The Mirror Crack'd

1980
PG
1h 45m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

9.9K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:45

Suspense Mystery Whodunnit Crime Mystery Thriller

Miss Jane Marple comes to solve the mystery when a local woman is poisoned, but a visiting movie star seems to have been the intended victim.Miss Jane Marple comes to solve the mystery when a local woman is poisoned, but a visiting movie star seems to have been the intended victim.Miss Jane Marple comes to solve the mystery when a local woman is poisoned, but a visiting movie star seems to have been the intended victim.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

9.9K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,654

3,272

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Trivia
At this time of her career Dame Elizabeth Taylor's career was in the doldrums. She was now 48 years old, hadn't had a decent hit film for several years, her marriage to US politician John Warner was struggling, she was taking anti-depressants and had put on weight. When Rock Hudson was approached to do the film he said he would only do it if his long time friend Taylor could also be cast. The producers had assumed that Taylor's salary demands would put the film well over budget and were lining up Donald Pleasence as a possible alternative to Hudson. However, Hudson said that he could get Taylor to agree to star with him for the same salary he was being offered. Hudson convinced Taylor that coming to England for a few weeks to do a mainstream film with him, Lansbury and Tony Curtis (people Taylor had known for about 30 years) would be beneficial for her mental health plus give her a chance to catch up with old friends who lived there.

Goofs
Set 1953, Marty Fenn drives a 1959 model car.

Quotes
Marina Rudd: Lola, dear, you know, there are really only two things I dislike about you.
Lola Brewster: Really? What are they?
Marina Rudd: Your face.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: 1953

Connections
Featured in Sneak Previews: The Mirror Crack'd, The Green Room, Altered States, Scanners (1981)

Soundtracks
A Wandering Minstrel, I
(uncredited)
Composed by Arthur Sullivan

User reviews110

Review

Featured review

8/10

Fade to black....

Highly underrated, this low-key little whodunit manages to bring together two unlikely genres, the English village murder mystery and the catty Hollywood self-satire. While who did do it is not that surprising, the reason why is clever and touching. (Interestingly, the central plot is loosely based on the real-life tragedy that befell Gene Tierney, star of the legendary film noir "Laura.")

The cast of 50's Hollywood icons give very good performances, though, sadly, for most it represents the last really good parts they have had. Hudson is especially good in a bittersweet role. Lansbury is crisp and efficient as Miss Marple and could have made a series of these films had she not found meatier material as another mistress of murder on "Murder, She Wrote."

Indeed, though I adore Margaret Rutherford, I think Lansbury does better by the role of Miss Marple. This is not a great mystery movie, but works very well as light entertainment and as a last hurrah for several fine actors.