The Mirror Crack'd (1980)

64% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(1,362 ratings)

Angela Lansbury takes over the legacy of Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie's dogged sleuth Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack'd. The story takes place on a film set in a small British town in the 1950s. Elizabeth Taylor plays a washed-up actress trying to make a comeback but is plagued by a… More Angela Lansbury takes over the legacy of Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie's dogged sleuth Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack'd. The story takes place on a film set in a small British town in the 1950s. Elizabeth Taylor plays a washed-up actress trying to make a comeback but is plagued by a mysterious incident from her past. Unfortunately for her mental state, a collection of murders jar the quiet village where the movie is being made. Miss Marple arrives on the scene with her nephew, Inspector Craddock (Edward Fox), to investigate. In addition to Taylor, an assortment of other movie stars grace the roster of suspects, including Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, and Tony Curtis. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Guy Hamilton
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Dec 19, 1980 Wide
On DVD: Aug 6, 2002
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
The good lines make Mirror more fun to watch than it has any right to be.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
For all her prolificacy, Agatha Christie relied too often on one particular plot twist, and as soon as you recognize her old favorite here, the film loses all interest.
Variety Staff, Variety
A nostalgic throwback to the genteel British murder mystery pix of the 1950s.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Both Miss Taylor and Miss Novak, as larger-than-life silver-screen rivals of a certain age, get all wound up for some fancy, high-toned tongue-lashings, but the material isn't up to their power.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The big-name cast is a great, nostalgic throwback to the 1950s, when its players' names -- Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, Tony Curtis -- graced giant theater marquees.
, Film4
[A] classic murder mystery drama.
, Time Out
Though it's obvious after five minutes that this is a complete no-no, the cinema equivalent of a bellyflop, it exercises a perverse fascination
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The Mirror Crack'd is a thoroughly enjoyable Agatha Christie mystery.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Nicely nasty script can't make up for slack direction and miscast lead.
Almar Haflidason, BBC
[A] stunningly turgid mess.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

A little slow in the start, and a little flabby in the middle, but like most Agatha Christie adaptions, the ending is quite the doozy.
jay n

Kim Novak is the standout here with a wonderfully droll performance, but the picture borders on poor taste sticking as closely as it does to the Gene Tierney tragedy.
Lafe F

Elizabeth Taylor is quite a spectacle here, playing a character much like her own self. Angela Lansbury as Marple is awesome. The suspects: Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson and Kim Novak give the movie some flair. I found it a bit dry and long, but the murders kept the momentum going.
Sunil J

Most of the cast does a terrible job trying to convince us that they're anyone other than who they actually are.

Cast

            Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple

            Elizabeth Taylor as Marina Gregg

            Kim Novak as Lola Brewster

            Edward Fox as Inspector Craddock

            Rock Hudson as Jason Rudd

            Geraldine Chaplin as Ella Zielinsky

            Tony Curtis as Marty N. Fenn

            Marella Oppenheim as Margot Bence

            Wendy Morgan as Cherry

            Margaret Courtenay as Mrs. Bantry

            Charles Gray as Bates the Butler

            Maureen Bennett as Heather Babcock

            Carolyn Pickles as Miss Giles

            Eric Dodson as The Major

            Anthony Steel as Sir Derek Ridgeley

            Dinah Sheridan as Lady Amanda Ridgeley

            Oriana Grieve as Kate Ridgeley

            Kenneth Fortescue as Charles Foxwell

            Hildegard Neil as Lady Foxcroft

            Allan Cuthbertson as Peter Montrose

            John Bennett as Barnsby

            Nigel Stock as Inspector Gates

            Pierce Brosnan as An actor

            Charles Lloyd Pack as Vicar

            Richard Pearson as Dr. Haydock

            George Silver as Dr. Silva

            Thick Wilson as Mayor

            Peter Woodthorpe as Scoutmaster

            Pat Nye as Mayoress
See full cast