The Mirror Crack’d

There's a touch of Hollywood in the air in St. Mary Mead since a film production company set up camp there. At a party, the two leading actresses, two ageing divas who have been enemies since time immemorial, meet. Ideal conditions for a murder case – but it is an inconspicuous party guest who is poisoned. But anyone familiar with Agatha Christie knows that nothing is inconspicuous in her stories – and Miss Marple (Angela Lansbury, in a sense preparing for her role of a lifetime as Jessica Fletcher) begins to investigate with Inspector Craddok, despite being hampered by a knee injury. In addition to the exquisite ensemble, who give each other no quarter in fantastically biting verbal exchanges, the numerous allusions to the film business and cinema itself – including a film-within-a-film prologue – are also delightful.
(Florian Widegger)