Teresa Reviews “The Case of the Missing Lady” (1983)

Teresa reviews “The Case of the Missing Lady” (1983) and

Fidelity to text: 2 1/2 kidnap

The plot’s there, but hugely enhanced. Oddly, a Sherlock reference was removed, despite it being a Sherlock parody.

Quality of movie on its own: 3 kidnap

A bizarre tonal shift takes place near the end but then fails on its own terms. And where’s “Yakety Sax” when you need it?

Read more of Teresa’s Agatha Christie movie reviews at Peschel Press.

Also, follow Teresa’s discussion of these movies on her podcast.

Agatha read all the popular fiction of her time, something that’s often forgotten today. It’s as though she stands alone in the popular mind, surrounded by a force field shielding her from cultural contamination. Parodying famous (but now forgotten) mystery writers was a natural step as she worked out her own style. Think of all the authors who’ve gotten their start writing fan fiction.

“The Case of the Missing Lady” (1924) was her fourth Tommy and Tuppence outing, although it’s placed later in the sequence in the Partners in Crime collection. It is, of course, a parody of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. She layered in plenty of Sherlock, not all of which made it into the film. In particular, Tommy plays a few notes of Mosgovskensky on the violin, making Gabriel Stavansson, experienced Arctic adventurer, flinch and Tuppence grind her teeth. The minute Stavansson’s gone, Tuppence locks up the violin so Tommy can’t torture anyone again.

Mosgovskensky is Tommy’s attempt to make up a Russian composer. It may have been Agatha’s inside joke in 1924. When rewriting this very slight story, the scriptwriter used the name for a Russian ballerina.

In addition to reworking the text, the scriptwriter added Sherlock references or made Agatha’s choices more obvious. Tommy pretends to deduce who Stavansson is based on his appearance. He’s fibbing because he and Tuppence read the newspapers and overheard Albert using his name. Stavansson is a Norwegian explorer, a disguise that Holmes used after he went over Reichenbach Falls with Moriarty. The creepy quack doctor uses animal gland extracts, armadillo in this case, a reference to “The Adventure of the Creeping Man” where extracts of languor monkey were used.

Like Holmes, Tommy wears disguises; an intrepid journalist and a tramp/gardener. We’ll assume that Madame Mosgovskensky’s driver (Tuppence’s disguise) is Albert in disguise because Tommy’s seen lurking in the shrubbery when they arrive. There’s the quack doctor in general (Conan Doyle despised them) and villainous henchmen, male and female, always a Sherlock staple.

There’s also the reason why Stavansson arrived at their door. It’s classic Sherlock: It’s not murder, but it’s serious enough. A woman has vanished. Tuppence even name-checks “The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax.” Also, take a look at “The Adventure of the Copper Beeches” where a young lady is held captive by her evil father, with the help of a nefarious henchman. Agatha’s not one to shy away from strewing bodies about, so despite this being a parody, the stakes are high.

It could very well be that Stavansson’s fiancée, Mrs. Hermione Leigh-Gordon, is a victim of foul play. They’re close enough that he calls her ‘Hermy’. Her cousin, Lady Susan, doesn’t seem to know where she is and is reluctant to tell Stavansson what she does know. Hermy’s a widow, so it’s possible that she has a past Stavansson doesn’t know.

Except we’re given a clue to the ending at the beginning. Stavansson volunteers the information that he loathes fat women. Can’t abide them. Tuppence comments acidly about fashion agreeing with Stavansson but he doesn’t notice. He shows off a picture of Hermy. Later, Tommy comments on how bony she is.

Then it’s off to interview Lady Susan in person. Stavansson accompanies the dynamic duo who claim, to Lady Susan’s suspicion, that they’re also friends of the missing Hermy. Lady Susan may be fat and have a fat lapdog, but she’s not stupid. It’s clear she knows where Hermy is and as soon as the unwanted guests leave, she’s on the telephone.

A mysterious telegram from Hermy arrives shortly thereafter, saying she’s off to Monte Carlo. Tommy and Tuppence, not being deceived, head off to where the telegram was sent from. It’s Maldon, a tiny village in the middle of nowhere. But there’s a mysterious doctor in residence at the Grange. He runs some sort of rest home. He also looks suspicious. His henchman, Muldoon, is a goon right from central casting.

Tommy investigates, disguised as an intrepid reporter. Not only is Dr. Horriston suspicious, so is the weird chemistry setup in his office. His assistant, Irma Kleber, is even more suspicious. Everything about her screams Ilse Koch, a German war criminal notorious for her vicious treatment of prisoners at Buchenwald and Majdanek. Not that Tommy would have known that in 1924, but when Partners in Crime was filmed in 1983, every sadistic nurse was a secret Nazi.

Tommy can’t get inside to search for Hermy, although disguised as a tramp gardener, he’s allowed (!) to work on the estate. Tuppence channels her inner diva and swans in, pretending to be the famous ballerina, Madame Mosgovskensky. She needs a rest before starting her own ballet company and charms Dr. Horriston into accepting her. She hears moaning in the halls at night.

At this point, the tone of the episode flips from dark and creepy to surreal. Tommy and Tuppence fuel up with gin from a hip flask before exploring. Hermy must be rescued! They devise a plan. It does not involve calling Stavansson, who’s used to danger and would probably enjoy rescuing his fiancée from certain death.

The next day, Tuppence insists on performing Swan Lake for Dr. Horriston, Nurse Irma, Muldoon, and the other rest home staff and patients, none of whom had appeared before. They must have been hiding in their rooms until Tuppence needed an audience. She swans out in ballet slippers and makeshift swan maiden costume, while Irma plays Tchaikovsky on the piano. But Tuppence can’t dance ballet! So while Tommy is breaking in upstairs, she relates the story of Swan Lake. Except she’s not clear on the details. Eventually, everyone falls asleep. I found that hard to believe because rest home occupants and staff are always eager for a break in the routine.

In the meantime, Tommy talks to Hermy. He abandons her to her fate and looks for Tuppence. They’ve got to escape, not Hermy. The episode devolves into a zany, madcap chase through the Grange and its extensive gardens. Tommy and Tuppence flee up and down, pursued by Horriston, Irma, and Muldoon. None of the other orderlies show up, which I would have expected.

They should have!

Everyone should have shown up, including Stavansson, Albert, Lady Susan, her ancient butler, and her dog! That chase scene should have been sped up, with orderlies and Stavansson popping in and out of the shrubbery. Lady Susan’s lapdog should have been nipping at Tuppence’s skirts. Or Irma’s. Or ripping off Dr. Horriston’s pants. It should have all been set to Yakety Sax, Benny Hill’s theme music.

By 1983, when this episode was filmed, Benny Hill had been riding high for decades on British TV. His show was syndicated worldwide. With an example like that, how could this chase scene be so lifeless? What a missed opportunity and it would have tied up the loose ends of Stavansson’s quest to save Hermy.

Read more of Teresa’s Agatha Christie movie reviews at Peschel Press.