The Spider's Web (1960)

Outstanding performance form Glynis Johns, 6 September 2019

The Quick Pitch:  Having discovered a dead body in her drawing room, Clarissa Hailsham-Brown is more concerned with how it will look to a visiting diplomat than she is with who committed the murder.  She convinces three friends to help her not only hide the body, but also hide the truth from the police.

Based on an Agatha Christie play, The Spider’s Web is a light, airy, mystery/comedy that’s less concerned with who-did-it and more concerned with how-do-we hide-it.  The film succeeds thanks in large part to the efforts of Glynis Johns. She’s bright, funny, quirky, and, above all else, supremely entertaining. Her character, Clarissa, is the energy behind the film.  She’s a non-stop whirlwind of plots and schemes that are a joy to watch unfold. Johns is joined by a strong supporting cast, including Cicely Courtneidge, Ferdy Mayne, and Peter Butterworth (so good as the befuddled police inspector).  All of the performances are helped along by some cleverly written dialogue. I’m not sure, however, who to credit – Christie or screenwriters Eldon Howard and Albert G Miller – but it’s a solid script. And the whole production benefits from an appropriately jazzy, bouncy score.  It fits nicely with the action on screen. My only complaint is with the film’s pacing. While I’ll give director Godfrey Grayson a big chunk of credit for the overall finished product, the film dragged a bit for me in the first act. But once the dead body turns up, The Spider’s Web becomes an incredibly enjoyable experience. 

7/10