REVIEW: Marple The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side (S5.E4)

ITV

The series five finale was first broadcast on 2nd January 2011 and was adapted by Kevin Elyot and directed by Tom Shankland.

Story 

Miss Marple's best friend Dolly Bantry (Joanna Lumley) had recently sold her home Gossington Hall to American movie star Marina Gregg (Lindsey Duncan) and her younger director husband Jason Rudd (Nigel Harmon). When she moves in, Marina decides to host a party for all the villagers of St Mary Mead, but on the day of  the even, local busybody Heather Badcock drinks a poisoned martini and dies...

This is probably the strongest story ever adapted with Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple, rather than some of the short stories etc, and Kevin Elyot pulls it off marvelously. The script is entertaining from start to finish. Of course, there are a few minor changes, like the exclusion of Mr Badcock, Miss Knight and Giuseppe and exchanging Inspector Craddock for Inspector Hewish. Ardwyck Fenn is renamed to Vincent Hogg and Ella Zeilinsky is renamed Ella Blunt. However, the plot, murders and motive are all the same making at a very faithful adaption.

Direction, locations, soundtrack

Tom Shankland's direction fits the setting of the film: a cosy English village so it isn't very dark. However, this works well with the story. It also has a classy edge, and the parts where they are at the film studio are excellent. The areas of St Mary Mead, including Danemead, Miss Marple's house, were shot in Bledlow, Buckinghamshire. The soundtrack hasn't been released, but can be heard in part in A Caribbean Mystery.

Cast and characters 

In this episode, we get to see more of Miss Marple's home life, as it's set almost entirely in St Mary Mead. I think it's a great shame the character of Miss Knight was omitted because she's such a fun character. I could imagine Julie Walters playing her well.

Joanna Lumley, who previously played Dolly Bantry in the Geraldine McEwan film The Body in the Library returns to play the role opposite Julia McKenzie, and she's absolutely fabulous (forgive the pun). Lumley and McKenzie have such a great relationship, it's so believable. You can see that they are having the time of their lives. I really hope we get to see Dolly Bantry again, she's one of my favourite of Miss Marple's companions.

Of the guest cast, Lindsey Duncan stands out as Marina Gregg, as well as Nigel Harmon and Jason Rudd. Hugh Bonneville makes an excellent Inspector Hewish and Caroline Quentin was great as Miss Badcock.

Just a bit of continuity, Vincent Hogg and Lola Bruster stay at Bertram's Hotel when they are in London, when we see the outside of their hotel it's the same location and it says Bertram's Hotel on the sign.