The Mirror Crack'd

'The Mirror Crack'd' is a British mystery film directed by Guy Hamilton. It is based on Agatha Christie's novel "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side" published in 1961 with an adapted screenplay by Jonathan Hales and Barry Sandler. It belongs to the group of stories starring Miss Marple.

The action is set in the small village of St. Mary Lead, where Miss Marple resides. The town is preparing to receive the production of a big budget Hollywood costume drama about Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I starring two famous rival actresses, Marina Rudd and Lola Brewster. They hate each other.

Expectation is growing when all the local residents are invited to attend a presentation of the film company with its stares. There are Marina with his husband Jason Rudd, who directs the film, and Lola with hers, Martyn Fenn, who produces the film. When the two know about each other they burst in anger.

In the reception both actresses speak with the villagers, and Marina meets Heather Babcock, an effusive fan who says she met her during World War II. The same evening, Heather dies suddenly after drinking a cocktail. Everybody suspects Marina was the one supposed to drink it, because she had been receiving death threats. Inspector Dermot Craddock from Scottland Yard, who is also Miss Marple nephew, travels to the city to investigate the murder. He asks for the help of his aunt to try to solve this misterious crime.

At the time of production there were already several movies based on Miss Marple's adventures, but this one was the first starring Angela Lansbury in the role. However, even if it had a stellar cast with names such as Elizabeth Taylor, the film was considered to be a box office flop, and Lansbury decided to never play Miss Marple again.