marple
Summary: 4 Stars
Of course I haven't seen the DVD yet as it hasn't been published, but I cannot wait to! What we have here is one of Dame Elizabeth Taylor's (and Rock Hudson's also) last big-screen starrings. And they are both perfect for the roles. So too Kim Novak as the ... competition for Elizabeth. Sure, the lines they say are not as Agatha Christie wrote them but they sure are entertaining! The mystery is intriguing, and somewhat mirrors Gene Tierney's life. Enough said about that - don't want to give too much away! The direction is very effective - just look at the scene at the party and compare it with the flat direction in the Joan Hickson remake. Stunning. Also compare the ending - much more poignant and emotional in this version. And Angela Lansbury? I think she does a very good turn as Miss Marple - I'm even inclined to forgive her the scene in which she portrays Miss Marple smoking! In all, a very good film, and the story underneath is one that will keep you watching it again and again, well after the mystery has been solved.