I wanted to see this movie after seeing "Agatha Christie's Marple: Endless Night", which I thought was one of the better Miss Marple movies although the original novel wasn't a Miss Marple story.
The story of Michael Rogers, a scheming chauffeur, who dreams of building a spectacular house along the Devon coast, and the people he ensnares to achieve his ends including marrying a beautiful heiress, Ellie Thomsen, has darker psychological overtones than many of Agatha Christie's works. However it needed the right touch to translate it to the screen.
In the Miss Marple version the tone is right and although Miss Marple is grafted onto proceedings, it all comes together. "Endless Night" is more shrill, and the treatment makes it feel a little old fashioned - except for Britt Ekland's flash of flesh towards the end.
But this film does have stars I like. Anyone who grew up with the Disney movies of the 50's and 60s would have to have a soft spot for Hayley Mills. As Ellie Thomsen in "Endless Night" she is grown up, but looks about 10 years younger. Hayley Mills has always looked much younger than her years. I was surprised to read once that she regretted not accepting the role of Lolita in Kubrick's film. Now that may well have eclipsed memories of "Pollyanna" if it had ever taken place.
George Sanders plays lawyer, Andrew Lippincott. It's not a big role and it was about his last film. He hardly shifted gears throughout his career but he didn't need to; he lifted every film he was in. His sang-froid contrasts with Hywel Bennett's somewhat hyper performance as Michael Rogers. Britt Ekland is in it too, sexy as Ellie's friend Greta.
Letting the film down are some self-conscious photographic effects and a strangely schizophrenic score. The usually brilliant composer, Bernard Hermann, decided to overlay his orchestral score with a Moog Synthesiser. It was all the rage at the time, but nothing dates a movie like the Moog. He wasn't happy with the result and it's easy to hear why.
The Miss Marple version is a much slicker production and shows how the story could be nuanced. Over 40 years later, "Endless Night" is a little too manic, but has some intriguing stars that still command attention.
The story of Michael Rogers, a scheming chauffeur, who dreams of building a spectacular house along the Devon coast, and the people he ensnares to achieve his ends including marrying a beautiful heiress, Ellie Thomsen, has darker psychological overtones than many of Agatha Christie's works. However it needed the right touch to translate it to the screen.
In the Miss Marple version the tone is right and although Miss Marple is grafted onto proceedings, it all comes together. "Endless Night" is more shrill, and the treatment makes it feel a little old fashioned - except for Britt Ekland's flash of flesh towards the end.
But this film does have stars I like. Anyone who grew up with the Disney movies of the 50's and 60s would have to have a soft spot for Hayley Mills. As Ellie Thomsen in "Endless Night" she is grown up, but looks about 10 years younger. Hayley Mills has always looked much younger than her years. I was surprised to read once that she regretted not accepting the role of Lolita in Kubrick's film. Now that may well have eclipsed memories of "Pollyanna" if it had ever taken place.
George Sanders plays lawyer, Andrew Lippincott. It's not a big role and it was about his last film. He hardly shifted gears throughout his career but he didn't need to; he lifted every film he was in. His sang-froid contrasts with Hywel Bennett's somewhat hyper performance as Michael Rogers. Britt Ekland is in it too, sexy as Ellie's friend Greta.
Letting the film down are some self-conscious photographic effects and a strangely schizophrenic score. The usually brilliant composer, Bernard Hermann, decided to overlay his orchestral score with a Moog Synthesiser. It was all the rage at the time, but nothing dates a movie like the Moog. He wasn't happy with the result and it's easy to hear why.
The Miss Marple version is a much slicker production and shows how the story could be nuanced. Over 40 years later, "Endless Night" is a little too manic, but has some intriguing stars that still command attention.