The world's most celebrated mystery novelist went missing in 1926, creating a mystery of its own. No one ever learned what happened to Agatha Christie and why. This film steps into the void, providing a fictional explanation.
I had never heard of this film. When I saw it was showing on TCM, I decided to watch because of its stars, Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave. Miss Redgrave plays Agatha and Mr. Hoffman plays an American newspaper columnist named Wally Stanton who happens to be nearby when the novelist disappears, so he investigates, looking for a story.
Give the film credit for its portrayal of time and place. The sets and costumes feel authentic. But that is not enough if a film is to be really engaging.
Wally Stanton, who is a fan of Christie's whodunits, is a clever man. He is also intense, direct and determined. He insinuates himself into Agatha's life, while she tries to keep him at arm's length, the way she is with most people. Redgrave's Agatha is reserved, wounded (by her husband), and perhaps naïve. We see Agatha making notes as one would if planning a murder mystery. We see Mr. Stanton desperately trying to gain her confidence, while following leads that might give him insight into Agatha's intentions.
But the film falls short. It's no surprise that a story about two tight-lipped characters might not reveal much below the surface. The ending tells us to believe that something deeper happened, though we did not see it. As Hitchcock might say: show us, don't tell us.
I suspect that neither Hoffman nor Redgrave count this film among their best. When one considers the possible fictions that might have "explained" Ms. Christie's disappearance, this one feels weak by comparison.
I had never heard of this film. When I saw it was showing on TCM, I decided to watch because of its stars, Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave. Miss Redgrave plays Agatha and Mr. Hoffman plays an American newspaper columnist named Wally Stanton who happens to be nearby when the novelist disappears, so he investigates, looking for a story.
Give the film credit for its portrayal of time and place. The sets and costumes feel authentic. But that is not enough if a film is to be really engaging.
Wally Stanton, who is a fan of Christie's whodunits, is a clever man. He is also intense, direct and determined. He insinuates himself into Agatha's life, while she tries to keep him at arm's length, the way she is with most people. Redgrave's Agatha is reserved, wounded (by her husband), and perhaps naïve. We see Agatha making notes as one would if planning a murder mystery. We see Mr. Stanton desperately trying to gain her confidence, while following leads that might give him insight into Agatha's intentions.
But the film falls short. It's no surprise that a story about two tight-lipped characters might not reveal much below the surface. The ending tells us to believe that something deeper happened, though we did not see it. As Hitchcock might say: show us, don't tell us.
I suspect that neither Hoffman nor Redgrave count this film among their best. When one considers the possible fictions that might have "explained" Ms. Christie's disappearance, this one feels weak by comparison.