My reason for watching this Agatha Christie film is probably pretty unusual. I am NOT a huge fan of her stories but instead watched it simply because Olivia de Havilland was in the movie. Considering what a fan I am of this wonderful actress, it's not surprising I'd see "Murder is Easy".The film focuses on events that happen to an American professor and computer expert (Bill Bixby) on his visit to the UK. Soon after seeing an old friend, the friend is killed in a suspicious accident--and you know it COULDN'T have been an accident since it IS a mystery film! And, given the title of the film, you know they won't stop at just one! So, Bixby decides to investigate the crimes--after all, he IS a professor (now THAT's movie logic for you)! What follows is an amazingly ordinary film--with mostly second-rate actors (though Lesley Anne-Down was gorgeous), some serious logical errors and a mystery that never was all that involving. Helen Hayes (who played in some excellent Christie films) only makes a token appearance--so don't look for her to reprise her Miss Marple or have an active role in the movie despite her appearing at the beginning. Worth seeing if you are a die-hard Agatha Christie fan but otherwise very easy to skip--even if you adore Miss de Havilland.Here are a few stupid portions of the movie that made me laugh. A doctor tasted the white powder found next to body of dead woman to find out what it was!! What if it were laced with strychnine or arsenic?! What doctor would do this?! What a dumb scene! Also, the film was obviously written by someone with a very limited understanding of computers. You can't rely on a computer to solve a crime, as the computer is only as good as its programming. If you could program in all the possibilities and variables (which isn't possible), then you'd know the killer already--and such a program would take an eternity to create. Unless, of course, it was a very, very simple murder and the evidence was obvious. And finally, when one person is pretty sure they know who the murderer is, do they go to the police? Nope--instead they go to the killer's house to confront them...alone!! What follows is a hilarious cat-fight between a 28 year-old and a 68 year-old that is too dumb to be believed! And, when help arrives, the scene gets even funnier! You have to see this to believe it!Finally, while you won't believe it, Bixby and Timothy West (who play romantic rivals) are just about the same exact age in the movie--though they appear at least 10 years apart.

This is not an outstanding film by all means, but it is a very decent one, that is faithful in story, tone and dialogue to the book. The story is compelling and interesting, hindered only really by the nonsense with the computers which was underdeveloped and added very little to the story.The pace starts very briskly, and Helen Hayes brings a lot of charm to her brief role, but once more in the story unfolds it gets slower up to the conclusion, which is well-paced and rounds things off nicely as it should do. Bill Bixby starts off rather wooden and dull, but gets better.That said, the production values are excellent, the photography is pleasing on the eye and the costumes and scenery are beautiful. The music has some nice parts as well, the direction is decent and the dialogue is charming, controlled and witty. The cast do do very well, while some of the characters could have been developed a tad more, the cast do great jobs especially Lesley-Anne Down, Olivia DeHavilland and Timothy West.All in all, a decent film and adaptation. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Wooden performances, the usual dire changes to make it fit better with the main target audience- how on earth did so may good actors find their way into something as awful as this? I suppose being paid is the answer as it cannot have been challenging in any way shape or form as far as a performance was concerned, they could do this stuff in their sleep.The final scene ( and this isn't a spoiler!) is monumental in its awfulness-I actually sat open mouthed at ineptitude of both the dialogue and performances.I have to write ten lines but there is nothing more to say! I can only thank heaven that I will never have to see this again!

Bill Bixby, not actually turning into the Incredible Hulk, tries to solve the deaths of citizens in one of those quaint English villages where murderers seem to thrive. A nice fair adaption of a fun Christie book with pretty Leslie Anne and a hefty Olivia huffing and puffing thru the scenery. She's a wicked gas here.