Sparkling Cyanide

Was this totally 80s cheese? Absolutely. Did I live it? Yes. Was it the best movie? No. But as someone who's late Mother loved the aforementioned Murder She Wrote and Agatha Christie, it was our fun. One of many things I watched over the last few days recovering from surgery. I watched a few times, as I always miss stuff the first time or 2. I loved Tony's character and Nancy Marchaund.... perfect. Those facial expressions. I couldn't help think Sondra reminded me if Princesses Diana, especially at Steven's political speech in the fashionable blue hat and her sad looks....it was the same time Diana's popularity was flourishing. But the biggest star was the fashion. It was nominated for an Emmy Award for fashion design. Oh the sequins and shoulder pads and hairspray. I do have to mention the main reason I rented thus film in the first place was David Huffman (Stephen). I recently discovered him while binge watching, of all things, Little House on the Prairie. I googled him and found many things he was in as well as the fact that he was murdered at the age of 39...So sad. May he RIP. His character wasn't the best, but his handsomeness is on full display. I would recommend this film to anyone who wants to forgot everything going on and enjoy back campy mystery.

This is an enjoyable film...good fluff-that's about it. I don't think the writers of the script understand what Agatha Christie had in mind. I read quite a few of her novels-and I wonder if Agatha Christie's name should be taken off the title of this film. Let's call it "Sue Grafton's Sparkling cyanide"

Sue Grafton is a great writer-her novels are always best sellers, but-no female mystery writer has ever captured the time and place settings, not to mention the scene of the crime as has Agatha Christie.

I like this film, though-but it's no Agatha Christie. I like Anthony Andrews-at least they put a British actor in this film. No matter how you slice it-in order to get the feel of what Agatha Christie put into the story-you need to read "Agatha Christie's Sparkling Cyanide" Before you bother seeing "Sue Grafton's Sparkling cyanide"

Yeh, I know it's set in the 80's instead of the 40's or 50's but this wasn't that bad. In fact, some parts improved on the book. The narration in the book is a little over heated. Has a nice twist ending that unless you read the novel you won't see coming. A definite guilty pleasure indulgence. Come on, admit it, cheese like this is entertaining.

This was fun to watch, mainly because of people like Anthony Andrews whom I feel I don't see enough at best. I think it would have been far more entertaining and taken more seriously, had it not been billed as "Agatha Christie". One look at the scenery, sets, and costumes tells us that it was not set in Christie's originally-intended places nor at the times she knew. When movie-makers start toying with the author's intent, the result is questionable and sometimes disastrous. Because the cast was good, this one was not disastrous, but definitely questionable; if we tune in for a good old-fashioned Christie, we'll be disappointed because this clearly isn't it! If we view it just on its own, and don't think of it as Christie, we'll have a better chance of enjoying it on its own merit. I think it's worth a couple of hours of viewing, but I'd also recommend reading the book and trying to find a version that's truer to the original.

Rosemary Barton takes one sip of champagne at her wedding anniversary dinner party and then suddenly collapses dead. "Cyanide poison", the doctor exclaims. Was it suicide or murder? Rosemary certainly had her fair share of enemies. Her husband George believes it to be murder and so he gathers together the same dinner guests and recreates the party, hoping to add a surprise guest to bring the killer out in the open. Unfortunately, poor George also gets a taste of poisoned champagne and ends up taking a trip to the morgue. It is then left to Rosemary's sister Iris and private investigator Tony Browne to solve the mystery.

The suave Anthony Andrew lends a lot of charm as the sleuth who is out to catch the poisoner, and of course romances Deborah Raffin at the same time. Sparkling Cyanide might not be set in England, and of course it plays more like a soap opera, but nevertheless very enjoyable, light, brisk and there's a sense of clarity and simplicity in the execution of the story and the mystery.