Welsh actor Hywel Bennett ("Percy") plays Michael Rogers, a fairly aimless young working man who still wants some of the finer things in life. He falls in love with a piece of land called Gypsy's Acre, and subsequently, a luminous American rich girl named Ellie Thomsen (a gorgeous and effervescent Hayley Mills). Despite some initial misgivings on his part about carrying on with such a wealthy person, they enter into marriage, living on a luxurious estate designed by architect Santonix (Swedish actor Per Oscarsson, "The Night Visitor").
Although this seems to be a fairly unremarkable love story for much of the running time, this IS an adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel, so it DOES make you curious as to where it's going. It does lead to a pretty good twist late in the game, whether the viewer sees it coming or not. Then one may realize just how much they've been manipulated up to that point.
The cast is game, with Bennett doing a particularly good job. Mills of such Disney fare as "Pollyanna" and "That Darn Cat!" makes for a VERY appealing leading lady, with the equally lovely Britt Ekland ("The Man with the Golden Gun") leaving a strong impression as a slightly overbearing character named Greta. The excellent supporting cast includes Lois 'Miss Moneypenny' Maxwell, George Sanders ("All About Eve"), Aubrey Richards ("The Ipcress File"), Patience Collier ("Fiddler on the Roof"), Peter Bowles ("Blow-Up"), David Bauer ("Diamonds Are Forever"), Helen Horton ("Phase IV"), Madge Ryan ("A Clockwork Orange"), Windsor Davies ('It Ain't Half Hot Mum'), and Walter Gotell ("The Spy Who Loved Me").
Atmospheric handling, by screenwriter-director Sidney Gilliat ("The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery"), and slick film-making make this a reasonably absorbing story with a finale that made the whole thing worthwhile for me.
Six out of 10.
Although this seems to be a fairly unremarkable love story for much of the running time, this IS an adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel, so it DOES make you curious as to where it's going. It does lead to a pretty good twist late in the game, whether the viewer sees it coming or not. Then one may realize just how much they've been manipulated up to that point.
The cast is game, with Bennett doing a particularly good job. Mills of such Disney fare as "Pollyanna" and "That Darn Cat!" makes for a VERY appealing leading lady, with the equally lovely Britt Ekland ("The Man with the Golden Gun") leaving a strong impression as a slightly overbearing character named Greta. The excellent supporting cast includes Lois 'Miss Moneypenny' Maxwell, George Sanders ("All About Eve"), Aubrey Richards ("The Ipcress File"), Patience Collier ("Fiddler on the Roof"), Peter Bowles ("Blow-Up"), David Bauer ("Diamonds Are Forever"), Helen Horton ("Phase IV"), Madge Ryan ("A Clockwork Orange"), Windsor Davies ('It Ain't Half Hot Mum'), and Walter Gotell ("The Spy Who Loved Me").
Atmospheric handling, by screenwriter-director Sidney Gilliat ("The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery"), and slick film-making make this a reasonably absorbing story with a finale that made the whole thing worthwhile for me.
Six out of 10.