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Non-series Books and Characters

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Superintendent Battle

pegahorse 02 Jan 09 at 5:20 a.m. GMT

I really enjoy the "Battle" books....Why doesn't Superintendent Battle appear in Fav Detectives?....Personally The Secret of Chimneys is the best retreat on a rainy day

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Tommy_A_Jones 02 Jan 09 at 1:44 p.m. GMT

I agree pegahorse, L ove the Batle books, I was so annoyed he wasn't in the TV version of Towards Zero, he could have been and still have Miss Marple, no-one has played Battle since Seven Dials and it's about time someone did.

Holly 12 Jan 09 at 12:55 p.m. GMT

Personally, I don't see why they couldn't adapt Battle books as Battle films, and not change them to bring Miss Marple or other characters into them.

I like the Battle mysteries, too, especially Towards Zero. I'd love to see someone play Battle again, but it would have to be someone pretty good. It would be difficult to live up to the Battle standard of the Seven Dials film, imo.

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Jan 09 at 4:41 p.m. GMT

I totally agree Holly, and that would mean the Bundle Books being done which would be great, Who could play Battle I wonder, Any Ideas?

susandiane 26 Jan 09 at 10:32 p.m. GMT

I think Secret of Chimneys is hands down Christie's funniest book! Towards Zero is my all time favorite book period! The EVIL that that killer tries to perpetrate, SHEESH! To Winnebego1901, I think Edward Woodward might be good as Battle.

detectivepauljohn 27 Jan 09 at 10:45 a.m. GMT

I think he was in the book "Cards On the Table".

Holly 27 Jan 09 at 4:13 p.m. GMT

Battle was in the book version of "Cards On the Table", yes. But they replaced him with a different, made-up character for the film. Which, considering what they made of the policeman in the film version, was probably a good thing.

I can't really think of any actor who is "wooden" enough to play Battle at the moment. Hmmm... *runs off to fetch her thinking cap*

Tommy_A_Jones 28 Jan 09 at 3:58 p.m. GMT

Holly I think Battlem is far from wooden, he is one of my favourite Christie Characters, There used to be someone on this site called Mole and she thought perhaps Heoffre3y Palmer should play him, Good choice I think and so is Edward Woodward but after reading Towards Zero I think Clive Mantle would be better, or maybe even Hugh Laurie.

squatty 29 Jan 09 at 6:26 p.m. GMT

Whenever I used to watch Inspector Wexford, I could always imagine George Baker playing Battle. Alas, now he would probably be too old and too linked with the character of Wexford to carry it off.

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Jan 09 at 4:24 p.m. GMT

In the Joan Hickson version of 'At Bertrams Hotel George Baker played Chief Inspector Davy and the other Detective was played by Philip Bretherton who might be quite good as Battle if a little short.

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

I have a secret crush on Battle. The way he handles his daughter's problem in "Toward Zero"... Wouldn't all of us like to have a father like that?

Tommy_A_Jones 28 Feb 09 at 3:17 p.m. GMT

There are some Agatha Christie Characters I would love to socialize with and Battle is one of them, as is Bundle, Bobby, Frankie and Tommy and Tuppence.

MissQuin 01 Feb 10 at 7:52 p.m. GMT

Battle looks wooden but is very interesting underneath..

Ah Tommy, youve given me an idea!

If you were having a dinner party, which AC charcaters would you invite? Miss Marple because she's so wonderful, Mr Satterwaite (who'd probably get along well with Miss M) Dolly Bantry, Captain Hastings, Mr Quin (add mystery), Lucy from the Hollow (to add some humour) and Charles from Dumb Witness, just because he's so good looking!

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Feb 10 at 1:26 p.m. GMT

I think that is an excellenty question Miss Quin, I will have to think about who I would like to invite, Apart from Miss Marple and Poirot I would probably invite Hastings, Dolly Bantry, Sir Henry Clthering, Dermot Craddock, Lucy Eyelesbarrow, Gyles and Gwends, Jerry (Is that his name?) and his sister from The Moving Finger, Colin from The Clocks, Supt Battle, Bundle and Bill, Hilary from Destination Unknown and ofcourse Tommy, Tuppence and Albert but that seems alot so I would probaly not include Poirot, Hastings, Miss Marple, Dolly Bantry, and Sir Henry and take them seperately out for a Meal.  

MissQuin 02 Feb 10 at 3:30 p.m. GMT

Ah, Tommy that would make a great evening.

As much as I like Poirot, I wouldn't invite him either. He might not find the dinner arrangements symetrical enough for his liking!

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Feb 10 at 4:07 p.m. GMT

And Giles and his sister might not get on with him as I think they were a little intolerent of Miss Marple and Jerry might still be a little peeved that Miss Marple stole the show, Father (At Bertrams Hotel) would be at Poirot and Miss Marple's too.

ampman 05 Feb 10 at 8:01 a.m. GMT

Gwenda and Giles from Sleeping Murder, they really annoy me, but it would have made a mess of the plot I suppose.

Miss Knight (?) that annoying woman who came to look after Miss Marple and nearly drove her mad.

Everybody in They Do It With Mirrors. Irritating weirdos.

Raymond West.........I just don't take to him.

MissQuin 05 Feb 10 at 3:13 p.m. GMT

ampman, are these the charcaters you wanted bumped off?

MissQuin 12 Mar 10 at 5:37 p.m. GMT

The dinner party list, I'll add Japp and Miss lemon.

Mr_Graves 21 Feb 11 at 4:44 a.m. GMT

I would invite Doctor Bessner and his lovely wife Cornelia, Ariadne Oliver, Colonel Race, Mr Satterthwaite, Mr Pye, Bobby and Frankie Jones, Rhoda and John Despard, and, as my guest of honour, Superintendent Battle. It would be nice if his daughter could join us, too. She sounds a charming creature...   

MissQuin 21 Feb 11 at 4:33 p.m. GMT

Mr Graves- that's a superb list. I would never invite Poirot because every dinner party he attends ends in murder! Mr Pye wolud be a great addidtion because he knows the best gossip. Plus he value any antiques you have knocking round the place. Mrs Oliver would of course be very entertaining. The rest I think be charming companions.