The Spider's Web (also known as The Spider's Web by Agatha Christie) is a 1960 British mystery film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Glynis Johns, John Justin, Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert.[1][2] It was adapted by Albert G. Miller and Eldon Howard from the 1954 play Spider's Web by Agatha Christie, and was a rare Technicolor 'A' feature from the Danzigers.
| The Spider's Web | |
|---|---|
.jpg) British quad poster | |
| Directed by | Godfrey Grayson |
| Written by | Agatha Christie (play) Albert G. Miller Eldon Howard |
| Produced by | Edward J. Danziger Harry Lee Danziger |
| Starring | Glynis Johns John Justin Cicely Courtneidge Jack Hulbert |
| Cinematography | James Wilson |
| Edited by | Bill Lewthwaite |
| Music by | Tony Crombie |
Production company | Danziger Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
It was remade as a television special starring Penelope Keith that was broadcast on 26 December 1982.
Plot
editAn ambassador's wife must hide the corpse of her stepdaughter's unlikeable stepfather from her husband, who is bringing important visitors to their country home.[3]
Cast
edit- Glynis Johns as Clarissa Hailsham-Brown
- John Justin as Henry Hailsham-Brown
- Jack Hulbert as Sir Rowland Delahaye
- Cicely Courtneidge as Miss Peake
- Ronald Howard as Jeremy
- David Nixon as Elgin
- Wendy Turner as Pippa
- Basil Dignam as Hugo
- Joan Sterndale-Bennett as Mrs Elgin
- Ferdy Mayne as Oliver
- Peter Butterworth as Inspector Lord
- Anton Rodgers as Sergeant Jones
- Robert Raglan as Dr. Berry
Critical reception
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The attempt at light relief falls flat, while the comically inept police inspector is little short of ludicrous. ...There is the usual surprise denouement, but much is left vague or unclarified."[4]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Fairly standard who-done-it played unwisely for comedy."[5]
TV Guide wrote, "an entertaining film version of Agatha Christie's 1954 stage play about a diplomat's wife who hides the corpse of her stepdaughter's father. Though there is no Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot to push this programmer along, it still moves at a lively pace."[6]
References
edit- ^ "The Spider's Web". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "The Spider's Web (1960) - BFI". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009.
- ^ "The Spider's Web (1960) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Spider's Web". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 27 (312): 172. 1 January 1960 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 949. ISBN 0586088946.
- ^ "The Spider's Web". TV Guide.
External links
edit
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