Below are images from "CRANFORD", the 2007 adaptation of three novellas written by Elizabeth Gaskell and published between 1849 and 1858: "Cranford", "My Lady Ludlow" and "Mr. Harrison's Confessions". Adapted by Heidi Thomas and created by Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin; the five-part miniseries starred Judi Dench:
"CRANFORD" (2007) Photo Gallery
Below is my ranking of the episodes from "THE LAST TYCOON", Amazon Studios' 2016-2017 loose adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1941 unfinished novel that was published posthumously. Developed by Billy Ray, the limited series starred Matt Bomer as Monroe Stahr:
"THE LAST TYCOON" (2016-2017) EPISODES RANKING
1. (1.08) "An Enemy Among Us" - While production chief Monroe Stahr commence upon a campaign to secure Brady-American Pictures first Oscar nominations, studio chief Pat Brady seeks for a solution to balance the studio's account books and get the Board of Directors off his back. Meanwhile, starlet-to-be Kathleen Moore plots to escape from her dangerous deception.
2. (1.03) "More Stars Than There Are in Heaven" - Brady proves his worth as studio chief as he plans to woo film star Margo Taft to sign up with Brady-American. Due to the loan he had given Brady, MGM studio boss Louis B. Mayer tries to interfere in the studio's projects. Brady's daughter Celia forms a connection with office boy Max Miner. And Monroe's relationship with Kathleen blossoms.
3. (1.09) "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" - In this season finale that focuses on the Academy Awards ceremony, Brady makes a decision that causes a rift between him and Monroe and Celia. Monroe and Kathleen grapple with the emotional fallout of her deception.
4. (1.06) "A Brady-American Christmas" - During the Christmas holiday, Stahr encourages Kathleen to join Fritz Lang's secluded rehearsal, leaving him alone on Christmas Eve. Brady schemes to boost ticket sales for "Angels on the Avenue". Celia and Max are brought closer by tragedy.
5. (1.01) "Pilot" - The series premiere and pilot introduced Monroe as Brady-American Pictures' production chief, who constantly clashes with Brady over the content of the studio's films, fends of Celia's infatuation with him and falls in love with Kathleen, whose nationality reminds him of his late wife, Minna Davis.
6. (1.06) "Eine Kleine Reichmusik" - Stahr orchestrates an extravagant Hollywood party that masks a secret agenda involving Austrian-Jewish musicians. Brady continues to courts Margo Taft to become Brady-American's permanent leading lady. And Celia becomes aware of director Fritz Lang's provocative private life.
7. (1.04) "Burying the Boy Genius" - The death of MGM production chief Irving Thalberg sends shock waves throughout the Hollywood industry and leaves Brady pondering over Monroe's shaky health. Meanwhile, the latter risks his budding relationship with Kathleen to save a movie and Brady American.
8. (1.07) "A More Perfect Union" - Brady hatches a bold business ploy that has sweeping consequences for the studio's employees and forces Monroe to contain the repercussions. Kathleen struggles to manage her tangled web of half-truths.
9. (1.02) "Nobody Recasts Like Monroe" - Monroe continues his pursuit of Kathleen, who rejects the idea of being a replacement for Minna. Pat Brady's pet project has a devastating debut, forcing him to accept Monroe's help. Celia gets cozy in her role as producer, so Hackett takes it upon himself to give her an education.
"THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE" (2010) Review
The 2010 television movie, "THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE", marked the third screen adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1962 novel of the same title. This particular adaptation from the "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MARPLE" series starred Julia McKenzie as the leading character, Miss Jane Marple.
Considering this is the third adaptation of Christie's novel, I almost feel inclined to compare it to the 1980 and 1992 adaptations. Perhaps I might every now and then. Otherwise, I will try to focus on the 2010 movie itself. The story began with the arrival of Hollywood starlet Marina Gregg and her husband, director Jason Rudd to Jane Marple's home village, St. Mary's Mead, England. The pair is in England to film Marina's latest film about the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Marina and Jason have purchased Gossington Hall, the former home of Jane Marple's recently widowed friend, Mrs. Dolly Bantry. The cinematic pair eventually Marina host a fête and reception for St. Mary Mead's citizens. But due to a minor accident that left her foot sprained, Miss Marple was unable to attend. Among those guests that appeared at Gossington Hall for the fête were:
*Marina's former husband and gossip columnist Vincent Hogg, who has a personal grudge against her
*Lola Brewster, Vincent's current wife and Marina's younger screen rival and Jason's former lover
*Jason's personal secretary, Ella Blunt, who happens to be infatuated with him
*Mrs. Heather Babcock, an annoying and self-involved St. Mary's Mead citizen, who had first met Marina during World War II
*Local photographer Margot Pence, who happens to share a past connection to Marina
While Heather Babcock bores Marina with an account of their previous meeting during the reception at Gossington Hall, she drinks a cocktail meant for Marina and dies. Miss Marple and Detective-Inspector Hewitt discover that the cocktail had been poisoned. Both race to learn the killer's identity before he or she can reach the true target - Marina Gregg.
I have always been surprised that "The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side" is not that highly regarded by literary critics. Although some regarded as among the best of her later novels, it remains not as highly regarded as many of her earlier works. This is a pity, because I have always found the 1962 novel to be among Christie's more interesting works.
There were aspects of "THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE" that . . . well, irked me. The production cast actor Nigel Harman as Marina Gregg's director/husband Jason Rudd. Harman is over twenty years younger than Lindsay Duncan, who portrayed Marina. May-December romances on screen are not as uncommon as one would think - regardless of whether the man or woman is older. If the two performers in question have the screen dynamics to overcome this age discrepancy, then fine. The problem is that Harman lacked the screen presence to keep up with the likes of Duncan. He was no Rock Hudson or Barry Newman. Come to think of it, I had the same problem with the Vincent Hogg-Lola Brewster pairing. Actress Hannah Waddingham is over thirty years younger than Martin Jarvis. And yet, she seemed to lack the screen presence to keep up with the likes of Jarvis. At least in this particular production. I have seen Waddingham in other productions in which she managed to project a very strong and memorable screen presence. So, I will chalk up her lackluster appearance in this film either to bad direction from Tom Shankland or lack of screen chemistry with Jarvis.
I had another problem with the Vincent Hogg character . . . namely his profession as a gossip columnist. Hogg is supposed to be one of Marina Gregg's former husbands. If the Vincent Hogg character had met and married Marina before he became a gossip columnist, I could understand this. But a Hollywood star marrying a columnist? I just cannot see it. I also had a problem with the Heather Babcock character. I do not mean to be an ageist, but I feel the actress who had portrayed her, Caroline Quentin, had been too old at the age of 49-50 to portray Mrs. Babcock. Then again, I could be using age to hide from the fact that I did not find Ms. Quentin's performance convincing.
Did "THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE" live up to this interesting aspect of the novel? I honestly do not know. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Do not get me wrong. With the exceptions of a few changes regarding the story's characters, the 2010 television adaptation is more than less faithful to Christie's novel. Thanks to Lindsay Duncan's superb performance and Tom Shankland's direction, it did a great job in conveying Marina Gregg's fragile, yet artistic and ruthless personality and how she managed to accumulate so many enemies. There were certain scenes in the movie that I enjoyed. They include Miss Marple and Mrs. Bantry's initial meeting with Marina Gregg and Jason Rudd at Gossington Hall for tea; any scene with Victoria Smurfit, who gave a very sharp, yet entertaining performance as Jason's secretary, Elsa Blunt; the rather hilarious social encounter between the citizens of St. Mary's Mead and the Hollywood newcomers at fête, and the scene featuring Marina's breakdown during her filming of a Cleopatra movie.
I certainly had no problems with the movie's production values. Sheena Napier, who worked on her fifth (out of eleven) "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MARPLE" movie, did an excellent job in re-creating the fashions of mid-20th century Britain. I can also say the same about Jeff Tessler, who skillfully took television viewers back to the same time period. And I felt somewhat satisfied with Cinders Forshaw's photography. I say . . . somewhat. Although I found his photography beautiful and colorful, I felt annoyed by the soft focus style that hinted the production's time period. So unnecessary.
I have already commented on those performances featured in "THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE" - like Lindsay Duncan, Victoria Smurfit and Caroline Quentin. I might as well comment on the other performances that I had missed. Julia McKenzie gave a marvelous performance, as always, as the brilliant and observant amateur sleuth, Miss Jane Marple. I noticed, however, that her performance seemed a bit more subtle than usual. Was this due to working alongside the more ebullient Joanna Lumley? I do not know. But I did notice that the latter's portrayal of Dolly Bantry seemed even more extroverted than she did in 2004's "THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY". I enjoyed Ms. Lumley's performance, but there were times when I found it a bit grating. I may not have been impressed by Nigel Harman's chemistry with Lindsay Duncan, but I thought he gave a solid performance as Jason Rudd. On the other hand, I enjoyed Hugh Bonneville's skillful portrayal of the cool and slightly sharp-tongued Detective-Inspector Hewitt. He also had a surprisingly good screen chemistry with Julia McKenzie. Martin Jarvis nearly dominated every scene he was in as Marina's resentful, yet malicious ex-husband Vincent Hogg. I wish I could say the same for Hannah Waddingham, but I cannot. Even in those scenes in which she did not share with Jarvis, she made a very disappointing Lola Brewster. Hmmm. So I can blame the director's handling of her. I certainly was not disappointed with Charlotte Riley's excellent, yet cool portrayal of the enigmatic photographer, Margot Bence. I can also say the same about Brennan Brown, who gave a very entertaining performance as Marina's highly nervous secretary, Hailey Preston. The television also featured solid performances from Olivia Darnley, Samuel Barnett and Neil Stuke and Michele Doctrice.
"THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE" is not the best Jane Marple movie I have ever seen . . . or even one of the best. Nor can I say that it is the best adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1962 novel. But despite its flaws, I must admit that I still managed to enjoy it, thanks to Tom Shankland's direction, Kevin Elyot's screenplay and a first-rate cast led by Julia McKenzie.
Below are images from the 1942 adaptation of Thelma Straubel's 1941 novel, "REAP THE WILD WIND". Directed by Cecil B. DeMille, the movie starred Ray Milland, Paulette Goddard and John Wayne:
"REAP THE WILD WIND" (1942) Photo Gallery
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Below are images from "CRANFORD" , the 2007 adaptation of three novellas written by Elizabeth Gaskell and published between 184...
