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

209 replies

questionzzz · 09/12/2020 13:08

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.

OP posts:
theproudgeek · 10/12/2020 19:21

@StarbucksSmarterSister the Ancient Egyptian one is 'Death Comes At the End' the book is excellent, but not sure how it would go down with people expecting more golden age drama.

Someone mentioned her autobiography as being one of the best things she wrote. I frequently recommend 'Come Tell Me How You Live' it's Christie's answer to everyone asking her about life on Mallowan's digs. Also, adds an extra perspective to all her mysteries set in the Near East, as you realise how well she knew the setting.

Needhelp101 · 10/12/2020 19:37

My people!

You've just inspired me to start rewatching the Joan Hickson Miss Marples.

I do absolutely love the Sarah Phelps And then there were none adaptation though. I think it's perfectly cast, and as a PP has said, Aiden Turner in a very small towel Grin

.

user1471565182 · 10/12/2020 23:19

Five Little Pigs is one of the later ITV Poirots and its really, really beautifully done- especially the camerawork, locations and I like that they actually set one in the 20s for once. The last series was also really good I thought, it nearly verged into lovey fest territory (as ITVs Marple is perpetually) in Dead Man's Folly, but the fact they used Christie's house for it and that its actually a really good mystery made that one of my favourites.

One problem with Britbox though is that they've remastered and cleaned up some of the old Poirots so well that you can see straight through any disguises.

user1471565182 · 10/12/2020 23:26

I quite enjoyed the Phelps one with her off Sex and the City? did I imagine that? it was that period where Toby Jones was practically even turning up presenting the weather for the BBC. Ok for a one of hour or so but really for a series thank god for the lightness of Hastings, Christie's writing and Suchet's acting.

Frankley · 10/12/2020 23:40

If no-one has mentioned this--
Poirot lovers would enjoy David Suchets book, Poirot and Me

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 11/12/2020 00:55

I just love this clip of how Suchet found the voice of Poirot

Needhelp101 · 11/12/2020 03:28

@user1471565182

Five Little Pigs is one of the later ITV Poirots and its really, really beautifully done- especially the camerawork, locations and I like that they actually set one in the 20s for once. The last series was also really good I thought, it nearly verged into lovey fest territory (as ITVs Marple is perpetually) in Dead Man's Folly, but the fact they used Christie's house for it and that its actually a really good mystery made that one of my favourites.

One problem with Britbox though is that they've remastered and cleaned up some of the old Poirots so well that you can see straight through any disguises.

Thanks for this. A reminder to watch it, I've never seen it and it's one of my favourites - Christie does Rashamon. So clever.
Elderflower14 · 11/12/2020 03:59

@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.

The 1980s version of the Moving Finger was filmed in our kitchen... The scene beat the end was one of two.. Joan Hickson was a joy... Just as fluffy in real life... ♥
DarceyDashwood · 11/12/2020 05:53

Five Little Pigs is a great adaptation!! One of the best I think. Very sad!

KB’s Death on the Nile was meant to be out next week - but haven’t seen much as rising so perhaps it’s been delayed.

Elderflower14 · 11/12/2020 06:05

beat before

mynameiscalypso · 11/12/2020 07:55

The cast of Five Little Pigs is excellent and I love the way it is filmed; really well done. But, again, they seemed to change some of the aspects for no reasons that I could tell (eg Philip being in love with Amyas rather than Caroline)

Frequentflier · 11/12/2020 08:13

On the recommendation of this thread, I watched "After The Funeral" yesterday, and I agree with whoever said Monica Dolan was excellent as Ms Gilchrist. She is such a chameleon! I still did not like some of the unnecessary plot lines; why make George change the will?

Off to read "Come Tell Me How You Live"by Christie now. I am just back from the British Museum where I saw some of the Mesopotamian artefacts that her husband Max Mallowan dug up.

Have totally enjoyed this thread:)

Pashazade · 11/12/2020 08:48

I now feel guilty that I've had her autobiographical stuff sat on the shelf for 20 years and never read it! I have all her books, (and have read all of the fiction) I made it something of a mission in my early twenties when at uni and near an awesome second hand bookshop. If you've never read any of her Mary Westmacott books whilst more romantic they nail the psychological stuff in just the same way.

Clawdy · 11/12/2020 09:13

I love the hour-long Poirot episodes based on the short stories, but oh, Miss Lemon! Really annoys me, she is nothing like the cold, practical, efficient secretary in the books. They made her smiley and eager and even a bit glamorous! Nooooo!

LadyOfTheImprovisedBath · 11/12/2020 11:10

If you've never read any of her Mary Westmacott books whilst more romantic they nail the psychological stuff in just the same way.

I've only read one Mary Westmacott book Giant’s Bread which has stayed with me but I hadn't realised there were several more - I'll have to get some of the others.

DannyGlickWindowTapping · 11/12/2020 13:07

Loved Five Little Pigs. And the beautiful Erik Satie music. It was also a good one to go "oooo! I know her!" and Google a lot. Rachel Stirling (Caroline) was Diana Rigg's daughter and is married to Guy Garvey from Elbow. She did Miss Marple, too, and Lewis, as did Julie Cox, who played Elsa in the Poirot. Julie Cox "wins", tho, as she's also done Midsomer Murders! Grin

user1471565182 · 11/12/2020 13:23

Yeah Rachel Stirling does some really good theatre stuff. She was in one of the Marples as well (married to the Rev played by captain Darling?)

Five little pigs is set in the same place as Dead Man's Folly i.e Agatha Christie's main home. Im obsessed with it, its the most amazing house and garden. That story as well I think hints at her thoughts on capital punishment and definitely contains her experiences of cheating wanker husbands.

user1471565182 · 11/12/2020 13:24

I had no idea she was diana riggs daughter

HappySonHappyMum · 11/12/2020 13:38

David Suchet is Poirot. Joan Hickson is Miss Marple. The others are just poor imitations. These actors were so good they just are this characters in my mind. I've watched all the others and they just don't have the gravitas especially when you've read the books and you know the simpler portrayals follow the stories more closely. My favourite Miss Marple is A Pocketful of Rye. I was 11 when it was first on the TV and my young self was gripped. I read every Agatha Christie in order after that and remember borrowing them in turn from the library. Also the music - the Joan Hickson Miss Marple music gives me the feels every time!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/12/2020 13:49

The newer ITV ones were rubbish, though I suppose they might seem OK to anyone who hadn’t seen the definitive Joan Hickson versions - the only ones worth watching IMO.

Besides mucking about with plot and characters, they feel the need to ‘sex things up’.
The worst ITV desecration of an Agatha C to me, not that I’ve watched many, is Sleeping Murder. The earlier part of the Joan Hickson version is wonderfully creepy and atmospheric. The ITV version had zero creepiness and zero atmosphere.

Even the graphics leading up to the JH version are brilliant IMO - an idyllic looking country village - until they zoom in to close-ups of spiteful or malevolent looking faces.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/12/2020 13:50

Meant to add, but all the David Suchet Poirots are unbeatable.

user1471565182 · 11/12/2020 14:46

So when are the Joan Hickson ones actually set?

Elderflower14 · 11/12/2020 14:57

@user1471565182

So when are the Joan Hickson ones actually set?
I would say late 1940s early 1950s. In The Moving Finger Jerry was a fighter pilot in WW2...
VerlynWebbe · 11/12/2020 14:57

Oh I like new adaptations! (And really dislike Joan Hickson!)

I read many ACs, grew up with the Poirot tv series, ditto Hickson, but really loved it when they got edgier. And with that some of the plots were changed a bit.

Going back to the books, you can see why. They veer between ‘dashed off that bit of exposition in ten minutes’ to quite turgid really. She was such a terrible snob, too, and that somehow lends itself to camp.

I like Phelps’ adaptations, they take something away from the books, sure, but they also add layers of complexity at times (they don’t always succeed at that I admit). Loved Malkovich as Poirot.

I think from book to tv adaptation after tv adaptation they have never been deep or truthful, they’re just bonbons that you consume one after the other. As such I’m not too bothered if they stick rigidly to the book!

DannyGlickWindowTapping · 11/12/2020 14:57

I got the feeling that most of the JH ones were set in the 50s from costumes / vehicles etc.., but they were filmed in the 80s, and a lot of the cast didn't seem inclined to change their hair or wear wigs! A Caribbean Mystery always felt "modern", too. Don't know why!

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