Favorite Agatha Christie Adaptations

[@Kitsune_Saru]

Oof. Watching this on the day Angela Lansbury died hits different. Gotta watch these adaptations with her. May she rest in peace and may her art always be appreciated as much as you appreciated her.

[@birgitangermair4483]

I always wonder why "Witness for the prosecution" is so often forgotten in such rankings ... the Brilliance of Wilders`script, the fabulous acting of Marlene Dietrich, Tyrone Power, Charle Laughton and Elsa Lanchester is unmatched, in my opinion.

[@LisbethJimenez]

Call me a big softy or just tasteless but I have loved all the adaptations they are all like a cosy warm blanky during the winter. David Suchet will always be Poirot in my heart.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Amen!!

[@sealfan1000]

Your perspectives are so helpful and insightful. Joan Hickson is my favorite Marple and I watch those old episodes late night when I can't sleep.

[@eamongilligan3262]

Death on the Nile is one of my favourite films of all time. You are spot on about Angela Lansbury! With her on one side and then Bette Davis and Maggie Smith sparring with each other on the other ("This place is beginning to resemble a mortuary" - "Thank God you'll be in one yourself before too long, bloody old fossil!"), this is just a delight. It's written and performed so well that the actors are able to camp it up just right without going over the top (something I personally felt Evil Under the Sun failed to do). As for Suchet's adaptations, a big favourite of mine is Sad Cypress, which I think I remember you didn't like much as a book. I found Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh to be fantastic as Elinor in that one, and I saw an interview once where Suchet said she was his favourite actress across the whole series. You're right, a lot of the newer series made of Christie's work like to put more gay aspects into the stories, sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. The standout for me where it works is in Five Little Pigs. And of course it works where the characters were actually gay in the books too (like in A Murder is Announced). Some people get very annoyed about changes in the adaptations, but I'm more as you are about it. Most adaptations can't be strictly like the book, Christie herself spoke of plays as not being the same medium as novels, so I'm sure she'd agree when it comes to TV and movies. It only bugs me when the writer is not respecting the source material, or the feel of her work, and is trying to "better" her with nonsense (Suchet's Appointment with Death for example). I really have trouble watching the newer Marple series, because the tone puts me off. Though there are better adaptations (A Pocket Full of Rye, The Moving Finger, Endless Night) and worse ones (that godawful Sleeping Murder or The Sitafford Mystery), none of them really make me want to sit down and watch them. I prefer the Joan Hickson's. They are slow which puts a lot of people off, but they often understand her writing better and how to portray it. Speaking of non-Poirot/Marple stories, did you see the recent adaptation of Ordeal by Innocence? As for others, I quite like some of the slow, dated ones from the early 80's and enjoyed Why Didn't They Ask Evans? and The Seven Dials Mystery. Oh, and there was a 90's adaptation of The Pale Horse which was very good, if you can find it.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yasssss, I adore Death on the Nile! I agree, I feel like they all knew what movie they were in and hit just the right note of campiness I'll have to seek out the Sad Cypress Suchet... I don't remember watching it. I didn't love the novel, but sometimes the Suchet adaptations make me appreciate the story in a way that the original books didn't. That's the power of a good adaptation! And I'll have to seek some of these stand alone ones out! I haven't ever read Ordeal by Innocence, so I want to read it before I watch the adaptation. I know what happens, but still... :)

[@eamongilligan3262]

Re: Sad Cypress, ooh do! Do! The problems I think I remember you had with the book (lack of Poirot, too much romance) are ameliorated in this adaptation, I think you will really like it!

[@stressedoutofexistence663]

The David Suchet adaptations are from ITV, not BBC.

[@leonardmare8368]

I love the Miss Marple adaptations with Joan Hickson. And of course, David Suchet as Poirot is excellent (I am busy re-watching the complete series). The Peter Ustinov movies are also very enjoyable, although he doesn't fit the physical picture of Poirot. Angela Lansbury is a wonderful actress. I am currently re-watching Murder she wrote as well, and am on Season 2. I love that series! I always thought it is a pity that they never remade all the Miss Marple books and stories with her in the title role.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Ugh, YESSS! That would have made my life... all the Marples with Angela Lansbury? Be still my beating heart

[@Lu.G.]

I totally agree about the 1974 version of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. Oh my gosh...Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury _and_ Bette Davis?! Yes, please!! Those ladies are such treasures! Speaking of treasures, I do love the 1984 version of Evil Under the Sun because (again) Maggie Smith is just delicious plus...the clothes and jewelry are perfection! My favorite adaptation of And Then There Were None (my favorite book) is probably the one from 1945. I love Joan Hickson as Miss Marple, but I also enjoy the movies with Margaret Rutherford and of course, as you mentioned, Angela Lansbury as Marple is outstanding!

[@bookslikewhoa]

I'm not sure if I've ever seen the 1945 version of And Then There Were None... I saw a bizarre adaptation of it from the 1960s that was... interesting?? :)

[@Lu.G.]

haha!

[@Maya-hi6ce]

Wow I feel behind but I just want to plug the Suchet's Five Little Pigs. They changed some things with the source material, but I think it works for the better and also never fails to make me an emotional wreck. I'm not sure why but that one continues to really sit in my feelings, more so than the book does. And the Ustinov Evil Under the Sun is... not perfect but so much fun mostly because of Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith.

[@angelaluz405]

I like these choices. My personal favorite is Evil Under the Sun.

[@bookslikewhoa]

A classic!!!

[@SloanePaoPow]

You gotta check out the Tommy And Tuppence Partners in Crime adaptation from the early 80s syarting Francesca Annis. It's delightful

[@ameliapc3943]

Also loved the latest Crooked House film

[@mandipalmer4348]

The recent three-part mini series of And Then There Were None was great! I like Peter Ustinov's Evil Under The Sun. I love Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwen as Marple...and Suchet IS Poirot!

[@SM-ov5rf]

Hi Mara, I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to see the Joan Hickson Miss Marple adaptations. They are available on Britbox. They were made for television in the 1980s so the production values aren’t great, but her interpretation of Miss Marple is beloved by the purists.

[@garfreeek]

We are soooo on the same level of liking Christie! I never hear anyone saying they liked the big four, but I really did as well! 😆😁 I heard Elephants can remember is awfull to get through, but I remember really liking the adaptation! Hallowe'en was another I just didn't get through but they adapted really nicely!

[@jawsvvvvv]

The first two favs are correct. Got to go Evil under the sun with the 3rd. Poirot swimming makes me laugh even today.

[@srnc]

I love the first Suchet seasons with the shorter episodes because there's that gorgeous opening ahahahah I just love the all-around amosphere and costuming and everything, really! I think I've watched almost all the adaptations from the 70s on (even the ITV Miss Marple, but not yet The Agatha Christie Hours) (even the Japanese adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express ahahahah though, I did draw the line at the Poirot & Marple anime, good God), and tbh, some Ustinon ones were Not Good (while Death on the Nile, as you said, and Evil Under the Sun were GOOD) The Big Four-- yes, the adaptation was so good! I really enjoyed it! Oh and I also wuote enjoyed the Crooked House film, it was not quote GOOD but okay!

[@bookslikewhoa]

I do think the tone/atmosphere of the Suchet shows are just superb. I really think it was a smart move on their part to decide to just set all the books in the 1930s... It's a smart interpretative choice that pays off in making some of the weaker stories work better

[@isabelalexander6381]

the jump cut to and then there were none was genuinely hilarious 😅 but i also love that BBC adaptation! wonderfully cast, had me hooked!

[@cerilouisereads]

The BBC also did an adaptation a couple of years ago of The Witness for the Prosecution which was excellent. They have also recently adapted Ordeal by Innocence, which I haven't seen yet but have heard was very good. So they are working their way through the standalone novels!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Ooo, I'd be interested to see Witness... I saw the play once and really enjoyed it!

[@aleksandrarahmanovic4229]

I didn't like it. It was somehow too weird and I don't think they managed to capture A.C. essence.

[@elbauldelosrecuerdosdemigu5137]

My favourite Ustinov film is actually "Evil Under the Sun" because I think it's really entertaining and in some parts, it is really funny. Though, Ii acknowledge that I've watched "Death on the Nile" a million times more. Of the Suchet Adaptations, I think I personally enjoy most of them, but mostly : -Five Little Pigs -Death on the Nile, which is also a very solid adaptation of the book -The Hollow -Cards on the Table -Mrs. McGinty's Dead -Cat Among the Pigeons -Three Act Tragedy -Hallowe'en Party -Murder on the Orient Express, which throws such a big moral quandry for Poirot that prepares him for the last series and something that will happen in Curtain ( I don't want to spoil you ) -Elephants Can Remember -Dead Man's Folly -Cuartain, fantastic ending for both the books and the series. I also enjoy the Marple adaptations with Joan Hickson a lot, which I consider is the Best Miss Marple ever, though I also enjoy the Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie. And I wanted to say I hate the look of Malkovich as Poirot, without a moustache ? Come on ! I think I'm going to prefer Branagh to Malkovich.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Great list!!! I like Joan Hickson best of the Marples (aside from Angela Lansbury), but it never fully clicked for me. And LOL about Malkovich! For me, as long as he's not directing like Branagh did, I'll be happy >.

[@johncrwarner]

Just a quick note There are several national television companies The BBC is one - but there are are others like ITV (Independent Television - started as a second channel in the 1950s) Channel 4 (because there was when it got its charter there were three others (BBC1, BBC2 and ITV) and then Channel 5 etc arrived later. Poirot was produced by ITV not BBC.

[@jasonaw2]

My first Christie adaptation was actually the PC game for Murder On The Orient Express from 2006. From there I watched the 1974 movie which was fabulous. The twist blew my ten year old mind. My favorite Suchet adaptations are Death in the Clouds Murder on the Orient Express The Mysterious Affair at Styles Curtain I also enjoyed the BBC adaptation of And Then There Were None.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Haha, yes, I showed Murder on the Orient Express to my little cousin when she was eleven, and it truly did blow her away! It's really a great movie IMO that has held up well over the years Great list of Suchet! Now that I've read Curtain, I'm excited to watch the adaptation

[@thegameczar]

I know this was 4 years ago. Did you ever watch Ordeal by Innocence (2018) with Bill Nighy? It is superb. It has one of the most satisfying endings of any adaptation I have seen.

[@gabrielpjatak7036]

I really like David Suchet adaptation of Five Little Pigs

[@jessicamay5028]

Have you seen the 1980’s(?) adaptation of Evil under the sun? With Diana Righ and Maggie Smith? It really is wonderful and the spark between Rigg and Smith is hilarious 😆

[@gaildoughty6799]

Wow! Completely agree on your film choices. I just saw a tv adaptation of Murder with Mirrors, and found myself more interested in the cast than the show. Also completely agree on adding the “sex interest” into the Suchet shows. I was always fascinated by Christie’s casual use of obvious lesbian relationships in the books, and her avoidance of obvious male same-sex relationships. On Miss Marple tv adaptations, I love the Joan Hickson series. To me she’s perfect in the role: rather an acidic person with subtle humor, yet capable of Great empathy. Thanks for posting this! I really enjoyed it. ETA: Malkovich. Oh my. I adore John Malkovich...but Poirot? I can’t quite imagine it. That will definitely be one I go to the theater for.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yes, I wish I loved Joan Hickson more, as I think she probably is the best Marple. It just doesn't fully connect with me, for some reason. I think I'm going to give them another run once I do Mission Marple

[@angelaholmes8888]

I'm a big fan of murder she wrote 😊🥰💜

[@IrmiRose]

French television has done some entertaining adaptations. VERY loose, really, in the sense that they seem to take the general bones of the stories, but drop them into 1950's France and the names (including those of the detectives) are not Poirot or Marple. Honestly, I'm guessing they get a lot of traction from attaching her name, paid the estate well and there you go. I had an Mhz Choice subscription and am specifically thinking of "The Little Murders of Agatha Christie" "Family Murder Party" and "Criminal Games". I agree, adaptations are for interpreting the source material. Admittedly, though, despite being a die hard fan, I was hard pressed to see how a couple of the scripts had ANY connection to a specific Christie story , except for involving murder. Still, stylistically and production values were worth the watch for me.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Oh, that's so interesting!! I have never heard of those before... I'll have to seek those out

[@aleksandrarahmanovic4229]

I hated them. They were so not like A.Christie I couldn't watch.

[@birdiebirdie6318]

I'm waaaay behind here, but I'm new to your channel and checking out the Christie backlog :) Instead of giving you a rec for a favorite adaptation, I'm going to mention the absolute worst bomb of a Christie film I've ever seen. It was a 1980s ('89 I think) adaptation of And Then There Were None/Ten Little Indians. For this film, they use the 10 Little Indians title. If you are a fan of MST3K, I *highly* recommend getting 2 or 3 friends together, hauling in a few libations, and just ROASTING this movie. I watched it because I've got a big ol' girl crush on Brenda Vaccaro, but I can just imagine the cocaine-fueled late '80s Hollywood producers' meeting that spawned this particular piece of film. I always imagine a guy coming bursting into the meeting and saying "I've got it! One word: SAFARI" Yeah, they go there. W.t.AbsoluteF.?! Anyway, I hope that at least gives you a giggle.

[@bookslikewhoa]

I've heard about that adaptation-- it sounds like banana pants fun! :D

[@andreadodson2817]

You should check out the Partners in Crime series with David Walliams and Jessica Raine. There is a set from the 70s/80s that is good, too, but I’ve only watched a few of those.

[@bookslikewhoa]

I'll have to seek that out!

[@iansmith4023]

Andrea Dodson Although very well made,they only managed two adaptations.Unusually for a Christie TV series,it didn't click with audiences.The first adaptation was pretty faithful to the book;but the second simply took the title and threw everything else out. The stories are worth watching for Jessica Raine,though;she absolutely glows throughout!

[@danecobain]

I've actually not really watched many Poirot adaptations but I watched every episode of Marple haha. I do think I like Marple more than Poirot though. Witness for the Prosecution was good when I saw that at the theatre the other day and that was adapted from a short story and was neither Marple or Poirot :)

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yes, I've seen Witness for the Prosecution staged- it was great!! I'm glad you enjoyed- I liked watching that on the vlog :)

[@captainz72100]

Enjoyed the vid... can't say I agree with all...aaahgghhh can't believe you have no love for Joan Hickson! I love watching her as marple, having a whiskey (me not her obvs) P.s. I love the visualization (&Christies framing) of Five Little Pigs.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Different strokes for different folks

[@remyhocage9854]

I really enjoy both Christie's novel Cards on the Table, and the Suchet film. However the change (Spoiler !) of the killer in the adaptation was weird.

[@andrewannotates]

What’s your favorite and then there were none adaptation??

[@iansmith4023]

Mirror is probably my favourite Christie movie overall. I still prefer Joan Hickson in the role;but my guilty pleasure (and absolutely the reason I started reading Christie) was Margaret Rutherford. Yes,I know; she's nothing like the character as Christie imagined her,but she had so much character and personality. She was my 'Christie trigger';and for that I shall always be grateful. (That said,Murder Ahoy is nothing short of excruciating!) Have you seen the Helen Hayes adaptations? They're very average;but Hayes herself is adorable! Have you seen the recent Crooked House adaptation? It wasn't bad,and was faithful to the book - but the casting of the murderer was always going to be a challenge,and it was one that they weren't able to fulfill. Aside from 'A Murder is Announced' (which was decent and respectful),I hated the ITV 'Marple' series;which seemed under the impression that they could throw out Christie's stories and come up with something better. They couldn't! (That same thought process extended to this year's Ordeal by Innocence;which changed the identity of the villain;while also adding lots of sex and violence,and a bizarre story structure) Generally,though,I never feel that the look and feel of a visual adaptation is as good as the one Christie conjures up with her written word. At best,the adaptations keep the story and add a great cast and visual sumptuousness (Nile is an excellent example of this;but also both versions of Orient Express manage this; although the Branagh version went a little too 'Spielberg' at times).

[@bookslikewhoa]

I've mostly seen the Joan Hickson Marples, which I thought were fine, but nothing too special. I know that I've seen other Marples over the years, but I can't say that I remember which ones they were... it was in my younger days when I didn't pay attention to the actors much. :) I haven't seen Crooked House, mostly because I heard such mixed things! I should probably seek it out at some point to see what I think...

[@marie6815]

I enjoyed the Matt Gattis adaptation of Cat among the pigeons. I even enjoyed it better than the book (the first Christie i read, many years ago). Didn't like the Miss marple (ITV i think) book adaptations because they changed too much from the book plot, so I just skimmed through the episodes.

[@lefuetthebaron1483]

"Cards on the Table" adaptation killed the (brilliant) premise of the book. There were only 4 suspects with equally strong motives and opportunities. The story was made for Poirot to show off and for his method to shine. And for SOME REASON they added more stuff and more suspects… and I was just like WHY.

[@Graid]

Incidentally, the David Suchet Poirot adaptations were not made by the BBC, but by ITV, while the BBC did the excellent Miss Marple adaptations with Joan Hickson. I think Christie is honestly something where you gain a lot from adapting it like that even vs the books because the actors add so much character and warmth and interest to the characters. I also love the original Murder on the Orient express and Death on the Nile, particularly for the very compelling performance by the jilted ex wife (who I suppose is the one played by Mia Farrow). Extremely disagree with you on the Suchet Cards on the Table though, that legitimately made me angry to watch. I think the changes they made were *deeply* homophobic and also anti-thetical to the less conformist perspective the book had towards who of the women was the bad person.That was, I believe possibly after the ITV Poirot series was done, where they were more prone to making drastic changes and adding in homophobia where it wasn't before.

[@marcevan1141]

Joan Hickson was the perfect Miss Marple but the series itself wasn't up to her level. Of the Souchets I've seen I liked "Five Little Pigs."

[@sfbirdclub]

I almost always agree with you , but Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple? OH MY! OH, .....OH!! MY!!!! Worst role ever for a great actress.

[@brinonascimento5435]

Death on the Nile is amazing. My favorite so far, loved everything about it. I didn't like 70s Orient Express, I was really bored while watching it, the visuals didn't do it for me and I hated the way Poirot was portrayed. I like the 2017 one much better.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Haha, I felt the exact opposite re:Orient Express! :) But I'm glad that they keep making adaptations, because it's fun to see how many different takes there are on the same source material

[@mayafantana5310]

That lipstick doesn’t work for you honey