Agatha Christie: The Secret Adversary Review

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(More customer reviews)Part of a very hard to find series called PARTNERS IN CRIME, written by Agatha Christie, starring Francesca Annis, and James Warwick. The series is rich in production value, design and style set against the vintage background of England in the 1920's and 1930's. This series was the first complete VHS series released featuring Christie characters...before Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot were filmed and released! Beautifully done, humorous, the characters meld together as if born to do so. Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, having met during the war, reunite and propose to become adventurers, solving mysteries for pay. Begun as a lark, they soon stumble onto a bizarre international plot to overthrow the government of England. Who is this mysterious Mr Brown, the criminal mastermind that many witnesses have met, but cant describe, that frightens all who meet him? And where is the secret treaty thought to have been lost during the sinking of the Lusitania? Many plot twists and turns, a budding romance, and the quick wits and ingenuity displayed by Annis and Warwick make this one of the finest reproductions of Christie's written work seen. A must have for any mystery lover's collection.

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Agatha Christie's Marple: Series 2 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)Sleeping Murder seems to refer mostly to what was done to the original book. Obviously considering Christie's mysteries too mannerly, the scriptwriters invented a troupe of actors who sleep around with each other, then changed the step-sister in the plot to a real sister so some incest could be added; by the time the heroine breaks off her engagement to her fiance, it is a mild denoument, but at least consistent.
In By the Pricking of My Thumbs, Miss Marple is injected into a plot where she is totally unncessary; and rather than the happy, intelligent couple we know from Christie's books, we are presented with Tommy as a bumbling, insensitive beaurocrat and Tuppence as a depressed boozer (with some unexpected company, since the local clergyman is also an alcoholic, of course).
The Moving Finger is much better in plot alignment, even though it opens showing the hero writhing in bed with various women (thankfully, only one at a time). But here the costume production details were messed up pretty badly: the (very) busty governess is about to explode from the low-cut cocktail dress she is wearing early in the morning as she oversees her young charges (in which any sudden movement would certainly have added graphically to their education); and when the hero's sister is shown seated at a formal dinner party eating with her gloves on, I laughed aloud; who made this episode, 21st century Americans?
All of this is a real shame, since a lot of thought and money obviously went into the period detail, and the acting is top-notch; but the representation of 1950's behavior is so unrealistic that it counteracts all the effort put into the visualization of the small towns and their surroundings. I've added an additional star from my earlier review, since the producers really did apparently try to give us 1952 England; but the production was forced to be so post-modern friendly, that they lost the originality and reality that would have made these episodes much better editions.
Had they considered a series focusing Miss Marple's sophisticated nephew, with new story lines, it might have been fascinating; but trying to hang onto some thin thread of the original plots, while taking all the chracters from 2006 and putting them into period settings, was not a convincing combination.

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As seen on the PBS Mystery! series Four all-new, full-length mysteries bring you a Miss Marple like no other. Geraldine McEwan (Vanity Fair, The Magdalene Sisters) returns as the spinster sleuth, as shrewd and sagacious as ever. Breathing new life into Agatha Christie's novels, these intricately plotted and thoroughly engaging whodunits feature the richly detailed settings, lush cinematography, and imaginative screenplays that won Series 1 overwhelming critical acclaim and an Emmy® nomination. McEwan imbues Miss Marple with a kindly sparkle and sly wit that prove "irresistible," raves TV Guide. "Not your mother's Miss Marple," says the Associated Press. Sterling supporting casts that include Anthony Andrews, Michael Brandon, James D'Arcy, Geraldine Chaplin, Timothy Dalton, Frances de la Tour, Sophia Myles, Ken Russell, and Greta Scacchi further enrich this 21st century celebration of Agatha Christie's most beloved heroine.

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And Then There Were None (1945) Review

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(More customer reviews)The new Image DVD version of AND THEN THERE WERE NONE is a vast improvement in video/audio quality over previous DVD releases by VCI in 1999 and Madacy in 2001. All three versions are currently available at Amazon, so be sure to check the technical info page for each disc to see which company makes it.
The video transfer on the Image DVD, said to be made from "original elements", is much, much sharper and more detailed than that on the VCI and Madacy versions. It also shows a little more picture on all four sides of the screen. The picture looks somewhat battered during the opening credits, but it looks great the rest of the way. There is a slight amount of graininess and other blemishes throughout, but it is not detrimental. I'm especially impressed with the scenes that take place in the dark, in which some of the background details, such as engravings on the wall, the subtle lights and shadows, etc., can be seen with much greater clarity. The VCI disc, conversely, looks much less sharp, and the Madacy disc even less so.
The monophonic audio tracks on the VCI and Madacy discs are louder but have more noise compared to that on the Image disc. The problem of the dialogs not being synchronized properly on the VCI and Madacy discs has also been fixed on the Image disc.
The Image disc has one extra: the film's British opening credit sequence, which uses the deplorably offensive title "Ten Little N******" (which is also Agatha Christie's original title for her whodunnit). The sequence is preceded with an explanation of its use so the viewer has the historical context in mind. The VCI disc has a biography section on the filmmakers and the 1946 comedy short TWIN HUSBANDS, starring Leon Errol. The Madacy disc has a 9-minute newsreel footage from 1945, a 12-minute blooper footage (of OTHER films), 3 screenshots of lobby cards, and a trivia quiz section. All three discs are region-free and without subtitles or closed captioning.

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Ten people, strangers to each other, are invited to a lavishestate on an island. Through a recording, their mysterious host accuseseach of his `guests' of murder and proceeds to exact `justice'. The tensionmounts as, one by one, the number of people are reduced through theingenious plotting of the unseen killer. Finally only two are left and eachis uncertain as to weather or not the other is the murderer. A top cast ofveteran performers bring the intricate twist of the plot to life. One ofthe most thrilling novels, climaxes at the spine tingling conclusion. Matchwits with the script as you watch a thriller that has carved its ownspecial niche in the realm of tales of suspense and mystery. Released by20th Century Fox. Bonus Features: Bonus Classic Comedy Two-Reelerstarring Leon Errol, Scene Selection, Actor Bios, Narrative track for theblind. Specs: DVD5; Dolby Digital Mono; 97 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year -1945.

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Poirot - Classic Crimes Collection (The Mystery of the Blue Train / After the Funeral / Cards on the Table / Taken at the Flood) (1990) Review

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(More customer reviews)In the latest installment of A&E Network's Poirot film series comes four new mysteries based upon the classic Agatha Christie novels that until now had never been produced before for television or the silver screen. Hence, this is the "Classic Crimes Collection," starring David Suchet as the formidable Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot.
Before delving into the four new titles, please note that this glossy A&E series thus far does not resemble the earlier British-produced TV episodes and films of the 1990's that David Suchet starred in as Poirot. These newer A&E films move seemingly at a much brisker pace and employ some flashy camera techniques, but retain only a modest helping of the traditional British flavor that made Suchet's earlier Poirot efforts feel so genuine in representing the 1930's and 1940's England. Still, no matter your opinion of which style is superior (the British productions vs. A&E), Suchet's timeless portrayal of Hercule Poirot makes both imminently entertaining for mystery lovers of all ages.
First up in this collection is "The Mystery of the Blue Train," as Poirot delves into the baffling death of a young heiress aboard a train bound for the French Riviera.
Next is "After the Funeral," in which a wealthy patriarch has been murdered, but Poirot's subsequent investigation only leads to yet another fiendish murder with possibly more to come.
"Cards on the Table" (a personal Christie favorite of ours) pits four of Christie's famous detectives (Poirot, Inspector Battle, Colonel Race, & Ariadne Oliver) in a race against time vs. four 'perfect' murderers that leads them from the bridge table into a deadly game of wits as the villain won't be content with just one victim.
Lastly, there comes "Taken at the Flood," where Poirot encounters a young, enigmatic widow who has become entangled in a web of deceit, blackmail, and murder after her husband has been killed in the London Blitz.
The bonus features evidently include a bibliography of Christie's Poirot novels, as well as some standard biographical information about the author and actor David Suchet.
At its current sale price, this collection of Suchet's latest Poirot films, appropriately enough, is an absolute steal!


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Studio: A&e Home VideoRelease Date: 05/30/2006

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Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Movie Collection, Set 5 (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)POIROT set 5 is just plain GOOD murder mystery. Agatha Christie suspense perfect. David Suchet acting excellence. Combined they make any British Mystery viewer salivate. Add top guest stars in each, SUBTITLES for the hearing and dialect challenged, and kick in some of the best filmed period mystery ever produced. It's what fans have come to expect with Poirot, Agatha Christie, Masterpiece Mystery, and the untouchable as Hercule Poirot--David Suchet. The best Poirot yet, of what I've seen.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS--
Perhaps the best of A. Christie's books. It was written in 1934 and the story begins Sep. 26, 1938.
Poirot is allowed to fill an unoccupied birth as the Orient Express moves out from Istanbul to England. The luxury car he rides includes American Samuel Ratchett (Toby Jones), a princess (Eileen Atkins of `Cold Mountain'), railroad director Bouc, a doctor,&...well a dozen travelers. The Orient Express gets stuck in a snowdrift (a true event that inspired A. Christie) and the group is also visited with a murder in the train car. There is proof the murderer is yet on the train and Poirot (with the help of the railroader and doctor) intends to find him/her. That's the plot, simple enough, but the deed, and the unveiling of the killer is what makes this story so exceptional, memorable, and emotional. You'll want to watch it a second and third time.
...47 minutes of Suchet hosting a tour of the present Orient Express is an interesting documentary added. He took the ride prior to playing the part for this movie. Also bonus on this disc includes `120 years with Agatha Christie', a list of Poirot books, & filmographies. 89 minute feature.
THIRD GIRL--
The 1966 published book begins with Norma Restarick (Jemima Rooper) asking Poirot for help as she MAY have murdered. Poirot's crime writer friend, Ariadne (Zoe Wanamaker) gets in on the case after Norma's ex-nanny's suicide proves to be murder. Peter Bowles plays a blind uncle, James Wilby plays Norma's father, and these and other fine stars make the excellent suspense and mystery come to life--or should we also say `to death?' Top mystery and crime drama.
...bonus is only filmographies, but the feature is 93 minutes.
APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH--
The book was published in 1938, but the story is Syria, 1937. An archaeological dig after the head of John the Baptist is visited by Lord Boynton (Tim Curry) the dig head, domineering Lady Boynton (Cheryl Campbell), son Leonard Boynton, adopted adult children Raymond, Carol, Jinny, writer Westholme (Elizabeth McGovern), Dr Sarah King, a nun, an aged nanny, others, and of course Poirot. Lady Boynton is about as popular as the sand fleas and ends up dead, giving Poirot a case, and plenty of suspects. Also plenty of bodies begin to pile up looking something like an episode in "Midsomer Murders." A fascinating finish, as expected from Agatha Christie.
...some film written notes by Curry, and cast filographies make up the bonus. 93 min. feature.
There is perfection in these Agatha Christie Poirot stories.
There is finesse in the acting from Suchet and many, many others.
There is quality in the production of these DVDs by Acorn Media.
There are subtitles provided by Acorn Media.
And personally, my wife and I enjoyed the documentary and history of riding on the Orient Express train as much as we did the movies. An opportunity to see David Suchet without his Poirot make-up and clothing. You can also get a different look at this famous actor in the Athena DVD titled "Playing Shakespeare."


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