‘THE LADY VANISHES’ (1979): ZANY BUT REALLY FUN MYSTERY
Inspired by a novel and boasting a popular cast (especially of its day), The Lady Vanishes (1979) is mostly good fun.
The Lady Vanishes (1979) Film Review
A little bit wild and very impulsive, Amanda Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) is a serial bride. She has money, but to keep up with her lifestyle, she marries and divorced many a man she meets. While vacationing and travelling to Switzerland, it’s the eve of another of her weddings when an elderly lady named Miss Froy (Angela Lansbury) becomes her unexpected, kind travelling companion. After sharing a meal together, Amanda returns with Miss Froy to their car only for Amanda to wake from nap to find Miss Froy is missing and no passenger remembers her…
This inspires the spunky heiress teams up with Robert Condon (Elliott Gould), a photographer, to find out what plot is afoot in this mysterious disappearance!
FILM REVIEW | ‘BEFORE AND AFTER’ IS UNIQUE SLOW-MOVING FAMILY DRAMA
‘THE LADY VANISHES’: ZANY BUT REALLY FUN MYSTERY. Cybill Shepherd stars in 1979 mystery. #Mystery #MovieReview #Movies #Mysterymovie Share on X
This is the second adaptation of this novel I’ve seen, and while this one is entertaining, I think I prefer the later BBC adaptation. Still, since details on that adaptation are a little fuzzy, perhaps saying this is perhaps unfair. While this may not be a favorite adaptation, I did enjoy watching it. The film is more than a little bit silly (mainly in its production) but it does redeem itself by introducing us to a group of characters who are great fun to “hang out” with for the 90-some minute the film runs. the lady vanishes 1979
The cast impresses too and all seem to play their respective roles well whether they’re meant to be mysterious or likable. The train setting may be kind of stifling, but all of this leads to a cute ending, so I forgive any squabbles. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then this 1979 flick is a fun thing to watch.
Stream, at publication, The Lady Vanishes (1979) with Tubi TV; or digitally rent or purchase on Prime Video
Photo: Alamy
Content: nothing much to note in this PG film. There is some innuendo and of course the mystery which includes kidnapping someone and also murder, too.
I enjoyed watching Angela Lansbury in Murder She Wrote. Thank you for sharing The Lady Vanishes.
I’ve seen all those episodes and it was fun to see her in this (and there’s one where she plays Miss Marple in a mystery, too).