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University Daily Kansan, February 2, 1981
'The Mirror Crack'd works as a mystery, but atmosphere and characters carry film
By MIKE GEBERT Contributing Reviewer
★★★
"The Mirror Crack'r," starting Angela Lansbury, Edward Fox, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Klim Novak, Geraldine Chaplin and Tony Curtis, directed by Gay Hamilton.
Edmund Wilson once complained that the mystery enjoys a protection no other form of fiction has: even though the worth of a mystery has much to do with the ingenuity and skill of its author, a reviewer feels compelled not to reveal the solution for fear of spoiling it for his readers.
Elizabeth Tavlor
Wilson went on to say that the best mystery stories made their plots secondary to the development of atmosphere and characterization; he preferred the amusing interplay of violence and Watson and the poisonous Los Angeles figures of Chandler to most puzzle novels.
The movies have borne out Wilson's ideas. No plot, no matter how ingeniously structured, is sufficient to carry a two-hour film. Few of us remember the plots, but always memorable were Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe, Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson, William Powell as the Thin Man or Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple.
The last is particularly appropriate, not only because Agatha Christie's Miss Marble was a distinct original in a world of imitation Sherlocks which included Miss Christie's own Herculeus and Johnny Depp's own Ladykill of her such an unforgettable character on screen in a series of minor mysteries inevitably buoyed by the lady's ineffable style. And now another fine English comedienne, Angela Lansbury, is having a shot at the role in the new film "The Mistress," pleasant, amusing mystery in the Christie style.
A movie is being made in Miss Marple's hometown, a very typical English village, populated with all the usual common—sense types and starstruck bores. The clash of two
cultures is most amusingly observed, until a local woman is found dead—poisoned, it would appear, by a drink meant for film star Elizabeth Taylor, making her cornea come after a tragic miscarriage. Her husband and director, played by James McMullen, the new from her, but as the threats continue the temples are made, it is clear—but then, Mr. Wilson's advice still holds true, does it?
It has been observed that the only problem with mysteries is mystery plots. There is a certain well-worn weariness about traveling down the road to the solution with detective Edward Fox, as he reports to his aunt (Miss Marple) and she does all his work for him. The picture drags a bit as it must follow its conventions.
rescue. Not Lansbury's, however; it is a skilled performance, but in avoiding an imitation of Rutherford she loses much of the fun. She's a good sensible auntie, no eccentric amateur girl, and she is likely to movie company roles provide most of the sparks. Knowing it is a little bit true wins immediate sympathy for Taylor, which is never really lost, and Hudson, no doubt crying for the first time in her life, also benefits. Tony Curtis and Kim Novak are much less sympathetic, but have a lot more fun.
As always, characterization comes to the
As a fast-talking moll who tells a bewildered operator to "get me the coast!"—she asks, "which one?"-Curtis displays a new-found vulgarity, accidentally answering a minister's query of "Who chooses the leading lady?" with a flourish. But Taylor is not unlike Taylor has not lost her figure, is simply hilarious as the cat-like girlfriend of Curtis, another has been making a guest appearance as Elizabeth II to Taylors Mary, Queen of Scots. She and Taylor have a smiling cat-fight in an early scene to rival the best of "All About the eternal starlet, Novak" in Cat Heaven.
The adapters and director Guy Hamilton (he's done a few James Bonds) were well advised to stick with the stars and downplay the genuinely ingenious plot. It takes care of itself, and sneaks you to figure them out by not giving anything else to do.
There's a key scene at the beginning, also the best scene in the movie, where a group, including Miss Marple, watches a typical mystery film called "Murder at Midnight." A detective rattles off the names of the suspects, giving the usual all of you had motives, but only one had the opportunity to prove before be the casualist the murderer, the film breaks. Fortunately, Miss Marple explains it all to the disappointed crowd. But it doesn't matter. In the best mysteries, getting there is the fun.
Mike Gebert is chairman of the SUA film series and is seeking a degree in radio, television and film from the College of Liberal Arts and sciences.
On Campus
OPENING OF A FACULTY EXHIBIT by Susan Bercu, Jane Asbury and Lois Green from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday until Feb. 14 in the Art and Design Gallery.
TODAY
A PHILOSOPHY LECTURE by Susan Fegen on "John Stuart Mill: Aesthetic Pleasure as a Higher Pleasure," will be at 4 p.m. in the International Room of the Kansas Union.
PHYSICS AND ASTROMONY COLLOQUIUM presents George Roth who will speak on "Recent Earthquakes in South-Central Nebraska" at 4:30 EDT. Attendance for refreshments will be served at 4 p.m. 138 Malott.
OPERATION FRIENDSHIP will meet at 7 p.m. in the Center, 629 W.19th. Information
may be obtained from (800) 345-8757.
FACULTY RECITAL by the Kansas Brass
Faculty at 8 p.m. in the Swartwout Hall in
Marshall.
ALCOHOLIC TOLERANCE DEMONSTRATION from 7:10-30 p.m. today and tomorrow in the Trail Room of the Union. Participants must sign up as a member of a two-man team. There will be free beer for the participants. The event is sponsored by the KU Drug Information group.
TOMORROW
STUDENTS ANTI-NUCLEAR ALLIANCE will meet at 7:30 p.m. in Parlor C of the Union.
ACADEMIC COMPUTER CENTER (ACC) will have a seminar on "An Introduction to Time Sharing" at noon and "Remote Batch Entry from Time Sharing" at 7:30 p.m. Both lectures are in the auditorium of the Academic Computer Center.
TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION PROGRAM as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi will be at 8 p.m. in the Governors' Room of the Union.
CAMPUS CHRISTIAN HOUSE will have its weekly Bible study at 7:30 p.m.
WESTERN CIVILIZATION FILM SERIES presents "Death in the Morning" and "Night Journey" at 7 p.m. in the basement of Lippincott Hall.
TAU SIGA DANCE CLUB will meet at 7 p.m., 242 Robinson.
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION STUDENT ORGANIZATION presents "Multicultural Nonsexist Education" at 7 p.m. in the Forum Room of the Union.
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES will meet at 7 p.m., 1538 Tennessee Street.
The Kansan welcomes items for inclusion in "On Campus." Organizations should submit written information on scheduled, free activities and events to the event at least three days before the event.
KJHK to reach all over Lawrence
KJHK, KU's student radio station at 91 FM, will double its listening range around March 1 by increasing its power from 10 to 100 watts.
The Federal Communications Commission gave the station the go-ahead Jan. 22 to make necessary changes and preparations for the increase.
"We won't be heard in Kansas City or Topke, but maybe in western Johnson County," Irwin Brown, station manager, said. "There won't be a part of Lawrence where we can't be heard."
been seeking the increase for about a year and a half, but has been waiting for its application to clear the FCC's bureaucratic red tape, Brown said.
Dale Gadd, faculty adviser for KJHK,
estimated that the change would cost $12,000.
The station will have to buy new equipment and
an upgrade of their equipment in order to
facilitate the increase.
"Right now there are several dead spots because of the dorms and other things getting in the way."
After the changes are made, KJH must be inspected by the FCC before it can make the decision.
The station plays progressive rock and jazz 24 hours a day. Brown said the format would not change, but the program will be
KJHK, which stands for Kansas Javhawk. has
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Magazine subscriptions.
Book fairs • Book talks
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Monday, Feb. 2
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SUA FILMS
the famous "Garbaw Laughs!" from Ermil Lubbach directed this charming, hilarious tale of the war with the business man and woon and by an American (Melvin Doughles). Greta Grafa's next-to-mixtitext was written in color. 7:30 Iain Clare. [11m]. Color: 7:30
Tuesday, Feb. 3
Leave Her to Heaven
(1945)
Orwell Welles' ambitious version of the Kafka novel, Anthony Parkins is Joseph K. the anonymous clerk arrested and sentenced to 30 years in a literal state. As illogical as brilliant and ever as, this was Welles' best film in years. With Jessica Morsel, Welles and Parker, a series of episodes.
One of Gene Tiemany's greatest allies, to a middle-class female fatale, willing to do anything—even commit murder — was the conductor, who graphed, suspended soap opera, well directed by John Stahl. With Cornel Silkson Price (110 mln) Color; 7:30.
Wednesday, Feb. 4
The Trial
[1975]
Thursday, Feb. 5
Femmes Fatales
(Calmos)
A film by Bertand Berrard, made between her and Gilt Out Your clothes and chiefs. His theme is that men of all ages, the men of women with and as always, reunify, poetic and hilarious." "No one is happy with such visual beauty!"—Paule凯. Meal, 18/16 mille, (8/16 mille, French, Colorful paintings, 7:30).
Unless otherwise noted, all films will be shown in the Woolf Auditorium in the Friday, Saturday, Popular and Sunday Fridays. Saturday, Popular and Sunday Films are $20.00 available at the SUA. Tickets available at the SUA union. 4th level. Information 864-713-5160. No smoking or refresherwarm-ups.