Agatha Christie on Screen

by Mark Aldridge

This book is a comprehensive exploration of 90 years of film and television adaptations of the world’s best-selling novelist’s work. Drawing on extensive archival material, it offers new information regarding both the well-known and forgotten screen adaptations of Agatha Christie’s stories, including unmade and rare adaptations, some of which have been unseen for more than half a century. This history offers intriguing insights into the discussions and debates that surrounded many of these screen projects – something that is brought to life through previously unpublished correspondence from Christie herself and a new wide-ranging interview with her grandson, Mathew Prichard. Agatha Christie on Screen takes the reader on a journey from little known silent film adaptations, through to famous screen productions including 1974’s Murder on the Orient Express, as well as the television series of the Poirot and Miss Marple stories and, most recently, the BBC’s acclaimed version of And Then There Were None.                                               

Genres: Nonfiction, Agatha Christie, Mystery Thriller

626 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2016

Reviews

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the title says, Agatha Christie on Screen is about the movie and TV adaptations of her work. The focus is mainly on the American and British productions, but there is a small discussion of the other European and Asian countries as well towards the end. It's also an academic work, so the language is rather formal (though not as formal as some papers that I've read).

The book is structured chronologically, starting with the first films (which were silent films). It shows how good her timing was because her books were perfect for TV/movies (or so the book says multiple times). The discussion is mainly a recap of the movie and a review of its merits which is another way of saying that there are lots of spoilers here. But if you're a Christie fan, you'll probably have read most of this.

I actually haven't watched any of the dramas, movies or the anime inspired by Agatha Christie, but the anime does sound pretty good. Most of the other adaptions seem to veer more on the comedic side, which isn't really what I'm looking for.

By the way, the multiple discussions on Marple and Poirot make me feel like I should try reading the Marple series (I'm mainly a Poirot fan). I never knew she was this popular and perhaps it's time for me to try and understand why.

This was an interesting read and definitely for big fans of Agatha Christie. It may be more on the academic side (and hence a bit dry at times), but it was fun to read about how people have interpreted her work and how it has been received.

This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Marnie Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read if you're a fan of Agatha Christie and her history. I thought it would be a little more scholarship/analysis based, and it went a little more history based than I expected. Which does not make it a bad read - it just then did not meet my expectations. I was hoping for more of an analysis of things like Peter Ustinoff as Poirot, rather than a historical background of his time as the Belgian detective. So, if you're looking for a read full of interesting history on Agatha Christie and the many films and tv show adaptations of her work, you will greatly enjoy this.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exceptionally well-researched book that does a lot to examine how Agatha Christie has been presented on both film and television from the late 1920s to (at the time of publication) the mid-2010s. It focuses on more than just England and the United States.

It's not the kind of book that you sit down and get lost in the material. The chapters are dense and thorough. Probably more of an interest to academics and people interested in details about specific adaptations than the casual Agatha Christie fan.

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a fan of Christmas work.I have seen the cinema films but not the tv.I always liked the films of Margaret Rutherford.I think the authors criticism of not just the films but the trailers was over the top.
.I did read part of the book dealing with television but found it too boring and I just flipped through the pages.
Strange that there were no photos.

[Michael Turkhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview of Christie adaptations on-screen which explores how "faithful" each adaptation was to the original, the changes made, and the overall approach.

[Glenn Dunlea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and nicely laid out. A pleasing read for fans of Christie adaptations.

[Ant Koplowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive discussion of all the film and television adaptations of Agatha Christie's many novels and short stories. Mark Aldridge has produced a very readable, yet sufficiently academic exploration of her work. My only slight quibble is that I would have appreciated a bit more discussion on the artistic merits of some of the productions, particularly the 1980s Marples and the 1990s Poirots.

A must for all Christie fans.

© Koplowitz, 2016