I'm a great fan of Agatha Christie's novels and also of Angela Lounsbury who, before her Murder She Wrote years, embarks upon her career of mystery solving as Christie's famous spinster sleuth, Miss Jane Marple. In this instance, the nosy lady becomes involved in unraveling the crime at the behest of her nephew, Inspector Craddock (Edward Fox), though of course she typically requires no invitation before snooping around!
The mystery revolves around a movie production, filmed on location in Miss Marple's little English village of St. Mary Meade. Two egotistical, arch rival stars, Marina (Elizabeth Taylor) and Lola (Kim Novak) are more or less jealously cat fighting, not at all pleased at having to share the movie spotlight together. Marina's husband is the film's director (played by Rock Hudson) and Lola's its producer (Tony Curtis). Marina has been receiving death threats and when a local girl is poisoned at a big party thrown by the townsfolk, she believes herself to have been the intended victim. This calls of course for none other than Jane Marple...
Obviously, a star studded cast. Angela Lounsbury makes a very believable Miss Marple. Whether as Jessica Fletcher or Christie's prying spinster sleuth, solving mysteries is Lounsbury's forte! As far as the rest are concerned, it's primarily the magnetic Elizabeth Taylor's film, as she dramatically portrays the rather faded star, who is attempting to stage a comeback.
All in all, it's quite an entertaining production, amusing and fun. There's plenty of suspense with the usual laundry list of assorted suspicious characters, probable suspects and possible motives. And quite an interesting ending here that only our Miss Marple could ferret out.
The mystery revolves around a movie production, filmed on location in Miss Marple's little English village of St. Mary Meade. Two egotistical, arch rival stars, Marina (Elizabeth Taylor) and Lola (Kim Novak) are more or less jealously cat fighting, not at all pleased at having to share the movie spotlight together. Marina's husband is the film's director (played by Rock Hudson) and Lola's its producer (Tony Curtis). Marina has been receiving death threats and when a local girl is poisoned at a big party thrown by the townsfolk, she believes herself to have been the intended victim. This calls of course for none other than Jane Marple...
Obviously, a star studded cast. Angela Lounsbury makes a very believable Miss Marple. Whether as Jessica Fletcher or Christie's prying spinster sleuth, solving mysteries is Lounsbury's forte! As far as the rest are concerned, it's primarily the magnetic Elizabeth Taylor's film, as she dramatically portrays the rather faded star, who is attempting to stage a comeback.
All in all, it's quite an entertaining production, amusing and fun. There's plenty of suspense with the usual laundry list of assorted suspicious characters, probable suspects and possible motives. And quite an interesting ending here that only our Miss Marple could ferret out.