Why oh why do TV script writers think they can improve on Agatha Christie's plots?

[questionzzz]

I absolutely hate the rewrites and plot embellishments that the newer TV scripts have done with the Agatha Christie books! It's not that they are just bizarre and unnecessary, they also have a weird ideological twist? which the original never had.
Eg just finished (re)watching "Agatha Christie's Marple: Why didn't They ask Evans". The original doesn't even have Miss Marple, ok fine, I get why they introduced her. But then, there' some completely random stuff about how the murderer, (lovers in the original) were brother and sister, long lost to their mother back in China, where the sister was sold as a "comfort woman", and now they are back plotting to kill the mother... huh? But why? why are you doing this? Most of the Poirot ones with David Suchet also have these completely random and bizarre ideological additions.

On a side note, absolutely obsessed with the 1980s shows with Joan Hickson (again)- she looks a bit like my grandma, loving the fashion, the gentle muted colours and body language.

ohh I think they have the Joan Hicksons on there as well

I absolutely agree with you re changing characters and plots. Agatha is amazing and doesn't need to be improved. One of the worst adaptations was the Tommy and tuppence thing with Walliams. It was dire.

Good thread Op thanks

@PoppyOppy You too?!!! Thank god. Thought I was being over-sensitive by not watching Curtain. My finger hovered it again just this week, but couldn't face an 'ending'.

I thought it was because I've become disabled & housebound, so Agatha Christie (films, TV, books & audiobooks) has been my constant companion.

Has anyone listened to her autobiography? It took me from August to December to listen in short chunks. On Listening Books it's 28 hours long! I really liked the narrator Judith Boyd. Details below:

Agatha Christie. An Autobiography.
Over the three decades since her death on 12 January 1976, many of Agatha Christie’s readers and reviewers have maintained that her most compelling book is probably still her least well-known. Her candid Autobiography, written mainly in the 1960s, modestly ignores the fact that Agatha had become the best-selling novelist in history and concentrates on her fascinating private life. From early childhood at the end of the 19th century, through two marriages and two World Wars, and her experiences both as a writer and on archaeological expeditions with her second husband, Max Mallowan, Agatha shares the details of her varied and sometimes complex life with real passion and openness.

Publisher:
Harper Collins
Edition:
Unabridged

OverDrive Listen audiobook
File size: 810819 KB
Release date: September 5, 2017
Duration: 28:09:12

I have found my people !
I heartily dislike both the Branagh and Malkovitch adaptations, particularly the Malkovitch one as DS 12 at the time was developing a taste for Suchet Poirot so we encouraged him to watch it with us - thank goodness he left the room before the completely unnecessary high heels sex scene.

What they lack with their political overtones and obsessions with making the stories into present day tropes, is the lightness and enjoyment you get from watching a Suchet episode.

Poirot needed to die. Imagine him knocking around the 80s? apparently he was something like 160 years old when he died.

I’ve found my women!

I agree completely. I just love Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple (it’s all on BritBox!) and probably watch A Murder Is Announced once a fortnight and David Suchet as Poirot cannot be bettered.

My favourite TV by a country mile.

Born I think in 1844 so around 130 when he died. Or 105 in the ITV series.

The BBC radio versions are very good, especially the Poirot. There are a few on BBC sounds just now.

@Viciouslybashed

I absolutely agree with you re changing characters and plots. Agatha is amazing and doesn't need to be improved. One of the worst adaptations was the Tommy and tuppence thing with Walliams. It was dire.

This. Exactly my opinion.

Absolutely love Poirot and Marple and this thread has inspired me to do a big rewatch.

I really enjoyed Kenneth Branagh’s Orient Express version - but I’m a big fan of his so probably biased.

Agree with everyone who has mentioned the John Moffat Radio 4 plays (all on Audible as well as iplayer) and they are my go-to listen when I’m on a sun lounger somewhere hot and can’t be bothered reading. Lying there with a cocktail listening to them in the sun all chilled out - heaven!

Oh and June Whitfield’s Marple radio plays are pretty good too (also on Audible). And only 90mins long so easy to get through

I too have found my people here. They're such great plots - why change them? Especially in ways that make no sense. The ITV Poirots are usually fine but I watched Appointment with Death last night -random nun introduced for absolutely no good reason, one murderer the same bit for a completely different and bonkers motive, requiring the pointless addition of a second murderer. And various other pointless new characters (although one of them was played by Tim Curry, so ok). All the sense of brooding menace was lost.

I think an appropriate punishment for the script-writers and producers of the later, bizarre Marple and Poirot versions is to lock them up in a room with the novels and the Joan Hickson adaptations and the early Suchet/Poirot ones, force them to read and watch and then have take an exam to see if they actually "got it". Contributors to this thread can be the examiners. Then they will be allowed loose, only if they pass with B+ :)

They should also understand modernization can be done successfully, but not all modernization is successful or necessary.

@questionzzz

I think an appropriate punishment for the script-writers and producers of the later, bizarre Marple and Poirot versions is to lock them up in a room with the novels and the Joan Hickson adaptations and the early Suchet/Poirot ones, force them to read and watch and then have take an exam to see if they actually "got it". Contributors to this thread can be the examiners. Then they will be allowed loose, only if they pass with B+ :)

They should also understand modernization can be done successfully, but not all modernization is successful or necessary.

This would be my dream job.

The Pale Horse was an abomination Rufus Sewell not withstanding!

David Suchet are my go to comfort adaptations - love doing 'spot the famous actor before they were famous/when they were much younger'

@Residentdove2020

Yep. I like the thought that somewhere, Hercule Poirot is investigating another murder in his inimitable way. ❤️

Thank you @user1471565182! I'm already signed up to BritBox! Haven't seen End House for ages so good call.

I decided to be open minded and saw the KB Orient Express in Leicester Square with my family. After about 30 minutes I went to the loo. And stayed there!

I always liked the Joan Hickson Murder At the Vicarage. Paul Eddington was excellent as the vicar. He was believably very much affected by the murder in his home. Didn't just shrug it off after a few minutes.

Just been looking about on the internet because I remember seeing versions of Why Didn't They Ask Evans? and The Seven Dials Mystery from the 80s.

Seven Dials seems to be available on YouTube but Why Didn't They Ask Evans is blocked for U.K. on YouTube but available as a dvd.

The Why Didn't They Ask Evans? had Francesca Annis, James Warwick and Sir John Gielgud in. The Seven Dials had John Gielgud and James Warwick again but with Cheryl Campbell in the lead role.

Francesca Annis and James Warwick went on to be Tommy and Tuppence in Partners in Crime. Often repeated on odd tv channels, quite good, bit dated old production values.

Anyway just mentioned those in case they rang a bell with anyone.

You are correct . Some Poirot / Chrsitie things are just rubbish . Film not TV but Kenneth Branagh's moustaches are just wrong ( Murder on the Orient Express )

Francesca Annis and James Warwick

I loved James Warwick when I was a young gel.

I read last year that the BBC were doing a production of Christie's mystery set in ancient Egypt ( can't remember the title) but it's still not been shown, no idea why. I have a book about her life with Max Mallowan and the digs he did in Iraq, called "Agatha Christie and Archaeology", really interesting.

Totally agree that the more recent interpretations tend to be hopeless.

The new "Why didn't they ask Evans" in the Agatha Christie's Marple with Julia Mackenzie is not just awful, but completely bizarre and insane- I mean even if it wasn't an adaptation, just as a standalone piece, somebody watching with no idea or context for Agatha Christie- would just be like huh? tf I just watched??

I love the Suchet version of Death on the Nile, but what possessed them to add in that weird incest subplot with the Allertons? So bizarre, and most definitely changed the ending (or one of the endings) of the book.

"I loved James Warwick when I was a young gel."

Me too @StarbucksSmarterSister

They also muck about with the settings in terms of era. Seems they've decided Poirot is set in 30s and Marple 50s.

I think setting Hickory Dickory Dock (with Damian Lewis) in the 30s is quite successful.

I'm also fond of Third Floor Flat David Suchet version. But that could be more to do with the actor playing Donovan