The Mirror Crack'd

Angela Lansbury Director: Guy Hamilton Guy Hamilton

Overview

Angela Lansbury takes over the legacy of Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie's dogged sleuth Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack'd. The story takes place on a film set in a small British town in the 1950s. Elizabeth Taylor plays a washed-up actress trying to make a comeback but is plagued by a mysterious incident from her past. Unfortunately for her mental state, a collection of murders jar the quiet village where the movie is being made. Miss Marple arrives on the scene with her nephew, Inspector Craddock (Edward Fox), to investigate. In addition to Taylor, an assortment of other movie stars grace the roster of suspects, including Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, and Tony Curtis.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/01/2020
UPC:	0738329249069
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	A
Time:	1:45:00
Sales rank:	4,315

Special Features

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; TV Spots; Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Angela Lansbury	Miss Marple
Elizabeth Taylor	Marina Gregg
Kim Novak	Lola Brewster
Edward Fox	Inspector Craddock
Rock Hudson	Jason Rudd
Geraldine Chaplin	Ella Zielinsky
Tony Curtis	Marty N. Fenn
Marella Oppenheim	Margot Bence
Wendy Morgan	Cherry
Margaret Courtenay	Mrs. Bantry
Charles Gray	Bates the Butler
Maureen Bennett	Heather Babcock
Carolyn Pickles	Miss Giles
Eric Dodson	The Major
Anthony Steel	Sir Derek Ridgeley
Dinah Sheridan	Lady Amanda Ridgeley
Oriana Grieve	Kate Ridgeley
Kenneth Fortescue	Charles Foxwell
Hildegard Neil	Lady Foxcroft
Allan Cuthbertson	Peter Montrose
John Bennett	Barnsby
Nigel Stock	Inspector Gates
Pierce Brosnan	An actor
Pat Nye	Mayoress
Charles Lloyd Pack	Vicar
Richard Pearson	Dr. Haydock
George Silver	Dr. Silva
Thick Wilson	Mayor
Peter Woodthorpe	Scoutmaster

Technical Credits

Barry Sandler

Guy Hamilton	Director
Eric Allwright	Makeup
John Brabourne	Producer
John Cameron	Score Composer
Christopher G. Challis	Cinematographer
Phyllis Dalton	Costumes/Costume Designer
Richard Goodwin	Producer
Richard Marden	Editor
John Palmer	Camera Operator
John Richards	Sound/Sound Designer
Barry Sandler	Screenwriter
Michael Stringer	Production Designer
Jill Carpenter	Makeup
John Roberts	Art Director
Derek Cracknell	Asst. Director
John W. Mitchell	Sound/Sound Designer
Bill Rowe	Sound/Sound Designer
Agatha Christie	Source Author

Editorial Reviews

Considering the talent onscreen, The Mirror Crack'd should be much better than it actually is. Not that Mirror is by any means bad; it's a more than acceptable English village murder mystery, the kind of cozy little whodunit that is the bread and butter of the mystery genre. Mirror gets off to a crackling good start, with the screening of a murder mystery film that, in its five or so minutes, is an enormous amount of fun; but Mirror itself doesn't reach that same level of entertainment. Part of the reason is that Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple is sidelined for a good portion of the film. This is the kind of device that can work in a TV series, when it provides variety; but it's harder to pull off in a single film and pokes a hole in the center of Mirror that just doesn't feel right. It also doesn't help that Lansbury, who should be ideally cast, doesn't seem particularly comfortable; the formidable actress never really gets to work her special magic and never makes the character her own. By contrast, as her assistant, Edward Fox wears the character like a pair of comfortable old shoes. The rest of the star-studded cast comes off better, although they're generally relegated to playing two-dimensional stereotypes. Even so, they seem to be having an enjoyable time, and don't seem to be bothered by material that's only average. Their fun is contagious and makes The Mirror Crack'd worth catching.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler