Not sure how true this is to the original book (or the later 'Mrs Pollifax' novels; maybe it's an amalgamation of several of the titles?) but the result is a TV movie that is resounding good fun.
A month ago I watched the Rosalind Russell version. A very different feel, but then it was made nearly 30 years before this 1999 offering. The story in this later version veers away from the path of the Russell 1971 plot, very early in the film. The plot then brings our lead character back to mainstream Europe and away from Morocco. Presumably this was to make the story more familiar and safe to American viewers (Paris being somewhat of a dream to most Americans, it seems!) This did not happen in the '71 version. But does it really matter?
Lansbury, as ever, plays a lead character brilliantly. Yes, she has in this film taken on another role of the more-able-than-she-looks Marple-esque type, somewhat repeating her 'Jessica Fletcher' days. So, yes, it might seem a bit déjà vu, but then we know she does this type of story to great effect. It's amost tailor-made for the actress.
The film does have its poor moments. Daft features and events are let into the plot - for example, if all the world's spies knew what their enemy agents looked like, there wouldn't be any need for secret spy armies! And the last ten minutes of the film has far too many events squashed. But as a case of a little widderwoman being sent on a spy mission in a case of mistaken identity, we do not care. It offers a good story, with fun characters.
Sublime. All-round entertainment. 8/10.
A month ago I watched the Rosalind Russell version. A very different feel, but then it was made nearly 30 years before this 1999 offering. The story in this later version veers away from the path of the Russell 1971 plot, very early in the film. The plot then brings our lead character back to mainstream Europe and away from Morocco. Presumably this was to make the story more familiar and safe to American viewers (Paris being somewhat of a dream to most Americans, it seems!) This did not happen in the '71 version. But does it really matter?
Lansbury, as ever, plays a lead character brilliantly. Yes, she has in this film taken on another role of the more-able-than-she-looks Marple-esque type, somewhat repeating her 'Jessica Fletcher' days. So, yes, it might seem a bit déjà vu, but then we know she does this type of story to great effect. It's amost tailor-made for the actress.
The film does have its poor moments. Daft features and events are let into the plot - for example, if all the world's spies knew what their enemy agents looked like, there wouldn't be any need for secret spy armies! And the last ten minutes of the film has far too many events squashed. But as a case of a little widderwoman being sent on a spy mission in a case of mistaken identity, we do not care. It offers a good story, with fun characters.
Sublime. All-round entertainment. 8/10.