Marple (TV Series) They Do It with Mirrors (2009) User Reviews

A very faithful, high quality version.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 13 September 2015]

It's not one of my favourite Christie novels, but this production manages to bring it to life, it's well paced, brilliantly acted and manages not to go over the top. It manages to be witty in parts. A few minor changes only, so it does feel very faithful to the book. I like how Wally was switched to being a prime suspect, it's very logical.

Some of the American accents are hit and miss, naturally Joan Collin's is fantastic, but Penelope Wilton's is dire.

I truly love Emma Griffiths, what a gorgeous girl, she makes the role of Geena so much fun. What can be said for Elliot Cowan though, he is something special, he's an enormous screen presence. Naturally Joan Collins adds something special, whilst I've never thought her a particularly brilliant actress she is definitely iconic.

I've spoken previously how much I liked Julia Mckenzie in the role, and she never disappoints, another top notch performance from her.

It's hard to find any fault with it in truth, it's very slick, and the ending is definitely satisfying. 8/10

Reasonably interesting

[grantss · 7/10 · 16 July 2016]

Miss Marple goes to a reformatory for boys to visit her friend Carrie- Louise. She is slowly being poisoned by an unknown hand and Miss Marple is investigating. Soon after arriving, Carrie-Louise's stepson is murdered. Just about everybody in the house has a perfect alibi and there is no apparent motive for the murder.

Reasonably interesting. As with the average Miss Marple mystery the mystery is a fairly dry affair, livened up by an interesting sub-plot or two.

Some big names in the supporting cast and their performances are a bit hit-and-miss. Brian Cox and Ian Ogolvy are great in their roles but Joan Collins is very irritating, and stereotypically American to the point of cartoonishness, in her part. Alexei Sayle is there to provide some light relief but just comes off as incredibly stupid and hammy.

Decent, generally faithful production

[Iain-215 · 7/10 · 1 January 2010]

This is the third screen adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's weaker Miss Marple novels. Julia McKenzie is the wily old sleuth this time and I find that I am warming to her interpretation. She is a much more serious Marple than her predecessor Geraldine McEwan but with more warmth than the excellent but slightly chilly Joan Hickson. Here is a Miss Marple with a great deal of quiet intelligence, shrewd and capable - I like it. Hickson is still definitive for me but McKenzie is becoming a very acceptable second best!

As always, this is a beautifully shot production with good period detail. They have changed aspects of the story slightly but not to any great detriment. Personally I think it was a mistake to have Gina and Mildred as sisters - they struck me as just too young to be convincing as Carrie Louise's daughters but it's a very small point. Once again the scriptwriters could not resist packing the narrative with extra incident and so I could have done without the poisoned oysters and the fire and the secret passage but, as I said, no great damage was done. The portrayal of Carrie Louise was interesting in that she was not played as the usual fragile innocent but rather as quite a strong willed, determined if somewhat misguided creature. I liked that but it did mean that one the key points in the book that leads Miss Marple to unravel the plot is lost - Carrie Louise's ability to see the reality of things despite her 'head in the clouds' appearance.

I thought the casting was generally strong and particularly liked Brian Cox as an understated Lewis Serrocold and Ian Ogilvie as a very likable Johnny Restarick. Despite some other comments on here, I really didn't mind Joan Collins too much as Ruth. It's quite a small role and I thought she did rather well as the old American broad who fights against her age (but her accent did wander about a bit). Chief plaudits though to the always watchable Penelope Wilton who was probably the best of the three Carrie Louise's I've seen so far.

All in all this was very enjoyable but let down slightly by a rather weak script. As a result it was all a bit patchy but worth a look nevertheless.

Solid Marple mystery with good turns from the cast (suggestive SPOILERS)

[bob the moo · 19 October 2009]

On the request of a friend, Miss Jane Marple goes to look into strange occurrences at the home of Carrie Lousie Serrocold. A fire in the Serrocold home destroyed many important documents belonging to her and there are suggestions that someone is trying to harm her. While a family play turns dramatic and violent, trapping everyone in the room, someone stabs Carrie Louise's former husband in the back, the police get involved and so, of course, does Miss Marple.

The new Marple films have not really inspired me and over the years of ITV having the franchise I must confess that my hope is only that they are OK. So I was pleased to find that They Do It With Mirrors is one of the "most OK" ones so far. The plot is solid and quite engaging even if the title itself serves as a hint as to the resolution. Most importantly for me, I was able to follow it along and it actually made sense – I could see the logic (more or less) behind the solution. This shouldn't sound like something to be praised but the last one of these I saw (Why didn't they ask Evans) didn't even make sense or seem to be too fussed about it at that. As with the previous films, the more even tone (rather than flamboyant light entertainment) provides a solid base for the film and makes it easier to get into.

The cast seem to do well this time also – or rather, specifically McKenzie. She was yet to make any impression on me at all with her rather average performance but here she comes over as being canny, thoughtful and smart as a character without losing her openness which makes her get the information she needs. For the first time she appears to have decided what her Marple will be like and she has delivered it pretty well and dropped the big gormless smile that she had in other films. Yes she still looks the spit of Jim Broadbent but she made me forget that for the most part. Cox is a bit of a surprise find and he does well but I did get the feeling that his fame would make him a natural suspect because even though the film has plenty of faces, Cox is far and away the biggest name in the room. Wilton is no slouch either though and she gives a good performance along with Payne, Smart, Peake and others. I liked Jennings as the Inspector while comedians Sayle and Hughes are amusing in small roles, although I did wonder why either of them bothered. Collins is not as awful as many have said, it is just that she is out of place – her performance and her presence is more in keeping with the sillier tone of the previous Marple films, not this one.

They Do It With Mirrors is the final of the first batch of McKenzie Marple films and it appears to be one of the better of them. It is not without problems of course and it is never something I would describe as great but it did have more to it than the other films. The plot works well, engaged me and didn't frustrate me, while the performances are all good despite Cox being a bit too obvious as a presence compare to the other faces.

Decent adaptation of one of Christie's lesser novels

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 8 March 2011]

The book was a good enough read but it is not among Agatha Christie's very best. I liked the story, if lacking the ingenuity that her books often does have though the final solution is great, but at first I do find it hard to get into. There are two previous adaptations of this particular book, the Helen Hayes film which is entertaining with a good cast if rather obvious and the better of the two the Joan Hickson version, though in regard to the latter it was my least favourite of the Joan Hickson Miss Marple adaptations due to some very sluggish pacing.

Back to this adaptation, as far as these Marples go which range from outstanding(The Blue Geranium) and surprisingly good(Murder is Announced) to truly disappointing(Nemesis) and terrible(At Bertram's Hotel), They do it with Mirrors is decent. It does have its problems, the script is weak at times in an attempt to cram a lot in and perhaps over-explain a tad, while the direction has its moments but there are times especially in the opening scene with Ruth and Miss Marple when it is rather poor. Joan Collins is not as bad as I was led to believe, she does have a fairly small role and performs with gusto but she does have an accent that wanders occasionally and that aforementioned opening did her no favours.

On a positive note, it does look fantastic. I do in general like the production values with these Marple adaptations but They do it with Mirrors with its crisp photography and beautiful scenery and costumes is especially impressively rendered. The music is a nice surprise, it isn't annoying and over bearing as it can be but feels more in tune with the atmosphere. The pace bounces along without feeling rushed or feeling as though it is going to drag, I admit I personally found this easier to get into than the book and the Joan Hickson version, also some of the characters especially Carrie Louise are somewhat more emphatic. The story may not be completely faithful in the details, character relationships are altered as is the means of crime, but in general it tries to stick to the book's spirit, and on its own terms it is still interesting and I didn't feel frustrated at the end like I did with Sleeping Murder or Body in the Library. The cast are great, Julia McKenzie is a very warm and engaging presence while Emma Malin is a strong Gina and Elliot Cowan is far better than he was in the Poirot episode he starred in(then I didn't like him or the episode itself for that matter). Penelope Wilton's Carrie Louise is very touching too, while Brian Cox is brilliant as Lewis Serrocold, different but interesting, I loved that.

Overall, a decent adaptation compared to what it could have been. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Christie uses theatrical illusions in her plotting...

[Doylenf · 7/10 · 19 July 2009]

This is one of the better Miss Marple adaptations starring JULIA McKENZIE as the clever sleuth who solves a few murders while helping detectives solve the case.

Without giving the plot away, it's safe to say that THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS refers to the old theatrical expression used to explain theater magic. Here it becomes a vital part of the plot, the revelation of which should come as no great surprise to mystery fans.

BRIAN COX is fine in the central role of Louis Serrocold and all of the other British players are well cast. McKenzie seems to be settling into her role with ease and comfort, but her ability to see through a maze of relationships and clues remains a bit far fetched. Nevertheless, the story has enough ingredients to hold one's interest until the solution is revealed.

Well worth watching, especially for Marple fans. The only false note is JOAN COLLINS' flamboyant performance as Ruth. Her opening scene, especially, with Miss Marple is poorly written and directed.

Trivia note: ELLIOT COWAN who plays the American Wally, is (excuse the expression) a dead ringer for Heath Ledger--even has some of his mannerisms. Incredible likeness.

Julia McKenzie is Enjoyable Miss Marple in "Mirrors"

[Minou07 · 7/10 · 28 July 2009]

Julie McKenzie steps into the role of Miss Marple for Season 4 and I'm enjoying it. Like Geraldine McEwan, she has to make-do with retelling of Agatha Christie's books. But I have to admit I am enjoying the later series with both actresses. McKenzie adds her own qualities to the role, including a sedate appearance and quieter persona. She doesn't try to be cute, stuffy ,etc. Although "Mirrors" was never one of my favorite books, I've enjoyed this very loose adaptation. They could have left the schmaltzy Joan Collins out, but she has a small role. The other actors are fine including the actress who plays Carrie Louise. I've loved her in "Dr Who" and "Shawn of the Dead." The scenery is lovely too.

Although I don't care for these retelling of Agatha Christie's well-known books, I am letting that go. Thank goodness they ditched the silly background music, garish backgrounds and dizzying camera work.

I Love This Series!

[qcloes09 · 10/10 · 28 July 2009]

I really didn't read many of Agatha Christie's books until this series began with Geraldine McEwan, who I really liked. Now we have Julia McKenzie who is a very different, but also totally likable Miss Marple. Both actresses put their different imprint on the role. I've enjoyed most of these Miss Marple movies, with a few exceptions of course. This season seems to be deeper into the human psyche than others. I care about the characters a bit more and "Carrie Louise" is worthy of Miss Marple's protection. That takes some doing since she kindly takes care of some criminal-minded youths. Who done-it? I Loved Miss Marple figure it out. Some people mentioned, and I agree that the addition of Joan Collins doesn't help the cast at all. But her appearances are sparse, I'm happy to say. A friend told me that Christie wrote more Poirot stories than Miss Marple, so it's more limited. I'll be sad to see the series end.

Both funny and moving; the best screen version of this novel

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 21 July 2011]

This is apparently considered one of the weakest stories that Agatha Christie wrote for Miss Marple, but personally I like it and its clever misdirections - it's certainly better than, say, "Sleeping Murder" with its instantly spottable killer. It has been filmed twice before, in 1985 with Helen Hayes as Miss Marple (a version I remember being fun), and in 1991 with Joan Hickson (a version I remember being a bore, apart from a great closing sequence). This third attempt is, in my opinion, the best one. The "lights out" sequence is well-staged (and will fool anyone who doesn't know the story), and there is genuine emotion in many of the relationships. Julia McKenzie may lack the sparkle of Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, but she is more compassionate and less distant that Joan Hickson; you really feel that she and Carrie Louise are good lifelong friends. The cast is (as usual) perfectly chosen, especially Penelope Wilton as a strong, smart and idealistic Carrie Louise, Emma Malin as the spirited Gina, and Ian Ogilvy as the eccentric Johnny Restarick; kudos, too, to Alexei Sayle for his hilarious cameo as Dr. Maverick. Now let's hope that they won't film this story again - three adaptations are more than enough! *** out of 4.

A murder is announced...

[tml_pohlak_13 · 10/10 · 16 July 2009]

I only remember Agatha Christie's novel vaguely. What I do remember about "They Do It With Mirrors", however, is that it was one of Dame Agatha's weakest novels. I was able, nonetheless, to spot a few changes to the plot, some minor, while others were major. However, this time around, changes only served to strengthen a somewhat flimsy plot for television, making it more cinematic, and overall, improving and endearing it.

The acting in this episode was absolutely first-rate. Julia McKenzie proves once more that she is a fantastic Miss Marple. Her charm, generally speaking, is just endearing. McKenzie needs to come across as extremely shrewd in this film, more than she has in other outings in the role. She not only handles this aspect well, but she still manages to conceal this with a seemingly harmless charm.

The entire supporting cast was extremely strong. Everyone fit their roles perfectly, and had fantastic chemistry with each other. Watch in particular for Emma Malin as Gina, in an extremely strong performance. I don't want to reveal too much, but her character always feels true. Another fantastic surprise is Brian Cox as Lewis Serrocold. In Christie's novel, something was missing from Lewis' character, which I can't quite put my finger on. Whatever the problem was, I don't detect a trace of it in Cox's magnificent performance.

Once more, this film felt little like a made-for-TV movie. The direction was stellar. Andy Wilson is the director, whose previous Agatha Christie credits include David Suchet's fabulous "Death on the Nile" and Geraldine McEwan's "4:50 From Paddington". Once more, he proves himself to be a capable director, and cleverly builds suspense, even during a (somewhat pointless) "car-bike-and-pedestrian" chase.

Paul Rutman adapted "They Do it With Mirrors", and his writing was generally strong. The liberties he took with the plot served mainly to strengthen the cinematic adaptation. There is, however, one chase sequence (that I already mentioned) that feels rather pointless. Its purpose is never explained (or, if it was, merely in passing; I didn't catch any explanation), but I'm sure it made the producers' eyes light up.

So, to sum up, "They Do It With Mirrors" may have very well been the best film of Series 4. There is a certain emotional connection I felt with the characters that was absent from the novel itself, and that's a good thing. The direction was once more fantastic, as was Dominik Scherrer's music. The cast this time around was particularly strong. All these elements work together to create an extremely fine adaptation, and an enjoyable film to boot.

Top Five Marple!

[Coventry · 7/10 · 15 January 2021]

It's fairly safe to state that the best entries in the "Agatha Christie's Marple" series are the ones that are also based on actual Miss Marple novels. The series exists of 23 feature films, whereas the amazing Mrs. Christie only ever wrote 12 novels with Miss Marple as protagonist. These 12 were all adapted into screenplays, evidently, as well as 2 short stories merged into one, but for the remaining ten others, the creators of the show based themselves on non-Marple murder whodunits, and then processed Miss Marple into them. Although always enjoyable, and sometimes even downright good movies, the actual Marple adaptations are slightly better, simply because they come across as more natural. "They do it with Mirrors" is such a Marple-original, and easily one of the best - say, top five - films of the series.

What else contributes to this being a great effort? Agatha Christie's marvelously twisted and imaginative plot, of course! The setting is terrific, with murder and attempted murder in an aristocratic family that also runs a reform-institution for delinquent young men, jealousy, adultery, former lovers and theatrical red herrings. The performances are also stellar, with as most astounding names Brian Cox and Joan Collins. The latter sadly only has a minor role, but - the diva she is - steals the show in every sequence she appears. After three installments, I also finally accepted Julia McKenzie as the replacement of the - in my humble opinion - far superior Geraldine McEwan.

Brilliantly staged and fantastically acted, with a clever solution but a few serious defects

[henry-plantagenet-04 · 8/10 · 31 December 2016]

"They Do It With Mirrors" centers on the estate of Stonygates and its owner Carrie-Louise Serrocold (Penelope Wilton). From the first glance it is another mystery involving a large amount of people converging on a large house. However, there are several major differences from the conventional form, which make this episode so interesting. The first is the inhabitants, aside from the incredibly complicated family (more on them later), the estate is used as a center for juvenile delinquents, which adds an interesting dimension to the proceedings. But seriously, let's talk about this family. We have a wife who has been married three times, she has two children from each of her husbands, and an adopted daughter. All members of the family are somehow involved in the arts. They are the Royal Tennenbaums of the Marple world, and they're so much more interesting than your average manner house crowd. Of course, this is aided by the fantastic ensemble of actors, these productions always get together. Only here they are used to much greater effect than usually. Penelope Wilton and Brian Cox mesmerize as the central couple, and the complexities of their relationship dictate the proceedings that unfold. Ian Ogilvy is very charismatic as Carrie-Louise's former husband. His presence evoking a greater blow, than the first murder victim's (Nigel Terry), but despite the harm he presents the central couple he remains a likable character. Of course, Julia McKenzie holds it all together as Marple. I prefer Geraldine McEwan, but McKenzie has grown on me a great deal (this might be her best outing, though I haven't seen them all). I also really liked Alex Jennings as the inspector; just like Richard Hope in "Poirot: Taken at the Flood" I wish he'd recur in the series. Speaking of "Taken at the Flood", Elliot Cowan is in this, and I don't hate him. His American GI character is very likable, and his accent is very convincing (but would it have killed them to cast a real American for once). The direction and camera are also of note. The opening scene involving many mysterious doings at night, which actually shifts from one point of view to the other is masterfully staged, as is the scene where Marple reads a letter from Ruth van Rydock (Joan Collins), and her head appears in the reflection of the train window. The actual execution of Gulbrandsen's murder is fantastic, and all the clues fit together in the end. So what didn't I like. Well, the second murder was completely unnecessary to the plot, and the ending was sadly awful. This could have been the story of one murder concluding with an arrest. Instead we have a second murder committed by a second murderer, and both murderers die at the end. This could have been really tragic, but the relationship dynamic between the two murderers was not shown, and that robbed the scene of its tragic impact. When re watching this I will probably shut off, after the culprit is revealed. That does not make the previous hour and 15 minutes any less worthwhile.

Gee, I saw this with Helen Hayes and Bette Davis

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 20 May 2013]

I mean, Helen Hayes and Bette Davis - you're not going to beat it, so why redo it? Julia McKenzie stars as Miss Marple in this version of "They Do it With Mirrors," also starring Brian Cox, Penelope Wilton, and Elliot Cowan.

Ruth Van Rydock (Joan Collins) asks Miss Marple to find out what's going on with her sister Carrie-Louise, as there have been some strange happenings at her home. Carrie Louise has two daughters, Gina, who is adopted, and Mildred, her biological daughter, and she is currently married to her third husband, Lewis Serrocold (Brian Cox). Add this to the fact that Carrie Louise runs a training school for ex-cons on her property, and the place has lots of potential for problems.

Marple goes to stay at the house and learns that a fire destroyed most private papers; then Christian, Carrie Louise's stepson from her first marriage, is killed, and a note is found warning that someone is trying to poison Carrie-Louise. Then someone else is murdered.

The script for this stuck more to the actual story than some of these adapted mysteries do - there are some situations added, but nothing huge. Wilton was a very different Carrie-Louise, younger and rather than being fragile, as Davis was, she's more of an airhead, and her characterization works well. Ian Ogilvy is a visiting ex-husband, and it was nice to see him again as I really liked him on "The Saint." All in all, a good adaptation, and I really like McKenzie's Marple. Joan Collins was wasted in a small role; and she can do a better American accent than what she did here.

McKenzie makes it watchable, But..........

[cloeso9 · 5/10 · 24 July 2009]

"The Do It With Mirrors" is arguably one of Christie's lesser novels. Julia McKenzie does a good job of trying to keep it together, but the addition of the always-lousy Joan Collins was a mistake. So was the re-telling of the story, which has been done with every actress to play Miss Marple, including my all-favorite, Joan Hickson. I have Hickson's version and it's a "mod" mess with psychedelic stage plays! So I haven't really seen "Mirrors" with any actress that's worth it's salt. The problem with this series production team is the writing! All the actors try their best but they simply don't have good scripts. What a shame because we're all looking forward to a good Miss Marple series. I do enjoy McKenzie, especially in "Pocketful of Rye." I'll just check it out to see if this gets better. In the meantime, I have them on old-fashioned videotape.

They do it with mirrors

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 23 July 2023]

Ruth Van Rydock ( Joan Collins) can't shake the feeling that something terrible is going to happen to her sister at Stonygates house. She informs her old school friend Jane Marple (Julie Mackenzie) of this, and the sleuthing spinster to pay a visit to this grand Victorian mansion that isn't just a family home - it's also a correctional facility for wayward young men.

And when something terrible does indeed happen, Miss Marple must face her most eccentric cast of suspects yet.

Julie Mackenzie is a very good Marple, observing and intelligent. She certainly sense the air of evil in the mansion and soon there's murder- the characters are really good such as the young man who says his father's Winston Churchill. Ian Oglivy is quite good as an ex-husband of the sister. It's a well told mystery that is neatly wrapped up at the end.

Getting better

[pawebster · 6/10 · 2 January 2010]

ITV have started adapting the actual books by Agatha Christie and taking them seriously, no longer just having a laugh with the titles as they did in the Geraldine McEwan travesties. Julia McKenzie is good.

This one is entertaining, though with some quirks. The scene in which the ageing of Miss Marple and Joan Collins' characters are compared is a hoot. They're supposed to be contemporaries. Miss Marple says that she really looks her age, whereas Collins, of course, doesn't. The joke is that McKenzie is eight years younger than Collins.

Also, who would have called the reform school a 'facility' in 1950s' England? The whodunit aspect is not very well done. The mystery is not built up properly and there are no proper red herrings. As a result we do not really care who did or didn't do it. The biggest mystery is why one character tries to escape on a bicycle.

I can't help comparing this film to the Joan Hickson version. I'm not one of the legion of reviewers who automatically revere her films and hate these new ones. I admit that the former films can seem slow. However, Joss Ackland's Serrocold was much better played and developed than Brian Cox's portrayal here. Neal Swettenham, as Edgar, was ten times better than the overacting Tom Payne. Also the old version had Holly Aird, who really shone as Gina (although this one is not at all bad).

It's worth watching.

The mirror didn't crack

[safenoe · 7/10 · 16 June 2022]

Legendary actress Joan Collins appears in They Do It with Mirrors, which also stars Rushmore star Brian Cox. It takes awhile for the murderous deed to occur, but you learn to appreciate that Marple ain't Pulp Fiction. I like Marple, and this episode gets you thinking about criminal reform, sibling rivalry and inter-racial love.

The first good McKenzie!

[igorlongo · 9/10 · 4 July 2010]

Ohhhh!At last,Julia has found her way!At last she's Marple,a central character sleuthing in a very creepy thriller as a sharp bloodhound and not a sensible and sensitive schoolmarm overwhelmed by every other character and finding her path to center stage only when she arrives for sheer chance to a very convoluted solution.Here Marple,oyez,oyez,really investigates ,and she not simply hears blandly what other people have to say.Here you can see the light of understanding shining in her eyes when she finds the truth in Gina 's reflection in the mirror.Here you can watch her when she reenact a very astute murder plot before a stunned Alex Jennings. The movie is simply perfect.It's faithful,but it has its own personal way to be it so,as it demonstrates the very thrilling version of Edgar Lawson's attack to Lewis,very different from any other version,but very faithful all the same.Sarah Smart is the better Mildred ever seen ,and simply shines in her role.Emma Malin is a very great and subtly fascinating Gina.Elliot Cowan is a Brilliant Brit Brando .Nigel Terry is a particularly menacing Gulbrandsen.Penelope Wilton wipes away even Simmons and Davis as the Only Carrie Louise,and Brian Cox is a very different Serrocold,but formidable in his own way:Mills was such a gent,Ackland was a benign Titan completely dominating his candid wife.Cox instead is a fumbling, bumbling husband , totally confused by the events and desperately trying to keep himself in stride with his stronger and overwhelming Lady Bountiful.A very good and personal interpretation, very different from the Ackland's domineering Serrocold,but very acceptable all the same. And the music...at last Dominik Scherrer is returned himself.The desire to toning down background music ,answering to misguided requests of some fans,had reduced his scores to miserable shadows of the previous seasons.The music must not be obtrusive,of course,but it was a mixage problem ,a technical glitch not an artistical one.If you tone down too much Music and its importance and you destroy its own personal participation to the scene ,you reduce it only to Muzak,and it lose its own meaning.Here,Scherrer's score is again essential to build up a very creepy atmosphere in the queer and eery old Stonygates,helping the director to create thrills and threats,as in the marvelous beginning or again in the wonderful Dress Rehearsal,the best directed version of the crucial scene of the novel :people complaining against background scores simply don't remember how it was important the very domineering background score in the old Hickson series and how the very bland McKeown's scores reduced the impacts of a few of the last Suchet 's episodes (the new composer has instead found his own way with his many variations on the old Gunning's theme,and Three Act Tragedy shines at last the better score after the Gunning Era). So far,Mirrors is the best McKenzie episode.We can only hope that its model will be followed again by the series,returning it to the glorious, thrilling merriment of McEwan's age.But Crack'd let us to hope that it's really happening again ,and that Great Julia will be remembered ,at last, as a Great Jane!

The original was better!

[benbrae76 · 2/10 · 19 August 2009]

As other reviewers have rightly observed, "They Do It With Mirrors" is one of Dame Agatha's weaker murder mysteries (albeit "weaker" does not mean "bad"), and it hasn't as yet been successfully transferred to the screen, even in the Hickson series. This "weakness" must have given the "Marple" producers and screenwriters confidence that with this one they would not be criticised for using their hatchets on the works of the "Queen of the Whodunits". Indeed they had a great opportunity to rectify all their past faults by making this episode into a faultless adaptation. They failed. Once again they couldn't resist the lure of trying to better Dame Agatha.

The method of the murder of Christian Gulbrandsen has been changed from the original method, to a stabbing in the back (just like the producers of "Marple" have been doing to Dame Agatha for some time). The relationship between the two Restaricks is changed from being brothers, to that of father and son. Exactly why, I can't imagine.

Nowithstanding said changes (and a couple more incidental ones), the piece stays more or less with the original plot except for some bad oysters that somehow appeared into the plot, perhaps as an unnecessary alternative to poisoned chocolates. Again I can't imagine why.

It must be noted however, that they couldn't find different and better motives for the murders, nor even different and better concluding scenes, than Dame Agatha herself introduced. With the abysmal past offerings of "Marple" I was half expecting a different culprit, but thankfully that didn't occur.

The actors just did as they were directed, but without much enthusiasm. Understandable, as the script didn't promote much excitement. In truth it was somewhat irksome. The production as a whole is not the worst in the series (in my opinion "Sittaford" still holds that dubious distinction), but neither is it the best, and the sad thing is that with better writers and more thought applied, it could have been.

Another awful production

[awbe · 1/10 · 22 July 2009]

I really can't see how anyone who has ever seen the former series of Miss Marple could enjoy this movie. It is terrible----My wife and I gave up and closed it after watching 20 minutes on PBS. Once again the producers or directors or whoever does it are trying to be too "arty" and are spoiling what is actually a very good Agatha Christie story with a bunch of inane insane garbage. The Joan Hickson version was rather enjoyable. I am so glad that we watched all the movies in that series first. If we had started out by watching this garbage I am quite convinced that we would never have watched any more Miss Marple movies and missed many enjoyable hours of viewing. BEWARE: Do not buy this trash.

If this is the only thing on - g0 ahead and watch...

[gentle_raven · 1/10 · 20 July 2009]

I LOVE Miss. Marple, but Ms. McKenzie is just not her and I would love to know why they cast her in the role. Geraldine McEwan was the best Miss Marple EVER! As for the story, the plot was weak, the lines were bad, and the stylization of it was downright despicable.

The actors were not good. I'd say they were bad actors, but having seen Sean Hughes in other things - I know he is not and am, therefore, willing to give the others the benefit of the doubt.

I expected better from Mr. Wilson - he has directed some GREAT shows in the past, but he fell flat on this one. Maybe, Mr. Rutman was not the wisest choice to write the screenplay.

This was really bad! (maybe a spoiler)

[streetlight2 · 1/10 · 22 July 2009]

I don't know if the script writer, the producer, director or actors or all of them were responsible, but this was one of the most horrible mystery productions I have ever seen. There were a lot of words spoken, but they were uncoordinated gibberish. The plot was just random nonsense.

I have heard on BBC Radio 7 a nice audio play of this story with June Whitfield as Miss Marple, and it was terrific. McKenzie seems to just sit or stand around with a dumb smile. Not a great performance.

I have not read the Agatha Christie novel, but if I remember correctly from the BBC Radio 7 drama, the scene did not involve a kind of minimum security lock up but took place in a modest house. I certainly don't remember the kind of ending shown in this presentation.

Clearly, the best Miss Marple was Joan Hickson.

Not a huge fan!

[harrykivi · 5/10 · 14 June 2022]

The 4th season of "Miss Marple" started off very well, but got progressively worse as the episodes went by. "They Do It with Mirrors" has never been one of my favorite Christie novels, but I still find the book a decent read. This episode one the other hand is not as good as the book. It's not bad, just average in the long run.

Let's start with the good aspects of this entry.

. The production values of the episode are great. Everything looks good and the music fits the scenery. The acting's mostly fine with the exception of Joan Collins, who is not bad, but her accent felt like a "hit and miss". Emma Griffiths, Sarah Smart, Penelope Wilton are very enjoyable, but Elliot Cowan and Brian Cox give the most interesting performances out of the guest stars. Julia McKenzie continues to be a fantastic Miss Marple, she is easy to warm to and full of charm.

. The story has its moments. There are some good twists, touching moments, especially towards the end with Lewis turning out to be the killer, that did work.

But....

. The direction by Andy Wilson could have been a lot more focused. The beginning of this episode is agreed quite poorly done.

. The mystery is not that well paced. The story got a bit dull about 40 minutes and the characters, dialogue not as witty enough to keep one interested.

Overall, an okay episode.

5/10 HK.

One of the weaker Christie Marple stories

[johngraham1964 · 5/10 · 25 March 2013]

Having seen versions of this with Helen Hayes, the perfect Marple Joan Hickson and now the latest version with Julia McKenzie I conclude that its main failing is the story itself. Tweaked at by various screenwriters in all versions it still pales beside other Marples. Julia McKenzie is a welcome Marple after the previous incarnation, who I felt was woefully miscast in the role (though others do disagree). Ms McKenzie brings a sense of reality to the role without all the grimacing of her predecessor. Another reviewer stated that the problem is not the lead actors and this is true - they have all shone in other roles. This one moves along at a regular pace but has none of the suspense of - say - Sleeping Murder. Not as bad as some other reviewers make out but a long way from the best.