The Mirror Crack'd (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'The Mirror Crack'd' (based on Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mystery, & directed by Guy Hamilton) is set in the quiet, quaint English village of St. Mary Mead in the 1950s. The tranquility of the village is shattered with the arrival of an American movie company come to shoot an English period drama. Elizabeth Taylor stars as Marina Gregg, a washed-up 40-something actress trying to make a comeback with this period drama, but is plagued by a mysterious incident from her past. At a party for the American film crew, young Heather Babcock, an adoring fan of Marina Gregg, is served a poisoned cocktail & dies on the spot! Was the drink meant for her or someone else? Perhaps Marina Gregg? But who would do such a thing? And why was Marina acting so oddly at the party?
Angela Lansbury is featured as Miss Jane Marple, an elderly amateur detective {really, a nosybody local} who is a skilled observer of human nature. And Edward Fox plays her nephew, Chief Inspector Craddock of Scotland Yard. Together, they hope to piece together this murderous puzzle. The suspects include director of the film Jason Rudd (Rock Hudson), husband of Marina who is having an affair with his executive secretary, Ella Zielinsky (Geraldine Chaplin); Marty Fenn (Tony Curtis), the anxious producer; & Lola Brewster (Kim Novak), Fenn's bombshell actress wife who has been feuding with Marina Gregg for years.
'The Mirror Crack'd' is a thoroughly enjoyable Agatha Christie mystery. There is wit & charm in the well-constructed screenplay. The British locales are great. The sets & costumes are lovely. And best of all, we get to see Liz Taylor & Kim Novak throw proverbial darts at each other with some bitchy repartee -- I find there to be a perverse fascination in watching 2 actresses go at each other. Speaking of Taylor, Elizabeth gives a nice multi-layered performance as Marina Gregg. Just when you think you know her, you find that you don't. Edward Fox lends restraint & nuance as the Inspector.
And Angela Lansbury gives a very good performance as the insightful Miss Marple; a woman whose investigatory & prying instincts would easily get under your skin if she wasn't so grandmotherly adorable. 'The Mirror Crack'd' tells your classic murder mystery drama; though I wish it had a more distinct & succinct wrap-up. My main issue with this otherwise enjoyable romp is that the deliciously nasty script is far superior to the direction from Guy Hamilton. Plainly put, the direction is dull. A story like this, with a CAST like this, deserves far more directorial panache.
Angela Lansbury is featured as Miss Jane Marple, an elderly amateur detective {really, a nosybody local} who is a skilled observer of human nature. And Edward Fox plays her nephew, Chief Inspector Craddock of Scotland Yard. Together, they hope to piece together this murderous puzzle. The suspects include director of the film Jason Rudd (Rock Hudson), husband of Marina who is having an affair with his executive secretary, Ella Zielinsky (Geraldine Chaplin); Marty Fenn (Tony Curtis), the anxious producer; & Lola Brewster (Kim Novak), Fenn's bombshell actress wife who has been feuding with Marina Gregg for years.
'The Mirror Crack'd' is a thoroughly enjoyable Agatha Christie mystery. There is wit & charm in the well-constructed screenplay. The British locales are great. The sets & costumes are lovely. And best of all, we get to see Liz Taylor & Kim Novak throw proverbial darts at each other with some bitchy repartee -- I find there to be a perverse fascination in watching 2 actresses go at each other. Speaking of Taylor, Elizabeth gives a nice multi-layered performance as Marina Gregg. Just when you think you know her, you find that you don't. Edward Fox lends restraint & nuance as the Inspector.
And Angela Lansbury gives a very good performance as the insightful Miss Marple; a woman whose investigatory & prying instincts would easily get under your skin if she wasn't so grandmotherly adorable. 'The Mirror Crack'd' tells your classic murder mystery drama; though I wish it had a more distinct & succinct wrap-up. My main issue with this otherwise enjoyable romp is that the deliciously nasty script is far superior to the direction from Guy Hamilton. Plainly put, the direction is dull. A story like this, with a CAST like this, deserves far more directorial panache.