Agatha Christie Films: Murder With Mirrors (1985)

There have been a few film and TV incarnations of Miss Marple since Agatha Christie invented the little old lady who just happened to have the mind of a great detective. There was Margaret Rutherford who immortalised Marple as a rather comic character, much to the dismay of Christie. There was Angela Lansbury in the 1980 film version of The Mirror Crack’d. On television there was the definitive version, Joan Hickson for the BBC, and then later versions for ITV, with portrayals by Geraldine Fitzgerald and Julia Mackenzie. But there is also another version from the 1980’s that I had never seen or heard of, and that is the great actress Helen Hayes’s portrayal in a television movie, ‘Murder with Mirrors’. This week I found it on Amazon, and dived in.

‘Murder with Mirrors’ is the American title for ‘They Do It With Mirrors’ and tells the story of Miss Marple visiting an old friend, Carrie Louise, who she believes to be in danger. Carrie’s home, Stonygates, has been turned into a halfway house for reformed criminals by her philanthropist husband, so there are no end of suspects around who could be plotting to kill Carrie Louise, and for numerous reasons. But, when a murder does occur, it is not Carrie Louise who is the victim, but her stepson Christian Gulbrandsen, a trustee of her charitable foundation. Why Christian was killed, and why Carrie might be under threat is what Jane Marple, in collaboration with Inspector Curry attempts to find out.

Now, it has to be said that this is no masterpiece, but the cast is a joy. As well as Helen Hayes, who I really enjoyed as an intelligent Miss Marple, warm but clever too, and certainly not bumbling like Margaret Rutherford, there is the legend that is Bette Davis, very old by this point, but still wonderful as only she could be, and beautifully attired throughout the film. Sir John Mills plays devoted husband Lewis Serracold, whilst British television stalwarts Anton Rodgers and Frances De La Tour are also in the cast, as is a very young Tim Roth in an early role.

The styling is also rather wonderful. The story has been updated to the 1980s, rather than the 50s where the story was originally written and set. As mentioned before, Bette Davis has a wonderful wardrobe full of dresses with pussybow collars and bows. Liane Langland, as Carrie’s granddaughter Gina, seems to be based on the gorgeous country wardrobe of Debo, the Duchess of Devonshire, with lots of tweed, jophurs, silk blouses and boots. She often wears a masculine tie to add to the androgynous feel of the outfit, and frankly looks just wonderful throughout.

No

Not the best Miss Marple out there, but definitely one worth checking out!

Sharing is caring!