MovieChat Forums > Murder Is Easy (1982) Discussion > Weak version of the Christie novel...

Weak version of the Christie novel...

posted 15 years ago by Doylenf
4 replies | jump to latest

They took a top Christie story and butchered it. This could have been so much better. The only really good thing about it is the opening with Helen Hayes which is very faithful to the book.

The rest of the story is bogged down by the silly romance between Bixby and Lesley-Anne Down with little development of the other characters. De Havilland's role is so diluted that the ending comes off as weak and unreal.

The worse thing is that they took it out of the original time period (it was '39 in the book) and updated it with a lot of computer nonsense that has nothing to do with adding any merit to the storyline.

Slick and unconvincing, worthwhile only for occasional good moments from Hayes and de Havilland.

"Somewhere along the line, the world has lost all of its standards and all of its taste."

[–] J. Spurlin 13 years ago

I couldn't help but enjoy this movie—even the cheesy business about the computer. But there's no question it's weak stuff. I'm not familiar with Agatha Christie's original, but the script gave me the impression of a solid plot left out in the rain. Not long enough to ruin it, but enough to loosen it a bit. The flat, TV movie-style lighting doesn't help and neither does Bill Bixby, who makes a dull leading man.

...Justin

[–] Prismark10 13 years ago

Its an enjoyable cheesy movie and typical of US tv movies of the period that were set in the UK.

Even recent adaptations of Marple are being butchered and they are made by ITV!

Its that man again!!

[–] victorsuk 12 years ago

Got to disagree, and that i think this is a watchable film as it is usually shown around saturday afternoons, and is a delightful film to wile away a spring or summer afternoon.

I remember watching this many years ago, liking it, and i tried recently to remember what it was called, but all i could remember was bill bixby was in it and it is set in England. Thank God for IMDB.

[–] greenbudgie (2355) 4 years ago

I shall be watching this soon as a retrospective tribute watch-session to the late Dame Olivia. I look forward to those good moments of her and Helen Hayes you mention.