Agatha Christie Challenge discussion

I was just watching the latest installment of the so-called Miss Marple Mystery, "The Secret of Chimneys" which wasn't originally a Marple mystery, but featured Bundle as the sleuthing amateur.

What did you think? What do you think when the producers and writers take liberties? In this particular production, there was very little similarity between the two stories. I try to judge it on its own merits, but I'm having a difficult time with that.

I wish PBS would stop doing that. I watched the adaptation of "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?", which they made a Miss Marple as well. And that book was so good as a stand alone book with Bobby and Frankie as the leads. Both were featured in the movie, but there was no need to add Miss Marple to the movie. PBS didn't use to do this, they did straight adaptations from the books and made them into movies and they were all good. Time to stop PBS!

Did anyone watch the David Suchet special on Masterpiece about the Orient Express? Will you be watching the new production of "Murder on the Orient Express?" I will be looking forward to it, myself.

I didn't watch the special, Ruth, but I would love to see Masterpiece's version of Murder on the Orient Express. Looks like it's going to air this Sunday.

I didn't get a chance to comment regarding the latest Hercule Poirot productions until now!

I thoroughly enjoyed the "Murder on the Orient Express." Suchet is a genius and really owns this character to his core.

I had read the story a couple of times, I've seen the Albert Finney version, and I still prefer the longer Finney version, but only because I felt we were given more to work with in solving the mystery. Many clues were excluded in the latest production. In all other aspects, I thought it respectable.

Actually, I don't mind that PBS takes such liberties, since it means the books aren't spoiled for me. The Secret of Chimneys was like a different story altogether.

I'm looking forward to the new Miss Marple & Hercule Poirot presentations coming up this summer. I've been disappointed with the lately Miss Marple versions, but the Poirot stories have been pretty respectable.

Ruth wrote: "I'm looking forward to the new Miss Marple & Hercule Poirot presentations coming up this summer. I've been disappointed with the lately Miss Marple versions, but the Poirot stories have been pretty..."

Ruth,

I completely agree about the Miss Marple series. I have never really warmed up to the new actress playing MM, but always like the stories. But, when they started adapting non-MM stories into Marple stories I started getting upset. "Why Didn't they ask Evans?" is a great stand alone book, what was the purpose of making it into a Marple story??

With that said, I will still watch the shows on PBS. Especially looking forward to the Poirots.

I think they're all fun. However, I do get miffed when they take liberties with stories - changing the murderers for "The Body in the Library" was off putting as I had only just read the book.

Ivan wrote: "I think they're all fun. However, I do get miffed when they take liberties with stories - changing the murderers for "The Body in the Library" was off putting as I had only just read the book."

I definitely think your distance from the stories helps appreciation of the PBS versions. But have you noticed the screenwriters and producers have a whimsical disregard for Miss Marple's series, but they tend to be much more true to the stories when Hercule Poirot is involved. This latest broadcast of The Pale Horse is a perfect example. Miss Marple doesn't even appear in this novel, but they just threw her in there for good measure. I'm almost thankful I haven't read the book yet, because I'd have been fretting over the differences.

I thought the last series of Agatha Christie mysteries was sort of a mixed bag. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Pale Horse" although that might be because I haven't actually read it yet. "Hallowe'en Party" was really good, too. I haven't read that yet, either - they are both from the 60's and I'm only in the 50's - but I understand it was fairly true to the tale.

Acting and production value never fail to meet my expectations, but I thought direction on the "Three Act Tragedy" episode was too reaching and over-the-top. Beautiful, but with all the special effects playing up the stage aspect of the story was overly distracting. "The Clocks" seemed badly paced story-telling which made it disjointed and ultimately, confusing.

Ruth wrote: "I thought the last series of Agatha Christie mysteries was sort of a mixed bag. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Pale Horse" although that might be because I haven't actually read it yet. "Hallowe'en Part..."

The main problem with "The Pale Horse" is that it's not a Miss Marple story. It's a stand alone. I don't know why whoever adapts the books keeps insisting on placing Miss Marple in stories not written for her character. The book version was a lot better than the adaptation was, so I hope when you get to it, you enjoy the book as well!

Kelley wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I thought the last series of Agatha Christie mysteries was sort of a mixed bag. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Pale Horse" although that might be because I haven't actually read it yet. "Ha..."

I did finally get to The Pale Horse and I also viewed the made-for-BBC movie "The Pale Horse" which was available through Netflix. This version from 1997 is closer in adaptation to the original, though it does make some significant changes.