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Discuss Tommy and Tuppence

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where did the thread go?

drdavid 14 Nov 08 at 8:32 p.m. GMT

I thought there was already a T&T thread on this new website but it seems to have vanished. I am a great fan of T&T and have enjoyed every single adventure they have ever had from Secret Adversary to Postern of Fate. They were aged beutifully and I think Agatha had a particularly soft spot for them. They seem to have been given some of the best stories ~ By the Pricking of my Thumbs is a particular favourite of mine and although it may reveal the frailty of the writer Postern of Fate is well worth a read.

The television series with James Warwick and Francesca Annis was extremely well adapted and though had a "campy" feel to it captured the books' essence better than many.

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lazza 03 Jun 11 at 10:14 a.m. GMT

totally agree with this post, do you know if you can buy the dvd's of these episodes anywhere, as i don't seem to be able to find them.

thanks

MissQuin 14 Jun 10 at 3:06 p.m. GMT

Although Ive only ever read Pricking of my thumbs, in the T&T series, I had read extracts. I had this image of them being to gushing and annoying.

But maybe that was false. Ive just started watching the Partners in Crime series and I'm enjoying it a great deal. It don't find in particualy camp. If it is, then less so thatn some of the recent Marple adapts.

I see it more full of joie de vivre, light, bright and fun. That's something I sadly feel lacks in the recent Poirot's and even Marple series.

aznm 12 Aug 09 at 1:22 p.m. GMT

I also like Tommy & Tuppence, including the wild and zany TV series featuring that lively, loving twosome.  I love both Francesca and James in those roles and spent last weekend watching all 11 episodes.

The first T&T book I read was "By The Pricking Of My Thumbs" when it was first released (eons ago).  Then I read all the others and had to wait for "Postern of Fate" to be written!  "Come on, Dame Agatha, more T&T, please."  The wait seemed almost endless.  I had already been reading AC's other detectives for years.  My grandfather got me started on them.

I own a copy of "Endless Night" on VHS, bought because I was a fan of Hayley Mills in the 1960s.  Yes, I'm that old.  The movie was rather unlikable, to be honest.  Now give me T&T and I'm thrilled.  I do think Annis & Warwick would be great in the roles again, highly age appropriate for the two middle books at least.  Later they can do "Postern of Fate", although, honestly, it wasn't Christie's best work.

Frndorfoe 07 Aug 09 at 1:43 p.m. GMT

WINNEBAGO1901

I haven't listened to that one yet, it is next on the tape, I am interested to see how I like it or not as I don't like Endless Night and the Idea of that came from The Case of The Caretaker

Oh I didn't know that. I have not read Endless Night yet. But my mom has and she has also seen the movie from the 70's. She loves it. But I doubt whether it's any good. Still someday I might read it to find out for myself. Anyway even though The Case of the Caretaker is my favorite from this book on it's own it's not one of my favorite Agatha Christie short stories.

Tommy_A_Jones 07 Aug 09 at 1:18 p.m. GMT

I haven't listened to that one yet, it is next on the tape, I am interested to see how I like it or not as I don't like Endless Night and the Idea of that came from The Case of The Caretaker

Frndorfoe 06 Aug 09 at 2:27 p.m. GMT

I have the complete Miss. Marple collection. I have read Miss. Marple's Final Cases. I liked it but not as much as The Thirteen Problems. I liked the stories Miss Marple Tells a Story, The Case of the Perfect Maid and Sanctuary. But my favorite one from this book is The Case of the Caretaker.

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Aug 09 at 2:17 p.m. GMT

Yes Boomcoach and seeing who they cast in the roles will be interesting but as they are doing or have done 'The Mirror Crack'd and in that one Col Bantry is already dead they might have to use a difgferent Character as they will probably think it will look odd although I wouldn't as there are many pre-quils shown aren't there? but I like Dr Lloyd and Petherick and the others. or they could do the stories from Miss Marple's Final Cases which are also good, (I am listening tom the Audio Cassette when I get a chance, I like Sanctuary and The one with the Will especially.

Boomcoach 05 Aug 09 at 3:34 p.m. GMT

Winnebago, I agree that they should do the short stories.  IN many ways the short stores may well make for better episodes, as they will need to do less changing to fit the length.

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Aug 09 at 2:01 p.m. GMT

SH Kinder N or M was the first T&T book I read, Like you I have been an Agatha Christie Fan for over 20 years and have to read N or M sometime to remind myself of it, I agree Francesca Anniss and jJames Wareick need to do all the Books, now they would be old enough but  I dissagree about Gretta Scatchi's performance, I personally think By The Pricking of My Thumbs was the only non-Miss Marple book which the 'Marple' Series has done although I don't in any way think they should have done it, If just 12 BBooks were O.K. For BBC 12 Episodes should be alright for ITV although why no-one has found a way to do the short stories baffles me.

SH4Kinder 04 Aug 09 at 9:39 p.m. GMT

jimmymac

I've been a Christie fan for over 20 years, but have always been wary of T&T. Pity, because the other week I was stuck in some God forsaken hotel with nothing to do until I found a copy of Partners in Crime. I read it and really enjoyed it. 

As with all the books, I try to ration myself, but have just finished N or M? which I thought was very good.

As for the tv series, I think it would be great if new films were made with the same actors who would now be of an age to play the roles in the latter books.

I agree! We need Francesca Annis and James Warwick to do the middle aged Tommy and Tuppance again for TV, especially MorN? and Postern of Fate.

Another actress and actor played their part with a new "Miss Marple" series recently and totally ruined the real story. Why does TV have to mess up the wonderful perfect Christie stories.  I absolutly love the fashion flair of Francesca Annis! and the "camp" atmosphere of the 20's.

My favorites of all Agatha Christie are Tommy and Tuppance. I've read every Agatha Christie at least twice over the past 40 years.

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Feb 09 at 3:49 p.m. GMT

I agree it would be great if Tommy and Tuppence appeared on our screens again, I read an article about Emily Mortimer The Late John Mortimer's Daughter and thought how good she would be as Tuppence or perhaps Simon Williams and his wife Lucy Fleming would be good as Older Tommy and Tuppence's

jimmymac 09 Feb 09 at 7:54 p.m. GMT

I've been a Christie fan for over 20 years, but have always been wary of T&T. Pity, because the other week I was stuck in some God forsaken hotel with nothing to do until I found a copy of Partners in Crime. I read it and really enjoyed it. 

As with all the books, I try to ration myself, but have just finished N or M? which I thought was very good.

I think it's time they were re-appraised.

As for the tv series, I think it would be great if new films were made with the same actors who would now be of an age to play the roles in the latter books.

Lone_Wolf 04 Jan 09 at 6:24 p.m. GMT

This reply contains spoiler information. Show reply

I repeat what I've said on the old site long ago: I very much like Tommy and Tuppence as characters. They are bright, humorous, vivacious even in their old days and, in general, a bit of fresh air. Unfortunately, they were never given strong mystery plots which were comparable to the plots of some Poirot/Marple books.

(Now the spolierish part comes).

The Secret Adversary isn't really secret - it is obvious in the middle of the novel that only one of two people could've killed Rita Whatshername, and therefore, could have been Mr. Brown.

While I didn't guess the woman in "N or M?", I guessed Major Haydock quite easily, because neither Tommy nor Tuppence suspected him and cuz he seemed to be the least likely to be the spy.

On the contrary (but not in a good way) "By The Pricking Of My Thumbs" left me so confused, I can't even properly remember the plot, other then the fact that it involved a maniac old lady who killed children so that they could go to Heaven and said the phrase "Was it your poor child?" at one point of the novel.

Never was able to find "Postern Of Fate".

So, in conclusion - interesting characters, weak plots.

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Dec 08 at 4:17 p.m. GMT

I love T&T; Books, I have read all but one Postern of Fate and haven't been dissapointed yet, Perhaps it's because there are so few so Agatha Christie didn't get the opportunity to run out of ideas and make them boring, I love Poirot but some of the books are a bit boring and reading them is an up hill struggle.

LiliFan 16 Nov 08 at 8:57 p.m. GMT

I always liked that couple :). Such a great AC's idea to create a pair of romantically connected young adventurers/spies. You wish you could have something like that too... :) And there aren't many books featuring them, so I never got tired of T&T. My favorite T&T books are "Secret Adversary" and "By the Pricking of My Thumbs", so far.

Marc_Anton 15 Nov 08 at 6:23 a.m. GMT

I must say, T&T were never my favourites in the novels, the best I think was the 'middle' one: N or M? T&T; are very much a product of the 1920s and they fit in later periods rather awkwardly but I guess so did the real people from that period. I remember a character from Nancy Mitford's 'Love in a Cold Climate' who still used the laguage from that era, even when the times moved to the 1940s. She looked very out of date.

But I recently saw the complete TV-series and I must say they are quite amusing, though Francesca Annis needs to be viewed in small portions, because she can get on your nerves after a while, at least on mine. But you are right about the 'campy' feeling DrDavid, it ads to the entertainment (the Dresses!!! the Hats!!!), it is wonderful fluff. It is all very silly but there is nothing wrong with that, give a crime author a break now and then.