The Spider's Web

I have always loved Dame Agatha Christie and it was a pleasure to watch this "spider's web" ,which was first a play (later novelized by Charles Osborne)

It's impossible to mention this play in the same breath as her stage masterpieces ("witness for the prosecution" and "the mousetrap") because the ending is not as mind-boggling as the poster reads ,but for a Christie buff ,it's still good value : the red herrings are present ,(black) humor too -we're sometimes closer to a comedy -,and the whole cast is up to scratch ;the dead body which appears and disappears may remind you of HItchcock's "trouble with Harry".

Once, long before I actually saw the film, I read a review which stated that "The Spider's Web" is so bad that only die-hard Agatha Christie fans would be able to somewhat enjoy it. Yeah, well, I happen to be a die-hard Christie fan and I didn't just "somewhat enjoyed" it; - I loved it! Besides, whoever wrote that dumb review must have been a real sourpuss, because even objectively speaking, I think that "The Spider's Web" is excellent entertainment for various types of audiences. It's a light-headed and comical murder mystery with spirited performances, nice scenery and decors (albeit limited because it's an adaptation of a stage play), ingenious plot twists and a memorable climax. In terms of atmosphere and narrative style, "The Spider's Web" is quite similar to the contemporary Miss Marple film series starring Margaret Rutherford ("Murder She Said", "Murder at the Gallop", "Murder Ahoy" and "Murder Most Foul"). If you liked those, there's a strong chance you will also very much love "The Spider's Web". Glynis Johns Gives a delightfully energetic performance as the hectic housewife Clarissa Hailsham-Brown, trying to cover up a murder in order to safeguard her household and even persuading three sophisticated gentlemen to sabotage the police investigation. Another woman, Cicily Courtneidge, is also outstanding as the intrusive and non-stop talkative gardener Mrs. Peake. True, I may be biased, because I worship Agatha Christie and firmly believe she was the greatest fiction writer in history, but regardless of that, "The Spider's Web" is a fun flick; - period!

This comic adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's lesser-known (and just plain lesser) stories is a static piece of filmmaking (basically, it's just filmed theater), and suffers from an overbearingly incessant score, but Glynis Johns is a charming leading lady, and fans of the writer may want to take a peek anyway, for completion's sake. **1/2 out of 4.

The Quick Pitch: Having discovered a dead body in her drawing room, Clarissa Hailsham-Brown is more concerned with how it will look to a visiting diplomat than she is with who committed the murder. She convinces three friends to help her not only hide the body, but also hide the truth from the police.

Based on an Agatha Christie play, The Spider's Web is a light, airy, mystery/comedy that's less concerned with who-did-it and more concerned with how-do-we hide-it. The film succeeds thanks in large part to the efforts of Glynis Johns. She's bright, funny, quirky, and, above all else, supremely entertaining. Her character, Clarissa, is the energy behind the film. She's a non-stop whirlwind of plots and schemes that are a joy to watch unfold. Johns is joined by a strong supporting cast, including Cicely Courtneidge, Ferdy Mayne, and Peter Butterworth (so good as the befuddled police inspector). All of the performances are helped along by some cleverly written dialogue. I'm not sure, however, who to credit - Christie or screenwriters Eldon Howard and Albert G Miller - but it's a solid script. And the whole production benefits from an appropriately jazzy, bouncy score. It fits nicely with the action on screen. My only complaint is with the film's pacing. While I'll give director Godfrey Grayson a big chunk of credit for the overall finished product, the film dragged a bit for me in the first act. But once the dead body turns up, The Spider's Web becomes an incredibly enjoyable experience.

7/10

Agatha Christie was a top-drawer playwright as well as a novelist, and this film is based on her successful comedy thriller 'Spider's Web' (there was no 'The' in the original title). It had a successful run in London in 1954-56 and starred the wonderful Margaret Lockwood, who also starred in a 1955 TV movie versiion (which I've never seen, alas).

In this very plush technicolor adaptation, Glynis Johns steps into Lockwood's shoes, and does a creditable job. It's a high-energy role, and she overplays her part just a bit. This was probably at the urging of director Godfrey Grayson, a competent director of crime movies who perhaps found himself in unfamiliar comedy territory. In fact, Godfrey's uninspired direction is probably why the film starts to plod about halfway through, and never really recovers.

For the complicated plot, Christie may have borrowed an idea or two from Jack Trevor Story's novel The Trouble With Harry, which of course was the foundation for Hitchcock's classic 1955 movie. The Spider's Web is no classic, however, and probably won't stick in your memory. But it makes for OK viewing, with some laughs and a few thrills. The acting all around is commendable, and, best of all, the sets are gorgeous and definitely worth a peek.