Agatha (1979)

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers:

Kathleen Tynan (screenplay) and
Arthur Hopcraft (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 February 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A fictional solution to the real mystery of Agatha Christie's disappearance.

Plot:

A fictional account of the real life, eleven day, never explained 1926 disappearance of famed murder mystery writer Agatha Christie is presented...

Plot Keywords:

Suicide Attempt | Divorce | Newspaper Columnist | Health Spa | Electric Chair

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Wally Stanton
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Agatha Christie
Timothy Dalton	...	Col. Archibald Christie
Helen Morse	...	Evelyn Crawley
Celia Gregory	...	Nancy Neele
Paul Brooke	...	John Foster
Carolyn Pickles	...	Charlotte Fisher
Timothy West	...	Kenward
Tony Britton	...	William Collins
Alan Badel	...	Lord Brackenbury
Robert Longden	...	Pettelson
Donald Nithsdale	...	Uncle Jones
Yvonne Gilan	...	Mrs. Braithwaite
Sandra Voe	...	Therapist
Barry Hart	...	Supt. MacDonald
David Hargreaves	...	Sgt. Jarvis
Tim Seely	...	Capt. Rankin
Jill Summers	...	Nancy's Aunt
Christopher Fairbank	...	Luland (as Chris Fairbank)
Liz Smith	...	Flora
Peter Arne	...	Hotel Manager
D. Geoff Tomlinson	...	Hotel Receptionist
John Joyce	...	Hotel Waiter
Irene Sutcliffe	...	Dress Shop Manageress
Ann Francis	...	Jane
Hope Johnstone	...	Royal Baths Clerk
John Ludlow	...	Royal Baths Clerk
Ray Gatenby	...	Official at Literary Luncheon
Hubert Rees	...	Official at Literary Luncheon
Tommy Hunter	...	Pierrot
Pamela Austin	...	Pierrot
Bert Ward	...	Pierrot
Harry Segal	...	Pierrot
Howard Blake	...	Hotel Trio
Jim Archer	...	Hotel Trio
Reginald Kilbey	...	Hotel Trio
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Benson	...	Head waiter (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Stan Richards	...	Hotel Porter (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Apted

Writing credits
Kathleen Tynan		(screenplay) and
Arthur Hopcraft		(screenplay)
Kathleen Tynan		(story)

Produced by
Jarvis Astaire	....	producer
Gavrik Losey	....	producer

Original Music by
Johnny Mandel

Cinematography by
Vittorio Storaro

Film Editing by
Jim Clark

Casting by
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Shirley Russell

Art Direction by
Simon Holland

Costume Design by
Shirley Russell

Makeup Department
Stephanie Kaye	....	chief hair stylist
Wally Schneiderman	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Joyce Herlihy	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Benson	....	assistant director
Matthew Binns	....	third assistant director
Gareth Tandy	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Jack Carter	....	construction manager
Dennis Fruin	....	property master
Jill Quertier	....	property buyer
Michael Seirton	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Tony Bell	....	boom operator
Ian Fuller	....	dubbing editor
Hugh Strain	....	dubbing mixer
Christian Wangler	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Derek Piggott	....	stunt pilot

Camera and Electrical Department
Roberto Alberti	....	focus puller
David Cadwallader	....	key grip
Filippo Cafolla	....	gaffer
Alfredo Marchetti	....	key grip
Laurie Shane	....	gaffer
Enrico Umetelli	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James Smith	....	wardrobe master (as Jimmy Smith)

Music Department
Lawrence Ashmore	....	conductor

Transportation Department
George Andrews	....	unit driver

Other crew
Zelda Barron	....	continuity
Clinton Cavers	....	location manager
Wally Eggleden	....	production accountant
Redmond Morris	....	location manager
Jennie Raglan	....	production assistant
Renée Glynne	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Sweetwall (as Sweetwall Productions Inc.)
• First Artists (as The First Artists Production Co. Ltd.)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (as Warner Bros. Inc.)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Opção (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Other Companies

• Harrogate Department of Resort Services  thanks (as Harrogate Resort Services Department)
• Bath & North East Somerset Council  thanks (as Bath City Council)
• Steamtown Railway Museum  thanks
• British Railways  thanks
• Bray Studios Ltd.  studio (as Bray Studios, Windsor, England)
• World Wide Sound  sound re-recording (as World Wide Sound Ltd., London, England)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Netherlands:AL | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | Peru:PT | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

Sweetwall

Trivia:

Julie Christie was originally cast as Evelyn Crawley, but due to a roller-skating injury she was forced to bow out.

Movie Connections:

Version of Agatha Christie: A Life in Pictures (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Yes Sir That's My Baby

Agatha Christie meets "The Twilight Zone"

Until I saw "Agatha", I had never even heard of the story of Agatha Christie disappearing - or hiding - in 1926. The movie offers a possibility of what might have happened, portraying the author (Vanessa Redgrave) secretly checking into a health spa under a false name, while detective Wally Stanton (Dustin Hoffman) investigates.

I will admit that this movie is nothing special. If anything, it's sort of just a way to pass time. But it is interesting not only learning about this part of history, but seeing this speculation of what might have happened (the movie reminds us that this is only speculation). The only other cast member whom I recognized was Timothy Dalton as Agatha's husband Archibald. Not a masterpiece by any stretch, but worth seeing nevertheless.