The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side

[Susan]

Welcome to our July read

Published in 1961 The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side sees St Mary Mead enter the Sixties, with all of the changes of modernity and development. Dolly Bantry is now widowed and is forced to sell her manor house to a rich movie star. Other social changes include a new housing development, which is viewed with great suspicion by the villagers, who dislike change.

The glamour of movie stars made this a perfect vehicle for Hollywood to adapt as a movie, which they did in 1980 with Elizabeth Taylor as Marina Gregg and Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple. It was later adapted by the BBC with Joan Hickson in the title and, again, with Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple. The book has also been used as a radio drama on Radio 4 and has even been re-set in Calcutta by Rituparno Ghosh, re-titled, “Subho Mahurat.”

The plot was inspired by a real life event, involving American actress Gene Tierney. There is a link on the spoiler thread, but please only look at this if you have already read the book, as it indirectly reveals the ending!

Please refrain from posting spoilers in this general discussion thread.

[Judy]

As with the Poirot bok we read last year, Hallowe'en Party, it's interesting to see Christie's take on changing times in this. The new estate is presented almost like another world but nice to see that Miss Marple isn't as snobbish as some of her neighbours - she is happy to walk round the estate and get to know people.

[Lady Clementina]

I think she was glad to see that change didn't mean that people were any different.

I found the changes described an interesting part of the book. Particularl since we've been reading in order, its interesting seeing people grow and change as also surroundings.

[Jill]

I thought the way she suffered her carer was great. She still had her "get up and go" despite Miss Knight's babying, but was never outright rude to her. I think I would have lost my patience!

[Sandy]

I loved the way Miss M mocked Miss Knight's use of "we". I use that pronoun with my boyfriend when suggesting actions for him, i.e. "we should mow the lawn" when I have no intention doing such.

[Lady Clementina]

Jill wrote: "I thought the way she suffered her carer was great. She still had her "get up and go" despite Miss Knight's babying, but was never outright rude to her. I think I would have lost my patience!"

As would I- she was a touch too annoying for me.

[Susan]

Yes, you would have thought Miss Marple would have liked Miss Knight more than the cheery Cherry, but that was not the case. I think she knew her nephew, who she obviously really cares about, had installed Miss Knight with the best intentions, so was determined to suffer her and outwit her as best as possible.

[Judy]

Miss Knight is a great cook though - I enjoyed the way that, just when she has been driving Miss Marple mad, sometimes she brings her a meal and Miss M thinks that after all she has her good points. :)

[Susan]

Yes, cooking is very important, Judy -as is gardening, but she was having less luck with that.

[Judy]

Has anyone seen the Elizabeth Taylor/Angela Lansbury film version? My husband remembers watching that one, but I will probably stick with Joan Hickson.

[Sandy]

Judy wrote: "Has anyone seen the Elizabeth Taylor/Angela Lansbury film version? My husband remembers watching that one, but I will probably stick with Joan Hickson."

The pictures of the cast are on the back of my old paperback. Rock Hudson is pictured and I assume he is the husband except that he is described in the book as not handsome. Edward Fox and Tony Curtis are in the cast as well. I picture Curtis as Craddock but haven't thought of a role for Fox. Maybe the butler? I imagine Taylor would be great as Merina. I'll have to see if my libraries have the DVD.

P.S. It does and I've requested it.

[Lady Clementina]

Judy wrote: "Has anyone seen the Elizabeth Taylor/Angela Lansbury film version? My husband remembers watching that one, but I will probably stick with Joan Hickson."

I have but too long ago to really remember what it was like- I did remember the plot because of it though.

[Susan]

Yes, I do seem to remember watching it, but many year's ago. I do remember Rock Hudson though, now you mention him!

[Judy]

Just realised this film was released in 1980, a few years before Murder, She Wrote started, so maybe it gave Angela Lansbury the taste for detective roles? She would have been much too young for Miss Marple, at only 54, but she often played characters much older than her real age!

I'm quite tempted to see this now with such a fantastic cast - but I have the Joan Hickson box set, so decisions, decisions... maybe watch one now and one in a few months.

[Brina]

Starting today. Always happy to read Dame Christie.

[Susan]

Good to hear, Brina :)

As others have said, this book is really calling out to be televised. Does anyone think Christie had this in mind, when she wrote it? She was always hoping to make money from film/television and a Hollywood actress would have had appeal.

[Judy]

I think she had a very cinematic imagination - you can often visualise the story and that's certainly the case here, so maybe she was thinking about TV and film versions.

[Brina]

I like how so far it is shown that just because one is old does not mean that one is feeble and childlike. It seems like Miss M can get on find without Miss Knight who is starting to get on my nerves. I'm up to chapter 7 and as usual Agatha has set the stage by introducing the characters and providing their background information.

[Annabel]

I was taken to see the Elizabeth Taylor version as a child (I would have been eight, which seems rather young for it!). I had never come across Agatha Christie before, as you would expect at that age, but I remember being very proud of successfully guessing the villain.

Yes, Rock Hudson was Jason Gregg and nothing like he is described in the book. I do like him as a character.

One thing that always surprises me in these books is the apparent willingness of famous film stars to hold village fetes, opening up their homes and mingling with the villagers. I can't easily imagine an A-list star living in the English countryside doing that now.

[Sandy]

Re: opening homes to visitors

Wasn't there a long tradition of throwing a party for the locals? Perhaps dating back to the lord and his serfs?

I agree that I don't see that happening today, nor do I see the attendees limiting themselves to local villagers. Once the doors are opened I anticipate bad behavior and general chaos. Souvenirs for the taking!

[Brina]

On page 150 of 255. I do not like this Ella Zielansky character.

[Susan]

It seems that our Hollywood actress does support the St John's Ambulance (if I am remembering correctly) but yes, Sandy, I would say it was traditional for the 'big house' to hold fetes, etc. That even comes up in the first P D James novel, which is written much later than this.

[Mark Pghfan]

I thought that physically, Angela Lansbury resembled the Miss Marple of the books the best. Tall and thin, with masses of snowy white hair.

[Susan]

It was, I suppose, fortuitous that Marina Gregg did have links to the St John's Ambulance. With the local society changing, did you think it was fair that she was expected to participate in hosting the fete? What did you think of the changing society? If you lived in St Mary Mead, do you think you would have resented the new housing development, or welcomed it?

[Lady Clementina]

Susan wrote: "It was, I suppose, fortuitous that Marina Gregg did have links to the St John's Ambulance. With the local society changing, did you think it was fair that she was expected to participate in hosting..."
Probably resented it - at least a little - not as much the new people or things as the fact that the quiet picturesqueness of the place was getting lost with the changes.

[Sandy]

Susan wrote: "It was, I suppose, fortuitous that Marina Gregg did have links to the St John's Ambulance. With the local society changing, did you think it was fair that she was expected to participate in hosting..."

I think that resenting both the change and the newcomers is human nature. I remember a complaint letter by a resident of a new townhouse about a building going up next to him that was going to cut his sunlight, when, of course, his building had done the same to the older house next door. Most people adjust. Today, after picking up our groceries and carrying them around the store ourselves, we also have to check them thru the register as well. While, like the residents of St Mary Mead, I sometimes miss the human interaction after shopping, other times I am glad to get out quickly without listening an argument someone else is having with the clerk.

It would be a lively discussion in St Mary Mead regarding old charm vs. modern convenience. I always want to pick and choose my changes, but others want different choices.

Is St John's Ambulance a known charity? I assumed it was a Christie invention.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review)]

Very much a known charity here in the UK

https://www.sja.org.uk/sja/default.aspx

[Susan]

Ah, I was just going to post a link, Hilary.

St John's Ambulance are known mostly for providing first aid at public events and also for training people in first aid. I once attended an event at one of my children's schools and then, the following week, my daughter suffered a severe burn and I, luckily, knew just what to do. So, I am personally very thankful to them.

[Marcus]

Beginning today this reading.

[Deborah]

Just finished. Miss Knight was very annoying. Love how Miss Marple gets stronger once she's confronted with a mystery. I admire her pluck.

I think the changes in the village would have been unwelcome. The 60s were such a time of change in many areas of life. One as drastic as the housing would have been very unwelcome.

[Susan]

Marcus, I hope you enjoy the book.

Deborah, I think housing after the war did present real changes to many areas. By the Sixties there were many modern housing estates and they must have changed the area. I just wonder whether St Mary Mead was near a town - was there enough work in a rural area for such a changing population, or did the village grow to accomodate them?

[Doris]

Hilary wrote: "Very much a known charity here in the UK

https://www.sja.org.uk/sja/default.aspx"

St John Ambulance made the news yesterday, on the occasion of their 140th anniversary: http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-4... (Celebrating 140 years of St John Ambulance)

[Susan]

Hopefully with no untimely murders at the celebrations... Although I am sure they love being mentioned in Christie - after all, no publicity is bad publicity!

[Mark Pghfan]

One of Miss Marple's best traits, and one on display here, is her acceptance of change, whether she thinks it is good or not. For example, I doubt she was happy about "the Development", but intrigued enough to check it out.

[Lady Clementina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "One of Miss Marple's best traits, and one on display here, is her acceptance of change, whether she thinks it is good or not. For example, I doubt she was happy about "the Development", but intrigu..."

True- she was apprehensive about it but when she saw that people were the same no matter the change in appearance, she was more at ease with the idea.

[Susan]

Yes, good to see that Miss Marple is always tolerant. I am not sure she is always at ease with some things - such as the new kind of shops - but she will try things out.

[Lady Clementina]

Susan wrote: "Yes, good to see that Miss Marple is always tolerant. I am not sure she is always at ease with some things - such as the new kind of shops - but she will try things out."

I meant the settlement- sorry I wasn't clearer. The shops I think will be hard for her to get used to. But she might eventually, who knows. At least she is willing to give things a try,

[Susan]

Yes, absolutely agree, Lady. I have just started A Caribbean Mystery and, again, she is coming across as very interested in everybody and prepared to accept the young generations idea of music, etc. She may not like it, but, as you say, she will give it a go!

[Mark Pghfan]

I've just started Caribbean as well and noticed the same thing!

[Brina]

I'm looking forward to Caribbean. I have it to bring on vacation

[Susan]

It is a perfect holiday book, Brina :)

[Melanie]

Finally got my book,ready to dive in.

[Judy]

I've just watched the first half of the Joan Hickson version of The Mirror Crack'd and thought it was excellent - the actors are perfectly cast. I love Gwen Watford as Dolly and Judy Cornwell as Heather. Looking forward to watching the second half tomorrow.

[Susan]

Good to hear, Judy. Do you prefer Joan Hickson as Miss Marple?

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "Good to hear, Judy. Do you prefer Joan Hickson as Miss Marple?"

Yes, Joan Hickson is my favourite, and I also prefer these versions because they stay closer to the books. But, from the episodes I've seen of the more recent series, I do like both Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie in the role too - 3 wonderful actresses.

[Sandy]

I watched the early version with Angela Lansbury and enjoyed it as 'camp'. The Hollywood characters play to type with large role for Kim Novak to really vamp as the competing actress. The plot was simplified but much the same.

[Susan]

I do think this particular Miss Marple is ideal to be televised/filmed, with lots of appeal to Hollywood. A Caribbean Mystery, our next read, also has those lovely locations.

I agree with Judy that the Hickson versions stay much truer to the original plot. If you know the books well and things are changed, it can feel very jarring.

[Judy]

Sandy wrote: "I watched the early version with Angela Lansbury and enjoyed it as 'camp'. The Hollywood characters play to type with large role for Kim Novak to really vamp as the competing actress. The plot was ..."

I would like to see this version too but will wait a while so that the Joan Hickson one is not so fresh in my mind. Interesting that Kim Novak plays that part - I'm intrigued to see her now. It's Glynis Barber in the Hickson version.

[Mark Pghfan]

Both our current read as well as the next one, a Caribbean Mystery, have been filmed (either movie or TV) three times each!

[Susan]

Three times is a lot. I wonder which GA author has the most TV/film adaptations. I would say it has to be Christie, or maybe Sherlock Holmes (not that I have ever seen even one Holmes adaptation and I've only ever read one book).