MASTERPIECE MYSTERY brings this Hercule Poirot mystery from 1959 to television tomorrow night. I’m going to interested in how it’s adapted because in my Black Dog edition of Cat Among the Pigeons, Poirot doesn’t show up until page 214 of a 297 page book to solve the murders at an exclusive girls’ school. There’s a clear diminution of Christie’s powers after four decades of writing, but she still manages a slight twist at the end that surprised me. GRADE: B-
It’s been a long time since I read that one – or any of the Christies, for that matter. I’ll try and remember to watch. On our belated honeymoon in April of 1971 we bought a few Christie pbs in London and soon started collecting them wherever we could find them.
As with the Simenons, I’ve read all her novels (other than the pseudonymous romances) and most of her short stories. If you’re read Christie, most of the “surprise twists” in modern TV and movie mysteries will be ones you see coming well before they do!
She was a master.
I do agree that the later ones (Third Girl, that era) were mostly pretty bad.
You’re right, Jeff. Once you read a Christie, it’s difficult to reread it knowing the identity of the murderer.
This got me looking through my incomplete collection of the Poirot episodes, alas it’s one that I don’t have. Not sure what “brand new episode” means in this case, nor did I think David Suchet was doing thee back in 1959. I also don’t have or know of iTV. I’m feeling pretty ignorant this moment.
Rick, ITV is the “commercial” alternative to BBC. This aired last year in Britain and I’m guessing it’s the “brand new episode” here. At least I’ve never noticed it before.
By aware, however, that it was changed a lot from the novel (or so I hear).
Recently even Suchet’s Poirot seems too fey or twee for me. When you compare his characterization to more recent detectives, he doesn’t hold up well. Just a few traits that she blasts at you and then on with the net of red herrings.
You’re right about Suchet’s Poirot being a tad too mannered. But I have trouble imagining anyone else playing Poirot.
And you begin to wonder if this was not Christie’s way of skewering the Belgian-or some sort of xenophobia. She was certainly not a progressive thinker.
I’m always jarred when reading some of the older Christies when she makes some racist, sexist, or social status comment. Politically correct, she wasn’t.
Thanks for the information, Jeff.
Though Suchet may be wearing a little on some of you, the quality of art direction and set design are still excellent, or were the last time I saw an episode.
Patti, you’re right she wasn’t progressive, but she was – mostly – clever in her plotting.