THE MIRROR CRACK’D FROM SIDE TO SIDE

UK, 2010, 100 minutes, Colour.

Julia Mackenzie, Lindsay Duncan, Joanna Lumley, Nigel Harman, Victoria Smurfit, Brendan Brown, Caroline Quentin, Martin Jarvis, Hannah Waddingham, Olivia Darnley, Michelle Dotrice, Charlotte Riley, Lois Jones, Neal Stuke, Hugh Bonneville, Samuel Barnett, Will Young.

Directed by Tom Shankland.

This film is based on the novel dedicated to Margaret Rutherford after Agatha Christie, who did not approve of the casting, was impressed by Margaret Rutherford’s performance as Miss Marple.

The cinema version proceeded the two television versions, one with Joan Hickson (her last as Miss Marple) and Julia Mackenzie. The cinema version had a star cast with Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple and Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak as the rival actors, with Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis as husbands.

This version stays close to the novel, opens with Miss Marple and her friend Dolly (Joanna Lumley agreeably dotty) watching a Marie Antoinette film starring Marina Gregg. Dolly it emerges has sold her estate to Marina Gregg and her fifth husband, the Dir of the film. Marina Gregg is older, a younger husband, tantrums, but having an open house for the locals and for charity.

A murder takes place at this reception, a chatty woman from the village of St Mary Mead, poisoned. There is a lot of speculation on possible murderers, the staff and assistance of the style and the director, the staff, but, especially a gossip columnist, former husband of Marina, and his flamboyant girlfriend, arrival of Marina.

The title comes from the Lady of Shalott, her looking into the cracked mirror, seeing doom. Marina has a moment of the reception of staring seemingly into space – but, as the scene is revisited, it has a great deal of meaning. And, the murderer with a lot of misdirection from the screenplay turns out to be a surprise (as always).

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Television versions? The several versions of this story, for cinema, for television?
2. The title, the quotation from the Lady of Shalott, looking in the mirror, the cracked mirror, sense of doom and fate?
3. The theatrical opening, Marie Antoinette, the play, Marina Gregg and her performance, Miss Marple and Dolly watching, tearful, meeting the actress, her husband, and the fact that Dolly had sold her house to them?
4. Life in the village of St Mary meet, Miss Marples home, her accident, later, the doctor, the maid? Phone calls? The invalid getting information?
5. The party, the guests, introducing the characters, Jason, Marina’s fifth husband, previous relationship with Amanda, and Hogg, his work as a director, protecting Marina? Marina herself, the star, all the magazines and write-ups, a reputation, her age, marriages, the later information about adoption, disregard of those children, the pregnancy, the child being born ill, in the institution? Heather, helping Miss Marple, all the fan magazines, the chatter with Marina, Marina and her fixed gaze at the wall, Heather’s chatter and meeting her despite being sick? Vincent Hogg, the flamboyant Amanda and past rivalries? The various secretaries and assistants? The maids? The mayor and his wife?
6. Dolly, the mayor’s wife, looking through the house, the assistant with hayfever? The sudden death? The doctor?
7. Inspector Hewitt, the young captain as his assistant, fan of Marina? The inspector straight up-and-down, the interview with Miss Marple, getting information, insights, the interview with Marina and her resistance, tears, the response of her husband? Tidler and the autograph? The interview with Amanda, the inspector and the touch of the roving eye?
8. The scene at the filming, Vincent Hogg and his column and articles, the phone call about administering the poison? Marina’s assistant and the similar call? Marina, as Nefertiti, the gay actor as, the tantrums about the lines, drinking the coffee, declaring it was poisoned? Jason later having it tested?
9. Jason’s assistant, her devotion to him, the hayfever, her theories, her being killed?
10. Miss Marple, the information, the discussions with Dolly, Dolly as unreliable, the maids, the chatter, Miss Marple arranging the maid to go on a holiday, avoiding being killed?
11. Photographer, taking photo of Dolly, of Marina and her fixed stare? Dolly and Miss Marple visiting, looking at the photos, the revelation about her being Marina’s adopted daughter, her hostility?
12. Marina and her visiting the institution, her son, trying to reach out to him?
13. Miss Marple visiting the house, Marina’s stare at the Madonna picture? The information about Heather and the spilt drink, the exchange drink, Marina as the target? The revelation that Marina spilt the drink herself?
14. The reconstruction of what happened, the background of the pregnancy, the infection, the boy born with illness, no explanation, Marina blaming herself? The sudden revelation of the truth, vengeance, her poisoning Heather? Her poisoning the witnesses? Her husband protecting her? And the overdose and her death?
15. A satisfactory murder mystery, Miss Marple detection, and the unexpected murderer?

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