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Favourite AC scene

dada222 27 Sep 08 at 8:36 a.m. GMT

What I mean by 'scene' is a part of a chapter that you thought really nice and 'strong', anything, a conversation, an accusation, anything, without spoiling it.

I think the last pages of the 'Monkey's paws' chapter in 'Sleeping Murder' (Marple) are great.

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BrigidM 12 Feb 12 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

Well, I think a good bit is when Mrs McGillicuddy sees the man strangling the girl through the window of the next train, and, yes, I also really like the last scene in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

MissQuin 21 Dec 09 at 11:15 a.m. GMT

Hello to you too Puffinjill! I'm finding it easy to pick scenes I loved, as theres so many good ones. I also loved the bit in Sleeping Murder when Miss Marple steps out and squirts soapy water in the murderers eyes!!

Puffinjill 21 Dec 09 at 8:25 a.m. GMT

Welcome to the boards, MissQuin!!

MissQuin 20 Dec 09 at 1:06 p.m. GMT

This is my first post, so hello to everyone. I love the opening scene in Sad Cypress, but the final chapter is even better. Also when I read Murder of Rodger Ackroyd the final scene sent shivers down mine spine. It was so excellently done.

go_leafs_nation 18 Dec 09 at 5:40 p.m. GMT

InspectorGrant

I also like the scenes in The Hollow especially the ones about how Gerda feels that she can't do anything right with her exacting husband, John Christow.  I have wondered whether this might be a bit autobiographical;  after all, Mrs. Christie chose the name 'Christow' which was quite similar to her own, earlier married name.  Also I really enjoyed this adaptation - I agree with you, Bundle, it is one of the best and is very faithful to the book.

Two words sum up what you've mentioned: traffic light. 

Also, I enjoyed the scenes in Mrs. McGinty's Dead between Mrs. Oliver and Robin Upward about Mrs. Oliver's fictional detective, Sven Hjorsen, and her exasperation with Robin's ideas about dramatising her books.  These were quite amusing insights into how Mrs. Christie might have felt at times.  Any scenes with Ariadne Oliver are always entertaining.

Scenes where AC parodies her own experience as an author through Mrs. Oliver are (practically) always amusing. Even in the prologue to Passenger to Frankfurt (the prologue is great, but you can skip the rest without missing much), she says that when people ask her where she gets her ideas from, she's tempted to say she gets them at a store (I forget which as I haven't read this book in ages for obvious reasons).

InspectorGrant 18 Dec 09 at 1:23 p.m. GMT

I also like the scenes in The Hollow especially the ones about how Gerda feels that she can't do anything right with her exacting husband, John Christow.  I have wondered whether this might be a bit autobiographical;  after all, Mrs. Christie chose the name 'Christow' which was quite similar to her own, earlier married name.  Also I really enjoyed this adaptation - I agree with you, Bundle, it is one of the best and is very faithful to the book.

Also, I enjoyed the scenes in Mrs. McGinty's Dead between Mrs. Oliver and Robin Upward about Mrs. Oliver's fictional detective, Sven Hjorsen, and her exasperation with Robin's ideas about dramatising her books.  These were quite amusing insights into how Mrs. Christie might have felt at times.  Any scenes with Ariadne Oliver are always entertaining.

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Dec 09 at 3:56 p.m. GMT

I agree with you

go_leafs_nation 15 Dec 09 at 5:16 p.m. GMT

Looking through old topics now, and I'dd add the opening bit of The Clocks to the list. It's a humourous note to start the book off.

Bundle_ 07 Dec 09 at 1:39 p.m. GMT

It is, it's one of the best Poirot adapts in my opinion. Have you seen Suchet's Death on the Nile?

jane_delawney 07 Dec 09 at 1:31 p.m. GMT

Unfortunately, I haven't seen it yet. I can't wait to! Sounds great.

Bundle_ 07 Dec 09 at 12:51 p.m. GMT

Did you see the Suchet adaptation of The Hollow, Jane Delawney? The crime was reconstructed just like it was in the book.

jane_delawney 07 Dec 09 at 1:23 a.m. GMT

The ending of "And Then There Were None" ... my heart almost stopped.

The monkey's paws in "Sleeping Murder".

The ending of "A Pocket Full of Rye" - the letter. I find that extremely touching.

I really liked the murder in "The Hollow". The surreal and staged quality of that scene, and the way AC painted it just like a picture - almost a still life.

And I love the little humorous moments. Like in "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side", when Miss Marple takes a walk and sees those young men, thinking they are probably rock'n'roll fans. They just make the books so incredibly sweet and enjoyable.

Tommy_A_Jones 09 Aug 09 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

I like the danoumont in TZ 

susandiane 08 Aug 09 at 9:44 p.m. GMT

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piorot trainee236, your death on the nile is GREAT! especially how we tend to feel "sorry" for the killer!

TheMole 02 Jun 09 at 1:12 p.m. GMT

One of my favorite AC scenes would have to be when the murderer(s) was revealed in Towards Zero. Not only was the solution outstanding but the murderer(s) reaction was very thrilling!

Poirot_trainee236 02 Jun 09 at 10:40 a.m. GMT

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My favorite scenes are probably (*SPOILER ALERT*):

When Poirot reveals that the shooting between Jacqui and Simon was staged ("Death on the Nile")

When Miss Marple reveals that Letitia Blacklock is really her sister Charlotte ("A Murder is Announced")

When Justice Wargrave gets killed, and everyone thinks that he is really dead, but he isn't ("And Then There Were None")

When Vera Claythorne takes the last Indian boy, discards the last two, and thinks she's won ("And Then There Were None")

Dolly_B 17 Apr 09 at 6:36 p.m. GMT

I agree with Go Leafs about The Body in the Library opening chapter. One of the best!  Another favourite is the scene in A Murder is Announced when the vicar's wife, Mrs Harmon arrived at Miss Blacklock's  home  - and in her simple and unsophisticated manner asked "When does the murder begin?"  All of the other visitors were pretending to be unaware of the newspaper item.  I loved this touch of humour.

go_leafs_nation 17 Apr 09 at 9:09 a.m. GMT

I personally consider the opening chapter to The Body in the Library to be one of the best AC ever wrote.

robreid 05 Apr 09 at 12:29 p.m. GMT

The best Agatha Christie scene is ..... (without giving away the solution)  in Murder on the Orient Express when Poirot proposes the two solutions to the guests on the train.  It is such an amazing scene.

hellofansofachi 28 Mar 09 at 11:10 a.m. GMT

I love so many parts on And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

1.)When they heard the mysterious voice accusing them of murders.(It isn't a spoiler, is it?)

2.)There was a scene when Emily Brent was in her room, took a diary and wrote "The murderer's name was..." and she woke up!

3.)When Dr. Armstrong was dreamt(please read the book to see what he was dreaming) and suddenly Rogers shook him and woke him up and told that someone was dead.

4.)The Vera and Phillip scenes

5.)the last part

In Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie. WARNING: CONTAINS BIT OF SPOILERS.

1.)When Joyce suddenly declared that she saw a murder once.

2.)When Mrs. Oliver told Poirot that Joyce was murdered!

3.)When Elisabeth Whittaker told Hercule Poirot about something. During the Hallowe'en Party, Elisabeth saw Rowena in the staircase and Rowena was looking at the open library door and Rowena looked startled, and accidentally dropped the flower vase she was holding. (I wonder if she saw the murderer or something!)

4.)When they introduced the Butlers.

squatty 15 Feb 09 at 11:15 a.m. GMT

I found the general feeling of decay in Curtain very atmospheric but I felt strangely unmoved by the major death of the book. I think this was because in general, AC didnt want us to mourn a victim's death. Very often, a character will be murdered and within a few pages, their family will be refering to them as "the body" and not by name. I'm looking forward to the time when Suchet films Curtain, as I'm sure the ending will be very emotional.

susandiane 14 Feb 09 at 9:11 p.m. GMT

oh gosh yes detpauljohn, that was actually CHILLING!

detectivepauljohn 31 Jan 09 at 10:41 a.m. GMT

In Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie, my favorite scene is when Simeon Lee get angried and told the others to get out in his room but Hilda Lee is the only one who stayed. She said she was afraid. But Simeon Lee asked if she is afraid of him. But Hilda Lee said she was afraid-for him!

ariadnepoirotmarple 28 Jan 09 at 1:25 p.m. GMT

Yes, Curtain just makes me cry and cry and cry. It's one of my favorite AC books and has such moving moments! Very, very touching...

susandiane 27 Jan 09 at 6:31 p.m. GMT

I love the very end of The Secret of Chimney's. The descriptions of the scene and characters makes me laugh EVERY time. And pegahorse, don't be embarrassed about Curtain, it tears and TEARS me up everytime, too.

squatty 04 Jan 09 at 12:23 p.m. GMT

I rewatched the JH version of A Murder Is Announced the other day and I would like to nominate the actress who played Hinchcliffe as as the finest acting performance in any AC I have seen (There's a claim lol). That final scene in the kitchen where the murderer has just been revealed and Hinchcliffe breaks down is stunning.

pegahorse 04 Jan 09 at 6:18 a.m. GMT

I really enjoy both of the scenes/moments that Squatty has dsecribed they are both brilliant and i must admit to tears in that scene of Murder is announced...but the one that really did it for me was the postscript of Curtain: Poirot's Last Case...i found it really hard to read through the tears (silly when one gets so caught up in a character)

HarleyBarley 03 Dec 08 at 3:43 a.m. GMT

Dear me, so many choices! Ah, well, perhaps the last scene of Harlequin's Lane, chapter 16 of And Then There Were None, or a The Man from the Sea, just moments from the end. Most of the best are saved for last!

hilary_swank 15 Oct 08 at 1:57 a.m. GMT

I like the last chapter of The Unexpected Guest. I especially like Starkwedder saying, "Men are the sensitive sex".

ariadnepoirotmarple 05 Oct 08 at 10:39 a.m. GMT

Hum... I really love when Jacqueline de Bellefort (DOTN) says to Poirot: "She has taken everything from me, Monsieur Poirot, and I want to hurt her; to put my gun against her head, and gently pull the trigger", it was such a moving and touching line. Jackie says wonderful quotes, in my opinion, they always touch my heart.

squatty 05 Oct 08 at 6:56 a.m. GMT

I've posted in another thread that my original word was rejected as "dirty", so had to come up with a long winded description to have it accepted. I dont think comedy was AC's natural forte but the first scene of Murgatroyd and Hinchcliffe in the henhouse is very amusing but very touching as well. Plus the only time I have ever cried at a TV version of AC is in the Joan Hickson version when Hinchcliffe finds her partner dead in the garden. It is very moving.

detectivepauljohn 05 Oct 08 at 3:31 a.m. GMT

squatty

what do you mean by "gay women characters"

squatty 04 Oct 08 at 5:15 p.m. GMT

Goodness - there are so many. I like the scenes between the two gay women characters in A Murder Is Announced. I dont think AC was ever comfortable with her gay characters but Murgatroyd and Hinhcliffe are very well written and the scenes between them are both witty and tender. Another favourite is the penultimate chapter in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd when Poirot has just revealed the murderer and the two of them share a long scene together. (That moment was totally ruined in the Suchet TV version)

detectivepauljohn 04 Oct 08 at 5:42 a.m. GMT

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I also love the scene where Jacqueline shoots Simon on the leg.

Marplefan9 28 Sep 08 at 8:28 a.m. GMT

The "Monkey's Paws" in Sleeping Murder, at the revealing of the murderer etc is excellent. I am always fond of the very beginning of "4,50 from Paddington" (What Mrs McGillicuddy Saw) though, when a simple train journey is anything but simple! (How many of us still look through train windows, at passing trains even now? I know I do :D )

detectivepauljohn 28 Sep 08 at 3:45 a.m. GMT

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I love the book Death On the Nile especially when poirot reveals the murderer of Linnet Doyle. I also love the thrilling part when the maid Louise Bourget got killed and Mrs. Otterbourne was shot. I also like Cards On the Table especially chapter 25-31. I also love Evil Under the Sun especially the part where Poirot reveals the murderer and some funny talks of Mr. and Mrs. Gardener.

Holly 27 Sep 08 at 12:21 p.m. GMT

There are so many. Often, I like certain phrases, or very short moments that somehow move me, usually ones that concern relationships. It's difficult to say which moments I mean without giving spoilers, though.