The Spider's Web (1960 film)

The Spider's Web
British quad poster
Directed byGodfrey Grayson
Written byAgatha Christie (play)
Albert G. Miller
Eldon Howard
Produced byEdward J. Danziger
Harry Lee Danziger
StarringGlynis Johns
John Justin
Cicely Courtneidge
Jack Hulbert
CinematographyJames Wilson
Edited byBill Lewthwaite
Music byTony Crombie
Production
company
Danziger Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • November 1960 (1960-11)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

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.

It was remade as a television special starring Penelope Keith that was broadcast on 26 December 1982.

Plot

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An 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

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Critical reception

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The 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

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  1. ^ "The Spider's Web". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. ^ "The Spider's Web (1960) - BFI". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009.
  3. ^ "The Spider's Web (1960) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  4. ^ "The Spider's Web". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 27 (312): 172. 1 January 1960 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 949. ISBN 0586088946.
  6. ^ "The Spider's Web". TV Guide.
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