Miss Marple: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side

And so the fabulous BBC productions of the Miss Marple stories draw to a close... perhaps not the best of Christie's stories, but it still offers many delights as a piece of television, including the reappearance of a host of familiar characters from previous outings. It would appear this was Watford's last screen appearance before her death in 1994, and watching her recreate Dolly Bantry is therefore bittersweet. The timing, intonations and tiny details she brings to the part are delicious (as they were in The Body In The Library), and all her scenes with Hickson are quite wonderful. The story is probably a tad convoluted, yet it really is the small details that make it another triumph - Dolly and friends' reaction to the marble bathrooms; Mrs. Brogan's hilarious 'buttering' (totally authentic); Hickson's disapproval of Miss Knight's fussing. Slightly confusing that Castle's clever depiction of D.I. Craddock has now become another of Jane Marple's nephews (they weren't related in A Murder Is Announced), but it's still a joy to see him return in another cloud of cigarette smoke.

So, all this and one last brilliant, expertly crafted portrayal of "the Marple woman" by Joan Hickson. Now all we need is for someone to revisit Ms. Hickson's career and issue some of the many films she appeared in on DVD.

I think on seeing the 1981 Hollywood version and the 1992 version I do feel that being 'British myself that it is much better to keep to the authors way of telling the story as this is Agatha Christies way and that is why she is so popular. As for Joan Hickson playing the part of miss Marple I feel she is perfect and that Agatha Christie was right in her choice and of course she must be right. As to the plots they are meant to be intriguing and complicated not to be made easy to work out .

It may not be the best of the bunch but it's still a good TV movie. A nice touch is the fact that we see several faces that we saw in Murder At The Vicarage an earlier movie of this series. There is Dolly Bantrey ( now a widow), there is the vicar ( he was not the vicar in Murder at the vicarage but seems to have made a promotion) and some more characters. This one is surely better than the movie with Liz Taylor and Angela Lansbury. This was the last one of the series and it's a shame they did not continue it with movies of some of the Miss Marple short stories. Hickson was - up till now - the best Miss Marple. Let's hope they 'll find another person just as good and still use the short stories!

Arthur Bantry has passed away, Dolly Bantry has sold Gossington Hall to legendary film icon Marina Gregg, and moved to a small lodge on the site. Marina has moved to St Mary Mead for a quieter life, along with husband Jason Rudd and servants. Marina agrees for Gossington Hall to host its annual fête, she is introduced to the locals, one she meets in particular seems to have a profound effect on her, Heather Badcock, a woman of modest means from the new development site and St John's Ambulance volunteer. During the rather dull conversation about a meeting many years previous, Marina is frozen to the spot, a look described as being likened to The Lady of Shalott 'Doom came upon her etc.' Heather, not a drinker, takes a drink (a daiquiri) intended for Marina, not used to alcohol suddenly dies, alarm bells raised and Marina descends into a terrified state, who had intended to poison her?

Miss Marple, now in her advanced years, has a carer/companion named Miss Knight, a feisty Scotswoman who attempts to encourage Miss Marple to take it easy, but the detective in her sets out to unravel the mystery.

As a novel, I think it's one of the easiest Agatha Christie stories to read; the characters are beautifully created, and they translate well into this adaptation. Claire Bloom is particularly delightful as Marina Gregg. I firmly believe in her talent as a great actress in her later years (well, it's not exactly a stretch in reality, is it?), as she is such a beautiful, charismatic woman.

There are lots of old friends on display to bow out with, including Inspectors Craddock and Slack, Dolly Bantry, Sergeant Lake, Christopher Hawes, etc. It ends with such a sweet moment. My favorite scene has to be the village ladies discovering the marble bathrooms for the first time, which were no doubt rare at the time; their reactions are just wonderful. Miss Marple's frustrations with Miss Knight are so fun, too.

Such a shame they never adapted 'The Blue Geranium,' although I regularly enjoy the audio-book ready by Joan Hickson herself.

Some people have commented about Miss Marple suddenly being Craddock's aunt, I think it's meant more as a term of endearment, after a closeness between them developed over the years.

It's tale of tragedy and murder, with a couple of humourous subtleties thrown in. I like it very, very much, it remains superior to the Marple and the Hollywood film.

9/10.

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