The Passing of Mr Quinn

by G. Roy McRae, Mark Aldridge (Introduction)

Reprinted for the first time in almost 90 years, this original novelisation of the very first Agatha Christie film is a unique record of the Queen of Crime’s movie debut and a bold attempt to turn one of her favourite short stories into a thrilling silent movie. Who poisoned the cruel and sinister Professor Appleby? Derek Capel, his neighbour, in love with the Professor’s wife, Eleanor? Vera, the house-parlourmaid, Appleby’s mistress? Or was it Eleanor Appleby herself? All three could be reasonably suspected of a motive which would prompt them to poison the most hateful villain who ever crossed the pages of fiction . . . The first ever Agatha Christie film was a 1928 black and white silent movie, loosely based on her first ‘Harley Quin’ story. Although no script or print of the film survives, this rare novelisation from the same year is a unique record of Christie’s first association with the motion picture industry – now in its remarkable tenth decade with the release of Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express. This new Detective Club edition includes an introduction by film and television historian Mark Aldridge, author of the authoritative Agatha Christie On Screen (2016), who reveals why the film’s harshest critic was Agatha Christie herself.

Genres: Mystery

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1928

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1928 this is novelisation of the first ever movie based on Agatha Christie story. Although the movie was based on her short story -The Passing of Mr. Quinn published in 1924 there were major deviations from the story. Agatha Christie hated this novelisation and changed the title of her story to- The Coming of Mr. Quinn when it was republished as part of short stories collection in- The Mysterious Mr. Quinn in 1930. It was first published in 1928 in The Novel Library by The London Book Co. This 2017 Detective Club edition has been published by Harper Collins as part of The Detective Club series and includes introduction by Agatha Christie expert and historian Mark Aldridge.

There has never been any other book by G.Roy and it can be safely assumed that the name was a pseudonym most probably that of director Julius Hagen. The reveal at the end is quite a dampener and overall plot too melodramatic. There is no super natural and mystery element one generally finds associated with Mr. Quinn. The introduction is brilliant and Mark does a wonderful job of extensive research, bringing forth the little known facts of the movie and the original short story it was based on.

[Selah · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was excruciating! It barely had anything to do with Christie’s original short story, The Coming of Mr. Quin. No wonder Agatha hated the film, and this novelization! The author compared Eleanor to a child / girl every chance he got, and it made me squirm. Also, why was Dr. Alec Portal referred to by his full name all the time? So annoying. Because this was the novelization of a silent film, it was super over the top. There were also so many loose ends. Ugh.

[Deepti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am amazed at how crappy this book was and at the same time amused at how gripping (at least the first half) was.

This felt like something out of one of those old melodramatic movies or tv serials, with, a simpering, fainting, dumb as ditchwater, beautiful, fragile heroine whose role was to keep crying that she wasn't a murderess, and having bad choices in men. 2-3 tall, dashing, heroic men, all, in love, with the same woman. Villainous femme fatales, evil ugly villain who has a reptile pet, caring motherly figures, journalists who cling to sensationalism. It wasn't badly written, decently entertaining, providing you skim a little here and there.

What disappointed me, was the actual crux of the story. I couldn't believe it took 200 pages and almost 3 years to discover who the real killer was, especially, given that there were only 4 options laid out :/

The backstory of this book is fascinating (as described in the foreword). Apparently, a Christie short story was made into a movie. The movie script was then made into a book and Christie was furious, because she didn't know when she signed an agreement for the movie, she had also signed away rights to it being made into a book and the characters up for grabs. Luckily for her, the movie flopped and was lost over time. The script was lost. The book was a disaster too - once published and then never, that is, until now. And having read it, I wonder why? Why would you republish such rubbish?

[A ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

never read the original story by Christie. i thought this one was interesting. only thing i really hated about it was the way Eleanor was constantly described as a child/girl. it was so uncomfortable to read that i had to knock my rating down to three stars. otherwise, it would have been a solid four.

[Domiron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is almost nothing like the story it's based on, for better and for worse.
It's constantly energetic, with memorably simple characters, leading to a greatly entertaining if not especially highbrow experience. Much more gothic than the original story, although I think the ultimately conclusion was a bit of a let down.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...