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Poirot & Marple in the U.S.

GKCfan 13 Apr 09 at 3:32 a.m. GMT

For all of the American viewers, PBS has announced that it plans to air two new Poirot episodes on the 21st and 28th of June, with three episodes of Miss Marple airing from the 5th to the 26th of July.  However, this leaves two Poirot episodes and one Marple unaccounted for, and they don't say which ones are airing yet.

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Judy45432 05 Aug 09 at 3:15 p.m. GMT

My favorite versions of the PBS miniseries of Mystery! (seen in New York City) are the ones with Joan Hickson as Miss Marple.  I think she was the epitome of the character presented in Agatha Christie's novels, both in her physical appearance and her portrayal of Miss Marple.  My favorite, Sleeping Murder, adhered to the book.

I read Murder is Easy a long time ago, but I do not recall that incest was involved in the original story.  Am I wrong?  I found this episode tasteless.

I found it hard to watch Geraldine McEwen as Miss Marple - she reminded me of Clara Bow and just a bit too sweet.  I think Julia McKenzie is better but still not as good as Joan Hickson.

I am currently rereading some of my old favorites.

Boomcoach 05 Aug 09 at 11:26 a.m. GMT

I liked the Joan Hickson version of Nemesis.  It followed the book reasonably well.  I rewatched the McEwen Nemesis the other day, and tried to watch it with an open mind, as the first time I watched it, I couldn't get past the fact that it held practically no relation to the book.

I tried to look at the McEwan version of Nemesis as a entity unto itself, without comparing it to anything.  It was a much more watchable movie, if I ignored the book, but I still cannot say that it was "good".  The plot did not hold together particularly well, but I was able to accept McEwan as Miss M better than the first time.  I cannot call it an adaptation, but it was a watchable movie, which is more than can be said for the new versions of "Murder is Easy" and "Evans".

I do not know if any others on here are fans of the British comedy "As Time Goes By", but some of these "adaptations" remind me of the story arc when they are turning Lionel's book into a mini-series.  They make so many changes that the stories are not recognizable.

SH4Kinder 04 Aug 09 at 10:20 p.m. GMT

My "hit list" of books that were ruined starts at Sleeping Murder, goes on to The Sittaford Mystery, includes Nemesis, Murder is Easy, and ends at Why Didn't They Ask Evans?.

I totally disagree. I loved Sleeping Murder & Nemesis.  But the silly American version of Murder on the Orient Express was absolutly AWFUL! and I couldn't even sit through the whole film without falling asleep.

SH4Kinder 04 Aug 09 at 9:54 p.m. GMT

WITH THE TV SHOWS, WHY CAN'T THEY JUST STICK TO AGATHA CHRISTIE'S TRUE PLOT AND REAL CHARACTERS? WHY CHANGE SO MUCH!? THE NEW SHOWS AREN'T EVEN REAL "MISS MARPLE" PLOTS.

Boomcoach 03 Aug 09 at 3:37 p.m. GMT

AndThenThereWasTim

Now that I think of it the Car thing was strange... I Didn't catch the Gay thing but I wasn't paying that close attention.. Boomoach i think your being a little too picky Dates and Times can be decieving and It doesn't make any difference. As most of them I have not read this one and I imagine if I had I might be dissapointed I Agree with Leafs.. I think Marple was too confusing and they should have left it with 2 NOT 3 investigators

You are quite right about being too picky.  As I said, this sort of thing I would normally shrug off, except it was just another annoying part of what I found to be a rather horrible adaptation.

I thought that Miss M fitted into "Murder is Easy" more smoothly than she did "Evans".  It may have something to do with the actual detectives in the original books.  Luke FitzWilliam was a professional, and Marple helping a professional is pretty standard for her.  A lot of the fun in "Evans" is the amateurish way in which Frankie and Bobbie stumble through their roles as detectives.  Miss Marple seems to quash that.  I just thought that the whole feel of "Evans" was off.

TheMole 03 Aug 09 at 2:36 p.m. GMT

But didn't Frankie introduce herself to them when she first entered their home after her accident? Or did she use a false name? (I am referring to the book.)

S_Sigerson 03 Aug 09 at 2:15 p.m. GMT

Bobby and Frankie stumble their way through the mystery and come off as amateurish. Don't get me wrong , it was a fun lark and an enjoyable book that I would highly recommend to anyone, yet with such an ingenious plot it had potential to be a really first-rate mystery, ranked up there with The Murder on the Orient Express and The ABC Murders; not just simply a light hearted adventure.  Why Didn't They ask Evans? reads too much like a T&T thriller. As far as gaining admittance into the house, Miss. Marple, a sweet elderly lady who seems to know everyone and Hercule Poirot, the world's most famous detective, would have stood a much better chance of getting in. Who are Frankie and Bobbie? Just a couple of kids. As far as crashing your car in front of someone's gates...do you really think the owners would ask a young person, a total stranger (who for all they know could be homicidal maniac or a crook out to steal the family silver) to stay the weekend? I doubt it. However, if the highly respectable Miss. Marple or highly esteemed Hercule Poirot were experiencing car problems, I am sure they could easily have finagled an invite for the weekend. 

Tommy_A_Jones 03 Aug 09 at 11:06 a.m. GMT

I agree with you in one way Boomcoach, some books might have been better without him but I wouldn't include The Hollow I would say 'The Clocks' and 'Appointment with Death' the play didn't have him and I think the woman who was the Detective in the Play and perhaps Cope could have been the Detectives Also I think if Adaptations aren't going to be accurate with Dates/Characters etc why do them at all. 

AndThenThereWasTim 03 Aug 09 at 1:20 a.m. GMT

Now that I think of it the Car thing was strange... I Didn't catch the Gay thing but I wasn't paying that close attention.. Boomoach i think your being a little too picky Dates and Times can be decieving and It doesn't make any difference. As most of them I have not read this one and I imagine if I had I might be dissapointed I Agree with Leafs.. I think Marple was too confusing and they should have left it with 2 NOT 3 investigators

go_leafs_nation 01 Aug 09 at 6:38 p.m. GMT

Boomcoach

I would go a step further and siggest that there were a couple of Poirot books that would have been better without him.  Cat Among the Pigeons and The Hollow seem to have him there as a sort of sinecure, so that the book can be a "Hercule Poirot Mystery"

Although I agree Poirot doesn't fit in certain books, I find he works in those two. True, he appears late in Cat- but who could've possibly tied the ends together if not Poirot? Mr. Goby? As for The Hollow, AC hated putting Poirot in it (I believe), but I thought he fitted decently. He didn't stand out as obviously as in, say, The Mystery of the Blue Train (that has always had the feel of a T&T for me).

Boomcoach 01 Aug 09 at 5:11 p.m. GMT

I would go a step further and siggest that there were a couple of Poirot books that would have been better without him.  Cat Among the Pigeons and The Hollow seem to have him there as a sort of sinecure, so that the book can be a "Hercule Poirot Mystery"

TheMole 01 Aug 09 at 12:42 p.m. GMT

I can appreciate the expert detectives as well as the amateur detectives. As for the latter, think of how monotonous it would be if AC only wrote about Marple and Poirot. And Then There Were None would not have been the same if Marple and Poirot were in it.

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Aug 09 at 12:39 p.m. GMT

I thoutght Patrick Barlow was brilliant, I did at first thought Anthony Andrews portrayal was too severe but Tommy was understandably worried about Tuppence so I let it go, I didn't for some reason notice Tuppence was portrayed as an alcoholic so I really liked Greta Satchi's portrayal.

go_leafs_nation 01 Aug 09 at 11:43 a.m. GMT

WINNEBAGO1901

btw, it seems to me the only non-Miss Marple book they have put her in which hasn't been criticized is 'By The Pricking of My Thumb which apart from having Miss Marple added was quite good.

I liked Thumbs. It took many liberties with the plot, but the menacing and mysterious dark atmosphere remained. That's the key ingredient that made the adaptation both liberal and entertaining.

go_leafs_nation 01 Aug 09 at 11:38 a.m. GMT

S_Sigerson

Not having a qualified detective undermines the novel. Bobby and Frankie are amateurs. Introducing Miss. Marple strengthens the major weakness of an otherwise strong story. Miss. Marple has the experience and knowledge and Bobby and Frankie have the youthfulness and vitality, one of the best parts of Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? is the interaction between Miss. Marple and Bobby and Frankie.

I find that very interesting, because I think not having a "real" detective made the book stronger. Poirot wouldn't have crashed his car like Frankie, and why would the family let Miss Marple in among them? Only amateurs could get into the mysterious situations Frankie and Bobby did, and the veritable chemistry between them made it that much better. Sure, they're amateurs- that's what makes it even more fun. Evans, after all, was a fun, light read.

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Aug 09 at 10:16 a.m. GMT

I repeat Britain hasn't seen this yet but I would say there are many AC Books without qualified Detectives which are very good (The Man In The Brown Suit comes to mind) If all Crime Novels needed a Qualifiedf detective nany very good books would have nevere been published, lastly the more yoy post your views which you are entiltled to I think you have a relation who is one of thge makers so your judgement may be impaired, btw, it seems to me the only non-Miss Marple book they have put her in which hasn't been criticized is 'By The Pricking of My Thumb which apart from having Miss Marple added was quite good.

S_Sigerson 01 Aug 09 at 2:32 a.m. GMT

Not having a qualified detective undermines the novel. Bobby and Frankie are amateurs. Introducing Miss. Marple strengthens the major weakness of an otherwise strong story. Miss. Marple has the experience and knowledge and Bobby and Frankie have the youthfulness and vitality, one of the best parts of Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? is the interaction between Miss. Marple and Bobby and Frankie.

go_leafs_nation 31 Jul 09 at 10:36 p.m. GMT

TheMole

I agree w/ you about the worst Marple's filmed so far. But I just can't decide which of them is the all time worst? What's the absolute worst for you, go leafs?

It's undoubtedly The Sittaford Mystery. Its poor direction, masquerading as elegant, was one of them. It was a bad script (the bathtub scene being the mushiest in AC film history), the characters were unengaging, the acting was subpar. The whole show can be summed up in one word: random.

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? is a close second, followed by Sleeping Murder, Murder is Easy, and then Nemesis (which was, I confess, slightly entertaining for me, but in the end, not much of a movie).

As for Sir Carmichael, he's doing fine.

TheMole 31 Jul 09 at 10:28 p.m. GMT

go_leafs_nation

Sir Carmichael Clarke (he hasn't been on in a while) summed it up best on the old site. I don't remember his exact wording, but he treated the series as a recipe, adding in (say) 1 cup of lesbians, 1/2 a cup of alcholics, etc. That seems to be the direction Evans? took.

LOL I think I remember him saying that. How is Sir doing, btw?

My "hit list" of books that were ruined starts at Sleeping Murder, goes on to The Sittaford Mystery, includes Nemesis, Murder is Easy, and ends at Why Didn't They Ask Evans?.

I agree w/ you about the worst Marple's filmed so far. But I just can't decide which of them is the all time worst? What's the absolute worst for you, go leafs?

go_leafs_nation 31 Jul 09 at 10:23 p.m. GMT

I'm not a completely conservative Christie fan. AC wasn't perfect, and neither were her books. Some of them were badly in need of changes (Third Girl jumps into mind). "Marple" however, has, more than once altered plots so badly they just didn't work at all. My "hit list" of books that were ruined starts at Sleeping Murder, goes on to The Sittaford Mystery, includes Nemesis, Murder is Easy, and ends at Why Didn't They Ask Evans?.

Sir Carmichael Clarke (he hasn't been on in a while) summed it up best on the old site. I don't remember his exact wording, but he treated the series as a recipe, adding in (say) 1 cup of lesbians, 1/2 a cup of alcholics, etc. That seems to be the direction Evans? took.