THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS

UK, 2009, 95 minutes, Colour.

Julia McKenzie, Penelope Wilton, Brian Cox, Joan Collins, Alex Jennings, Nigel Terry, Ian Ogilvy, Elliot Cowan, Emma Griffith Mallin, Jordan Long, Sarah Smart, Maxine Peake, Alexei Sayle, Liam Garrigan, Tom Payne.

Directed by Andy Wilson.

Miss Marple was played by Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie. This is a Julia McKenzie version of They Do it with Mirrors (also filmed with Joan Hickson).

The setting is standard Agatha Christie, a country estate, interiors, but a speciality with a prison institution adjacent to the mansion and the participation of the family in the life of the prison. In terms of exotic solutions to many of Agatha Christie novels, this one is fairly straightforward with a credible motivation.

The film has quite a strong supporting cast, Penelope Wilton is the benefactress and Brian Cox as her husband. Joan Collins has a guest role and performs as if she was still remembering Dynasties. Alex Jennings is better as the investigating policeman, and guest roles for Nigel Terry and Ian Ogilvy, looking much older than they used to be!

Standard Miss Marple, especially for those who enjoy Julia Mackenzie’s performances.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie novels? Miss Marple? The three actresses? Julia McKenzie?
2. The settings, London offices, the British countryside, the mansion, interiors? The Institute for prisoners? The musical score?
3. The introduction of the characters, Miss Marple, friendship with Ruth, Carrie Louise, Ruth’s concern, Miss Marple’s visit, the story Carrie Louise, adopting, Gina, Mildred as her daughter, stepsons, her companion, the prisoners, the eccentric Edgar Lawson? The visit from her elder stepson?
4. The home situation, Carrie Louise and her concerns, rehabilitation of the prisons, the rules of the institution, work, the theatrical performance? The two daughters, her attention to her adopted daughter? Her husband’s, Lewis, devotion? The presence of Edgar Lawson as his secretary, and his madness, claiming to be Churchill’s son? The preparation for the theatre, Stephen, his attentions to Gina, Gina and her marriage, American, service in the war? The glimpse that somebody was putting poison in Carrie Louise’s drops, Lewis and dropping the drops?
5. The arrival of the stepson, talking with Lewis, wanting to type a letter, found dead?
6. The inspector, attentive, serious, listening to Miss Marple? Her speculations, clues?
7. Ruth, her arrival, swirling around? The issue of the finances, the committee, difficulties?
8. The prisoner, embezzling, eating the oysters, in a coma?
9. The performance, Lewis as the Indian chief, Gina arriving with the name Catherine, learning the news about her mother as a poisoner, executed, impersonating her? Mildred and her reaction? Mildred having given her the information?
10. The husband, getting on the bike, the crash?
11. The arrival of the former husband, in the fog, hearing the shots, his explanations, suave manner, ingratiating himself with Carrie Louise, encouraging Stephen, his death?
12. The title of the film, stage set, Miss Marple explaining it all, Edgar Lawson and Lewis, impersonating Lewis, Lewis and his stabbing the visitor, the motivations, financial difficulties, not wanting to upset Carrie Louise? And the death in the theatre?
13. Everything resolved, Lewis creating the suspicions about the poisoning which was not happening? The companion and her story of seduction and visits to London? Mildred and her jealousy? Miss Marple’s advice to Carrie Louise, Gina and Stephen, seeing her husband, the reconciliation?