This follows the course of the well produced (though sound staged quality) episodes in this television series, with the story line being in the balance. Christie was so versatile that she could include just about "it all." I can appreciate the irony in this without appreciating the tension created. It was well acted. Not my favorite of her tales, yet appreciate its cleverness and a good ending. I had read this tale among her short stories, and it was one of my least favorites. I appreciate the English for their quality depictions of Christie, drawing eminent actors and the production values of the current day. Frankly, I do not recall any American productions of any period using this particular sound stage method, but so glad to get any Christie adaptation and other English productions. Thanks to BBC and then ITV.
7 Reviews
Predetermined fate and post-war trauma
gridoon202416 July 2010
A man is invited to the engagement party of his best friend's sister; just before the party is about to begin, he sees a vision on a mirror of a man with a big scar on his neck killing a young woman. She turns out to be the exact same woman whose engagement is being celebrated that day, and wouldn't you know it, her fiancé has a big scar on his neck...."In A Glass Darkly" is a refreshingly adult and dark episode in a series with a few too many lightweights, well-acted by Nicholas Clay (who did Peter Ustinov's "Evil Under The Sun" the same year) and the lovely Emma Piper (I'm surprised her film career is so short), and well-directed (even faking a larger budget than it probably had with the war scenes). But the story progression feels a bit rushed (in one scene, he proposes to her....in the next, they've already been married for 4 years), and the final twist is predictable. *** out of 4.
Original ending by Agatha Christie?
Coventry17 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Dame Agatha Christie was a lot of great things, but she wasn't exactly a romantic soul. Maybe because of what she went through in her first marriage, her stories don't feature many examples of true and/or everlasting love. Her most well-known protagonists are a single middle-aged detective and a clever old spinster, and when her stories feature young couples, one of them is often plotting to ingeniously murder the other. That's why I'm wondering if the finale of this TV-episode of "In a Glass Darkly" is also, in fact, the original ending that Mrs. Christie penned down. I haven't read the short story, but the episode has a more or less happy ending. Knowing Agatha Christie and her cynical mind, I'm tempted to assume her original plot really ended with Matthew strangling Sylvia to death.
That being said, everything else leading up to the climax is vintage Agatha Christie! A man with a vision of a ghastly murder, a killer with a scarred face, WWI destroying the lives of young and cheerful adolescents, adultery, and sinister things happening at a remote country estate. The main plot-twist can easily be guessed halfway already (or even before, if you are somewhat familiar with the author's style), but it doesn't ruin the fun at all. Emma Piper is a talented and very charismatic actress, and I'm quite surprised she only has 13 fairly unknown acting-credits on her resume.
That being said, everything else leading up to the climax is vintage Agatha Christie! A man with a vision of a ghastly murder, a killer with a scarred face, WWI destroying the lives of young and cheerful adolescents, adultery, and sinister things happening at a remote country estate. The main plot-twist can easily be guessed halfway already (or even before, if you are somewhat familiar with the author's style), but it doesn't ruin the fun at all. Emma Piper is a talented and very charismatic actress, and I'm quite surprised she only has 13 fairly unknown acting-credits on her resume.
A quick query
clarejackson-0769123 January 2019
Almost a story ahead of its time
ppnbackp14 November 2021
When you look at the torment of war and the long term affect it has on both individuals and relationships it shows that the world hasn't changed much in the last 100 years.
This is classic AC, great story telling with great characters and a few "so you think you've worked it out - well you didn't see that coming" moments along the way.
Can't believe it's 39 years old (at time of writing this review)
This is classic AC, great story telling with great characters and a few "so you think you've worked it out - well you didn't see that coming" moments along the way.
Can't believe it's 39 years old (at time of writing this review)
In a Glass Darkly
Prismark105 January 2019
There is a good concept In a Glass Darkly that is lost in flat direction and too brightly lit interior scenes that rob it of atmosphere.
It starts before World War One, Matthew Armitage (Nicholas Clay) is a guest at a party. It is an engagement party of his best friend's sister, Sylvia.
Matthew sees a disturbing image in the mirror of a man with a scarred neck strangling Sylvia. Matthew later sees Sylvia's fiance has a scarred neck.
Matthew warns Sylvia to call off the engagement.
Later, Matthew having fought in World War One suffers from shell shock, as well as having physical scars. He goes to visit Sylvia to tell her about her brother's fate. he finds that Sylvia never married her fiance because she fell in love with Matthew at first sight.
They both marry but Matthew's behaviour is erratic because of the trauma he suffered in the war.
Once you see Matthew's scar you can tell how the story would unfurl. Maybe the scar should had been kept a secret for longer for maximum impact.
It starts before World War One, Matthew Armitage (Nicholas Clay) is a guest at a party. It is an engagement party of his best friend's sister, Sylvia.
Matthew sees a disturbing image in the mirror of a man with a scarred neck strangling Sylvia. Matthew later sees Sylvia's fiance has a scarred neck.
Matthew warns Sylvia to call off the engagement.
Later, Matthew having fought in World War One suffers from shell shock, as well as having physical scars. He goes to visit Sylvia to tell her about her brother's fate. he finds that Sylvia never married her fiance because she fell in love with Matthew at first sight.
They both marry but Matthew's behaviour is erratic because of the trauma he suffered in the war.
Once you see Matthew's scar you can tell how the story would unfurl. Maybe the scar should had been kept a secret for longer for maximum impact.
Feels like a BBC costume drama, in a good way
ranchofiesta8 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Acorn TV has a lot of these 80s BBC series and you can't go wrong with any of Agatha Christie's mysteries to TV shows. "In a Glass Darkly" is an intriguing little story with an Agatha twist yet ends sweetly. My very first thought in seeing actor Nicholas Clay, was "my gosh! He looks remarkably like Jim Caviezel!!" Yes. I even paused the show to compare photos!
Costumes are terrific, indoor scenes are well set, with a touch of "noir" feel. Outdoor/garden scenes were good, while "war scenes" seemed to be filmed on a stage in a high school? But you get the grit, the sounds, the explosions, and most of all, the feeling of fear and despair the soldiers felt. While I hoped the "doctor" at the party would play a bigger part later on in the storyline, he doesn't, so the ending is almost miraculously "neat" and far from real life.
All in all very entertaining and I enjoyed it very much.
Costumes are terrific, indoor scenes are well set, with a touch of "noir" feel. Outdoor/garden scenes were good, while "war scenes" seemed to be filmed on a stage in a high school? But you get the grit, the sounds, the explosions, and most of all, the feeling of fear and despair the soldiers felt. While I hoped the "doctor" at the party would play a bigger part later on in the storyline, he doesn't, so the ending is almost miraculously "neat" and far from real life.
All in all very entertaining and I enjoyed it very much.
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