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Television and Film

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squatty 31 Mar 09 at 7:39 p.m. GMT

This subject has come up in several other threads but I thought I'd throw out a challenge to forum members.

In several of the recent TV adaptations there has been an alarming number of Nazis and Nuns, none of which appeared in the original books.

At Bertrams Hotel: Nazis

Appointment With Death: Nazis and Nuns

Nemesis: Nazis and Nuns

What is the reason for the scriptwriters pre-occupation with these two groups? I believe there is a mystery here that needs to be solved............

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Tommy_A_Jones 03 Apr 09 at 2:27 p.m. GMT

GOLLY! I am glad I had not noticed all that, I haven't read The Sittaford Mystery (But I have it on Audio Tape) but the others you have just mentioned are among my favourites, Thanks anyway Go_leafs.

go_leafs_nation 03 Apr 09 at 12:33 a.m. GMT

"MARPLE" SERIES 2 SPOILERS AHEAD!

Series 2 had lesbians figure prominently as well.

The alcocholic was Tuppence in BTPOMT. Sleeping Murder had a pointless drug addiction subplot: Evie took drugs before every performance, which was how she managed tap dancing and playing the xylophone at the same time. Don't ask. In The Sittaford Mystery, Pearson was often seen drunk/drinking, so it was implied he was alcoholic as well. And finally, in The Moving Finger, Jerry was an alcoholic.

Sanna 02 Apr 09 at 5:28 p.m. GMT

Winnebago, maybe it wasn’t that clear but I wasn’t placing thoughts about alterations between novels contra TV versions as to how and why, but thoughts about specifically the TV episode ‘Appointment...’  as to how and with which means they have emphasized a religious theme in there.

Squatty; I got the impression that the topic indicated that one can discuss the subject not only seen from the ‘what’s the point with alterations" point of view,  but also from the angle ‘what purpose has the nuns‘ in common.

As said, I can only ‘talk about ’ ‘Appointment...’ (the TV version) since I haven’t watched the other episodes mentioned.

Sanna 02 Apr 09 at 4:50 p.m. GMT

Deleted because of editing problems - it wouldn't let me make paragraphs or changes, so I made a new post.

squatty 02 Apr 09 at 4:40 p.m. GMT

I dont remember a religious theme in the novel of Appointment With Death at all.

I dont think series one was necessarily about sexuality. I think the change of identity of the murderer in The Body In The Library and making them gay, was a very heavy handed publicity ploy to grab headlines and distance the series from the more traditional Hickson series. And as we've discussed at length in a previous thread, I believe the characters in Murder Is Announced to have been written as gay anyway - the new production only made that more explicit.

But I think you may have a point about each series emphasising a different "shock" element. Unfortunately, it backfires because this is 2009 and doesnt shock but comes across as embarrassing.

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Apr 09 at 2:38 p.m. GMT

I think you are probably right go-leafs, I know this is going away from the point but apparently when Michael Grade was Controller of BBC1 or DG he bought Neighbours to please his daughter, by the way, What Alcoholics and Drug Takers in Series 2? and Sanna the religious aspect is another I didn't pick up on when reading Appointment With Death can you explain where it was please?

go_leafs_nation 01 Apr 09 at 9:47 p.m. GMT

Haven't you noticed? Every series or so, a different group is targeted.

Series 1 of "Marple" has lesbians popping up all over the place.

Series 2 has alcholics and drug addicts making appearances.

Series 3 focuses on Nazis.

Why? Great question. Some producer's grandson maybe had a lesson in his history or health class, and to honour this event, the episodes were modeled after this? The solution must be something in that random vicinity.

Sanna 01 Apr 09 at 8:39 p.m. GMT

I haven't watched the episodes mentioned with McEwan as Marple, so can't comment on the Nazis/Nuns in those ones, but putting in a nun in Appointment with Death is most likely to underline the religious theme which is strongly emphasized in the episode. Poirot is more catholic than ever in Appointment and the nun add a little more to that issue. My guess is that the producers have used the nun to emphasize the theme. Besides, a nun is an excellent disguise, since very few associates the 'profession' of a nun with shady activities.

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Apr 09 at 2:34 p.m. GMT

I would say it was because Nuns are easy targets, if they had some other groups people would be up in arms, also maybe the writers are Jewish and having Nazi's is their way of getting their aggression out about what happened during the War, I am sad to hear about Nazi's in Appointment with Death as I have just read it and all in all enjoyed it.