Thank you, Laura, for reminding me how much I love Christie - books, films, TV adaptations, plays - for entertainment, escapism and for a glimpse of the world seen through Agatha’s gimlet eyes. What I object to is Johnny-come-lately adapters who approach the stories with the attitude of “Well, the basic idea is OK - not up to my standard, but all right-ish. What it really needs is me adding unnecessary twiddly bits and ignoring the flow of the story just because I can, and because I’m so fucking brilliant.” Of course, other opinions are available (and probably less sweary).
Sweary is very apt because it's usually what the adaptations do to Agatha - in exactly the spirit you describe. THAT'S what I don't like about them! Eff is fine. But don't put it in because you think Agatha needs shaking up a bit, poor old girl... Thanks Rod, as ever.
Oh I knew what it was from. Made my day to see it used in this context. Thanks again for this list, I have some enforced rest time coming up and am in need of all the recommendations.
Wonderful list. I, too, have seen all 70 Poirot episodes, and your choice is perfect. It tickled me to see Toby Stephens and Rachael Stirling in Five Little Pigs (which is one of my favourites among all 70), as their mothers, Maggie Smith and Diana Rigg also appeared together in another IMHO enjoyable Agatha Christie adaptation, Evil under the Sun.
I am so glad to see "A Murder is Announced" meet your short list. The performances are typically perfection in the whole of the Joan Hickson corpus, but the pathos of the murder of Miss Murgatroyd and having that expressed, as it was in the book, by the redoubtable Hinchcliffe. We enjoy it regularly in our home, along with the rest of the oeuvre.
I loved this! That early 'And Then There Were None...' is a corker, if only for seeing Walter Huston do his thing. I only discovered 'Love From A Stranger' relatively recently and was amazed at how creepily sexually explicit Rathbone's kicks from anticipating murder were. Ugh. 'Witness for the Prosecution' of course, but NOT the BBC adaptation which was just weird. Marlene Dietrich when she draws the blind in Laughton's office - such style. Of the Hicksons my fave is 'Nemesis' and Poirots perhaps Sad Cypress (Elinor Carlisle, so noble) or Third Girl (Jemima Rooper so TRAUMATISED) although I agree about Poirot becoming more important than the story. Looking forward to the worst...
Oh drawing the blind, yes... Thanks for this, I know you will have read it last time so it is APPRECIATED - 100% agree about Sad Cypress, an unusually good episode. Very well cast. 3rd Girl I remember ending weirdly, with Poirot sort of rhapsodizing (she smiles! She laughs!) about J Rooper... but I trust your judgement so have no doubt it's better than those last strange seconds. Not in Basil's league for weirdness, that's for sure...
I've always thought that Witness for the Prosecution was Dietrich's finest hour as an actress. As for Murder on the Orient Express, I love and adore it and enthusiastically applaud it as number one.
Great list! A Murder is Announced is one of my favourite Christie books. On the film front, I have a sneaking love for The Mirror Crack’d with Elizabeth Taylor in full diva mode.
my father produced four Christie movies - your Number 1 and 2 and and as a little girl my job was to read all her books .... would also make a case for Evil Under the Sun uber camp but worth it for Maggie Smith , Diana Rigg and the divine Jane Birkin - wait for her final transformation ...
Oh wow Daisy - amazing! I owe him much gratitude, as you can see. Thank God Agatha agreed to that first film. Evil - I gasped the first time I saw Jane in her white and black…
I loved the Joan Hickson Marples; my very frail mother adores them and they remind me of earlier happy times when we’d all watch them together. I loved the relationship between Miss Marple and Inspector Craddock in the one you’ve selected, Laura. That series ten of Poirot was a cracker; my favourite by far of the Suchet Poirot’s was ‘After the Funeral’. I also loved ‘Dumb Witness’ just for the Lake District scenery. I’ve read neither so must remedy that.
Yes, rather sexy Inspector Craddock.... that was so good! They remind me of my darling dad so I know just what you mean. And I agree about After the Funeral. Amazing cast. Monica Dolan gave me the absolute shivers.
God, she was scary wasn’t she? Brilliantly played. Yes, he was very sexy indeed. Sometimes the inspectors are played as a bit of a joke aren’t they but no chance of that here. I think he played a sneering husband in a Suchet Poirot…
"A Murder is Announced" is utter brilliance. It's such a clever plot, but the casting and performances are just extraordinary. Anyone who thinks that Christie is nothing but cosy fluff evidently has never seen it.
I agree with you about the ITV Poirots (I've seen all of them as well!). They did get far too serious - the moment in "Murder on the Orient Express" when Poirot was doing his rosary seemed incredibly out of character for him and felt as if it was from a completely different series. This is the same character who kept his central heating on, to Inspector Japp's great annoyance, and ate tiny and precise squares of toast. Non, non, now he must have ze Catholic guilt and everything must have very much ze shadows!
I know you've mentioned it in your worst list, but the one where Miss Lemon has an admirer and Hastings punches him with, "Take that, you bounder!" Is this an Ealing comedy? What's going on? And of course, there's that episode (Peril at End House? I can't remember the name but possibly involves poisoned chocolates) where right near the end there's a hilariously, badly-dubbed child....!
That sounds like Peril at EH, a real ‘period acting’ fest - I must look out for the child! Agree about the TV Orient Express. It felt as though they were at pains to make it as different as possible from the film. All too much. The books are so swift, they’re much better not weighted down with a load of extraneous stuff…
A score by Britten (Love From A Stranger)! In their house in Aldeburgh, there are thrillers in the bookcase, but I can't remember any Christies, though I was there a long time ago. I like the idea that Britten, or more likely Pears, was a fan :-)
Thank you, Laura, for reminding me how much I love Christie - books, films, TV adaptations, plays - for entertainment, escapism and for a glimpse of the world seen through Agatha’s gimlet eyes. What I object to is Johnny-come-lately adapters who approach the stories with the attitude of “Well, the basic idea is OK - not up to my standard, but all right-ish. What it really needs is me adding unnecessary twiddly bits and ignoring the flow of the story just because I can, and because I’m so fucking brilliant.” Of course, other opinions are available (and probably less sweary).
Sweary is very apt because it's usually what the adaptations do to Agatha - in exactly the spirit you describe. THAT'S what I don't like about them! Eff is fine. But don't put it in because you think Agatha needs shaking up a bit, poor old girl... Thanks Rod, as ever.
"Her jumped up pantry boy husband" slayed me. What a fantastic list, I can't wait to dive into some of these.
Thank you! Hope you enjoy them. (Sadly not my own phrase - courtesy of The Smiths….and I think Sleuth…)
Oh I knew what it was from. Made my day to see it used in this context. Thanks again for this list, I have some enforced rest time coming up and am in need of all the recommendations.
Superb isn't it. More recommendations coming tomorrow... if you're in the mood for so bad it's good... 😱
Wonderful list. I, too, have seen all 70 Poirot episodes, and your choice is perfect. It tickled me to see Toby Stephens and Rachael Stirling in Five Little Pigs (which is one of my favourites among all 70), as their mothers, Maggie Smith and Diana Rigg also appeared together in another IMHO enjoyable Agatha Christie adaptation, Evil under the Sun.
Never thought of that! Isn’t it lovely…. Thanks so much for reading Anna.
I am so glad to see "A Murder is Announced" meet your short list. The performances are typically perfection in the whole of the Joan Hickson corpus, but the pathos of the murder of Miss Murgatroyd and having that expressed, as it was in the book, by the redoubtable Hinchcliffe. We enjoy it regularly in our home, along with the rest of the oeuvre.
Delighted you agree - that’s exactly it. It’s movingly done in the book and transposed perfectly to the different life of the screen.
Ursula Howells also tremendous.
I do love your top 10s etc, as they give me something to fall back on and investigate when the days are gloomy, thank you
That's so nice to hear - thank you Mark.
I totally agree! Such comfort viewing essential in today’s times x
I'm a huge Agatha fan and love this. Thank you for removing the paywall.
And very much looking forward to your all time worst selection!
Thanks so much Anne - coming tomorrow and Thurs!
God! I love the Agatha lists!!❤️ just watching all the Joan Hicksons! A Murder is Announced! Yesterday! A real Gem!!
Great isn't it. Just ridiculously enjoyable, and occasionally very moving… enjoy!
I loved this! That early 'And Then There Were None...' is a corker, if only for seeing Walter Huston do his thing. I only discovered 'Love From A Stranger' relatively recently and was amazed at how creepily sexually explicit Rathbone's kicks from anticipating murder were. Ugh. 'Witness for the Prosecution' of course, but NOT the BBC adaptation which was just weird. Marlene Dietrich when she draws the blind in Laughton's office - such style. Of the Hicksons my fave is 'Nemesis' and Poirots perhaps Sad Cypress (Elinor Carlisle, so noble) or Third Girl (Jemima Rooper so TRAUMATISED) although I agree about Poirot becoming more important than the story. Looking forward to the worst...
Oh drawing the blind, yes... Thanks for this, I know you will have read it last time so it is APPRECIATED - 100% agree about Sad Cypress, an unusually good episode. Very well cast. 3rd Girl I remember ending weirdly, with Poirot sort of rhapsodizing (she smiles! She laughs!) about J Rooper... but I trust your judgement so have no doubt it's better than those last strange seconds. Not in Basil's league for weirdness, that's for sure...
I've always thought that Witness for the Prosecution was Dietrich's finest hour as an actress. As for Murder on the Orient Express, I love and adore it and enthusiastically applaud it as number one.
Excellent! I honestly think it's the only possible choice. Yes Dietrich is mesmerising in Witness. Far too good for TP but that's another story...
Great list! A Murder is Announced is one of my favourite Christie books. On the film front, I have a sneaking love for The Mirror Crack’d with Elizabeth Taylor in full diva mode.
Thanks so much Lizzie! It was GREAT fun to do
"I think Otherwise."
I must remember that riposte!
It sounds so hilarious, how she says it….
my father produced four Christie movies - your Number 1 and 2 and and as a little girl my job was to read all her books .... would also make a case for Evil Under the Sun uber camp but worth it for Maggie Smith , Diana Rigg and the divine Jane Birkin - wait for her final transformation ...
Oh wow Daisy - amazing! I owe him much gratitude, as you can see. Thank God Agatha agreed to that first film. Evil - I gasped the first time I saw Jane in her white and black…
I loved the Joan Hickson Marples; my very frail mother adores them and they remind me of earlier happy times when we’d all watch them together. I loved the relationship between Miss Marple and Inspector Craddock in the one you’ve selected, Laura. That series ten of Poirot was a cracker; my favourite by far of the Suchet Poirot’s was ‘After the Funeral’. I also loved ‘Dumb Witness’ just for the Lake District scenery. I’ve read neither so must remedy that.
Yes, rather sexy Inspector Craddock.... that was so good! They remind me of my darling dad so I know just what you mean. And I agree about After the Funeral. Amazing cast. Monica Dolan gave me the absolute shivers.
God, she was scary wasn’t she? Brilliantly played. Yes, he was very sexy indeed. Sometimes the inspectors are played as a bit of a joke aren’t they but no chance of that here. I think he played a sneering husband in a Suchet Poirot…
Yes! Lord Edgware - I’d forgotten that…
Delightful, Laura!
I happened to see Witness for the Prosecution recently. I agree it's excellent. Charles Laughton is truly astonishing.
Thank you! He’s a force isn’t he…. He played Poirot on the stage as a young man. I bet that was worth seeing.
"A Murder is Announced" is utter brilliance. It's such a clever plot, but the casting and performances are just extraordinary. Anyone who thinks that Christie is nothing but cosy fluff evidently has never seen it.
I agree with you about the ITV Poirots (I've seen all of them as well!). They did get far too serious - the moment in "Murder on the Orient Express" when Poirot was doing his rosary seemed incredibly out of character for him and felt as if it was from a completely different series. This is the same character who kept his central heating on, to Inspector Japp's great annoyance, and ate tiny and precise squares of toast. Non, non, now he must have ze Catholic guilt and everything must have very much ze shadows!
I know you've mentioned it in your worst list, but the one where Miss Lemon has an admirer and Hastings punches him with, "Take that, you bounder!" Is this an Ealing comedy? What's going on? And of course, there's that episode (Peril at End House? I can't remember the name but possibly involves poisoned chocolates) where right near the end there's a hilariously, badly-dubbed child....!
That sounds like Peril at EH, a real ‘period acting’ fest - I must look out for the child! Agree about the TV Orient Express. It felt as though they were at pains to make it as different as possible from the film. All too much. The books are so swift, they’re much better not weighted down with a load of extraneous stuff…
A score by Britten (Love From A Stranger)! In their house in Aldeburgh, there are thrillers in the bookcase, but I can't remember any Christies, though I was there a long time ago. I like the idea that Britten, or more likely Pears, was a fan :-)
Interesting!