The Mirror Crack'd (1992) (TV)

Director:

Norman Stone

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
T.R. Bowen (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 December 1992 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

At a reception for a fading film star making a screen comeback, a gushing, pushy fan is poisoned by a drink apparently meant for the actress.

Plot Keywords:

Miss Marple | Reception | Comeback | Blackmail | Detective

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Joan Hickson	...	Miss Jane Marple
Claire Bloom	...	Marina Gregg
Barry Newman	...	Jason Rudd
Norman Rodway	...	Dr. Gilchrist
Elizabeth Garvie	...	Ella Zeilinsky
John Cassady	...	Giuseppe Murano
David Horovitch	...	Superintendent Slack
John Castle	...	Detective Inspector Craddock
Ian Brimble	...	Sergeant Lake
Gwen Watford	...	Mrs. Dolly Bantry
Judy Cornwell	...	Heather Badcock
Christopher Hancock	...	Arthur Badcock
Margaret Courtenay	...	Miss Knight
Anna Niland	...	Cherry Baker
Rose Keegan	...	Gladys Dixon

Also Known As:

Miss Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side (UK) (series title)
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side

Runtime:

USA:106 min (DVD)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Bishops Lydeard station, West Somerset Railway, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

Last TV acting role of Gwen Watford

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): D.I. Craddock says Marple is his aunt but they weren't related in "A Murder Is Announced".

Quotes:

Marina Gregg: [to Ardwyck Fenn] The love of money... the root of all evil! And you, Ardwyck, have it raw for breakfast and boiled, grilled and fried the rest of the day as well!

Movie Connections:

Follows 4.50 from Paddington (1987) (TV)

Not as good as Murder is Announced but a solid adaptation still

This adaptation respects its material, and is overall a solid adaptation of the book. The book, I will admit isn't Christie's best, but what made it so interesting was the victim Heather Badcock, and I felt that the adaptation could have developed her more. The adaptation is also overlong but maintains interest, thanks to the way it was filmed, the pace and the acting. The adaptation is beautifully filmed, and the music is fantastic. It also moves along at a much more reasonable pace than say They Do It With Mirrors (that was good but i had a real problem with the pace). And the acting is very good, as is the case with the Joan Hickson Marple adaptations. Hickson is indeed terrific as Miss Marple, and Claire Bloom, Barry Newman and Norman Rodway are a fine supporting cast. Gwen Watford is the standout in a hilarious performance. The adaptation which further benefits from good plotting is fairly faithful save a couple of questionable liberties, and the Ella Zeilinsky murder was quite a disturbing scene for me I will admit. All in all, solid adaptation and well worth the look. 8/10 Bethany Cox