Vanessa Redgrave was excellent and Destin Hoffman they could not have found a better person to play his character his character was strong kind and sympathetic

Go, instead, for the gorgeous theme music by Johnny Mandel (Emily, The Shadow of your Smile -theme from "The Sandpiper"-, A Time For Love,) which Paul Willians put words to after they titled it "Close Enough for Love." It has become a jazz standard and has been recorded by every worthwhile artist playing or singing jazz. It's one of Johnny Mandel's best efforts, and that's saying a LOT! Stan Getz has a very nice version (instumental, of course.) The lyrics are some of Paul Williams' best. Starts out, "You and I, an un-matched pair..." Not perfect, no, but "close enough, for love." Bittersweet words... I thought the music, alone was well worth the price of admission. I rented the movie as soon as it came out on VHS (this was 28 years ago(!), and made an audio cassette of the theme so I could learn to play it. Songs that good don't come along very often...

I bought the movie because you can't even rent it these days. Being a HUGE Timothy Dalton fan it was worth the money. But the story is weak and there is no chemistry between Vanessa Redgrave and Dustin Hoffman. I'm quite confused as to why Hoffman was chosen to play this part. He certainly doesn't work with this material or this cast. Don't get me wrong.... I think Dustin Hoffman is a FABULOUS actor but just not in this movie. Even though Timothy Dalton is in the movie all too short a time, it's worth seeing if you're a FAN. He's gorgeous (as always!) and well worth watching. I believe it was made just after the mini-series Centennial so I see his physical portrayal of Oliver Seccombe in his character to some extent. Dalton fans.......check it out!

This is one of my favourite films, and not just because I am a fan of Dame Agatha's books. The actors are wonderful: Vanessa Redgrave as Agatha herself, Timothy Dalton as her rotter husband (Christie sowed clues about his ugly personality through her later books and plays), the journalist in his WWI greatcoat, the guests and billiard-players at the hotel, even the troupe of entertainers in the park. Dustin Hoffman is great, and his falling for Agatha is quite believable. I love it when he recites from the Spoon River Anthology when he meets her in a grim Victorian graveyard (great atmosphere and use of location). The evocation of period is spot on: all the right architecture, clothes, hats and manners. There's plenty of humour - eg when the journo is whisked away from his steak and chips, and Redgrave and Hoffman dance together. It's a complex story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. There have recently been some very lame programmes about the author on British television. Forget them, and watch this film.