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New Poirot/Marple Previews

shanty_sleuth 29 Mar 10 at 11:22 p.m. GMT

*A great thank you to user deepdownbelow, who found this link*

If you're interested in seeing previews of Hallowe'en Party, Murder on the Orient Express, or The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, visit this link: http://mip.globalent.itv.com/ Although listed, previews for The Blue Geranium and The Pale Horse are not yet available.

So, anyone else excited? I simply cannot wait to see these episodes! The production values are as superb as always, the acting seems fantastic, and they all look to be wonderful adaptations overall.

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24 replies

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TheButlerDidIT 01 Apr 10 at 6:23 p.m. GMT

Nazis carving swastikas! That really made me spill my cuppa!

MissQuin 01 Apr 10 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

No, you don't sound like a fossil McGinty. They may have have made an error here. But if the episodes are good, then I will forgive them. As long as theres no nuns, or Nazi's carving swastikas into the pumpkins, then I will be happy.

It would be great to see this at Halloween.

McGinty 01 Apr 10 at 5:59 a.m. GMT

I didn't want to mention the pumpkins for fear of sounding like an old fossil, but true, when I was a  child we had lanterns made out of swedes, I don't think I ever saw a 'real' pumpkin until the late 70s. They just weren't something we ever had here in Britain.

TheButlerDidIT 31 Mar 10 at 7:34 p.m. GMT

Yeah and the set looks 1950's or 1960's!

Good news also! I have just read that Mark Gatiss wrote it! He was the one who wrote the fantastic adaption of Cat Among the Pigeons!

MissQuin 31 Mar 10 at 6:59 p.m. GMT

Even now theres only a mild interest in Halloween with alot of people. Though shops seem to believe that we are going to buy novelty pumpkin gifts that will only be used once a year. I do seem to remember someone telling me that during the 1970's they were given a turnip lantern. You are observant to notice the pumpkins Butler.

TheButlerDidIT 31 Mar 10 at 6:55 p.m. GMT

Halloween horror films were first made in American in 1968 so you were right Miss Quinn. The were quickly made popular in Britain and pumpkins became imported!

go_leafs_nation 31 Mar 10 at 6:55 p.m. GMT

I think Lindsay Duncan was perfect in the bit we saw her as Marina Gregg. The stare she gave was even more impressive than Taylor's!

MissQuin 31 Mar 10 at 6:49 p.m. GMT

TheButlerDidIT

But look at me moaning like an old woman!

Well I think that's why some of us come on here- for a good old moan!! Moaning can be quite fun, BUT old men moan just as much, sometimes more, than old women!

No there wasn't an awful lot on interest about Halloween in the UK in the 1930's.  I think it's only really caught off in the Uk during the sixties seventies? possibly becaused of the Halloween films that had come out, it generated interest.

TheButlerDidIT 31 Mar 10 at 6:43 p.m. GMT

I have read Halloween Party and you are right Rowena Drake called it 11 plus party. Can I just say that the house looks far too Americanized becaus eof all the pumpkins. The original cover had a turnip? Am I right?

And the whole bussiness with Mrs Peabody isn't in the book and Micheal Garfield met Poirot in the sunken garden not on a train. But look at me moaning like an old woman!

MissQuin 31 Mar 10 at 4:57 p.m. GMT

I agree that I think theres been more praise for the more recent episodes of Poirot. The whole film noir style seems to liked by critics. But their TV reviewers, not usually Christies fans.

Three Act tragedy seemed to me an improvement on the fact htere was too much black and white, serious faces. if they can get the balance right, of having some humour, mostly serious-perfect. It's how alot of the marple and Poirot books are.

Tommy_A_Jones 31 Mar 10 at 4:18 p.m. GMT

Mrs McGinty I didn't realise critics thought that, If Hastings was in all the Poirot's they would complain that Agatha Christie had coppied Arthur Conan Doyle, I myself used to think Hastings should be in more Poirot books but then realised the books I would put Hastings in work brilliantly without him lie for instance After The Funeral Hastings coud be an Executor of the will but that would make it more like MSW but there again I like MSW so perhaps I wouldn't mmind so much.

The Mirrior Crack'd From Side To side looks as it is going to be a nice blend of the Book and the Angela Lasndesbury Adaptation Michelle Dotrice looked wonderful as did Joanna Lumley.

HeiseiHolmes 31 Mar 10 at 3:44 p.m. GMT

I watched the Hallow'een Party preview today- it looks great! Very dark and mysterious...

MissQuin 31 Mar 10 at 3:41 p.m. GMT

shanty_sleuth

I sincerely hope nothing about the ending is changed in any way or form. That would be a travesty.

Yes, it would, the end took me by complete surprise.  It has to be one of Chrisite's most famous. It would be a crime to change it.

shanty_sleuth 30 Mar 10 at 11:34 p.m. GMT

I sincerely hope nothing about the ending is changed in any way or form. That would be a travesty. I'm hopeful that, regardless of the changes made, the adaptation will still flourish.

As for The Mirror Crack'd, I'm liking what I'm seeing. Despite the irrelevant name changing, it seems like a solid adaptation. Joanna Lumley is still delightful as Dolly Bantry, and the way she was exploring her old home is very much like the book. I was a bit disappointed that Caroline Quentin didn't play a perkier Heather Badcock - her version of the character is a bit staid when she's chatting up Marina. Oh, and Lindsay Duncan seems like a fine choice for the role. Her 'look of doom' was utterly perfect - I think she did it better than Liz Taylor and Claire Bloom. Even though Nigel Harman is too young and handsome for Jason's character, that brooding protectiveness is quite evident. And my, Hannah Waddingham's Lola Brewster is the spitting image of Jessica Rabbit!

I also liked of what little I saw of Julia McKenzie. The way she delivered her lines reminded me a little of Joan Hickson. The adaptation is fashioned in a way that is very similar to Angela Lansbury's version for some reason (Miss Marple spraining her ankle, Arthur Badcock being absent, etc.). Maybe Mr Elyot thought that a few of the film's elements were useful. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to this adaptation.

Carlyle 30 Mar 10 at 11 p.m. GMT

I have to admit the two scenes you mention Shanty - the one with Ratchett praying and Poirots praying with the rosary... they make me a bit worried. Along with the scenes where Poirot shows his anger (and when we se the act of "justice" at work)... I have to confess all this makes me fear that they will change the end. I certainly hope they will not, and since this is a true Christie-icon I belive they won´t... but still... I´m slightly worried.

shanty_sleuth 30 Mar 10 at 10:28 p.m. GMT

The children in Hallowe'en Party are made younger than they are in the book, I believe. In the book, Rowena Drake called it an 'Eleven Plus' party or something, whereas it's evident that the kids at the party are barely even eleven in the adaptation. Not that it matters, of course. I have watched the teasers many times, and this one is just so well-crafted. It's a pity we don't hear Joyce talk, but her actress looks the part. And, wow. I had imagined Julian Rhind-Tutt as Michael Garfield look exactly like he does in the adaptation. They captured the character's appearance wonderfully. Overall, I am quite pleased from what I've seen. It's a shame that this episode probably won't be aired until autumn.

Murder on the Orient Express I can tell that David Suchet has put his heart and soul into acting the hell out of this one. There is a spark to his character that I have not seen in a while. Compared to sombre and pensive Poirot we've been seeing recently, the vigour of Poirot in this adaptation seems to rival the early years. Well, not quite - he's angrier than he's ever been, but for good reason. And the acting here seems to be excellent - snippets of Denis Menochet, Toby Jones, Eileen Atkins, Jessica Chastain, Barbara Hershey, etc. give me hope that some of the questionable casting choices are not going to disappoint. I really feel the fire in this one, and I honestly think it will turn out to be the best interpretation of the novel thus far (even if nothing will ever beat the 1974 cast). My only gripe? Seeing Ratchett praying for forgiveness. It makes his character less evil in the process, and we're supposed to hate his guts. And I hope they don't put too much emphasis on Poirot's Catholicism by having him pray his rosary every 10 minutes. We saw plenty in Appointment with Death; some praying is fine, but I don't want it to take precious time from the novel's developments.

go_leafs_nation 30 Mar 10 at 8:33 p.m. GMT

Hallowe'en Party looks like it was left in good hands- it looks great!!! I simply loved the whole snapdragon sequence, and then the discovery of the body... Lovely! It's an episode I'm concerned about more than Murder on the Orient Express, to be honest- but they all look great!

Carlyle 30 Mar 10 at 8 p.m. GMT

Wow... I can´t wait to see the new Poirot-episodes. Halloween Party looks wonderful, love the atmosphere and it is a joy to see mrs Oliver again! I confess, I haven´t read the book this time so I cannot say anything about the adaptation.

Concerning Murder on the Orient express it looks stunning! Love Eileen Atkins (just the appearance in the trailer is wonderful - "I would have stabbed him as hi slept") and Barbara Hershey seems to be a nice mrs Hubbard. Love the sinister atmosphere and the chilling tension in the trailer. I hope it is in the movie also :D

The only thing I´m worried about is the... well, the end with the big E in Murder on the Orient express... And I hope Poirot is allowed to do some detecting in this one (and not, as in Appointment with death - none at all).

But still, it is promising!

McGinty 30 Mar 10 at 7:07 p.m. GMT

No offence taken Tommy, and for the record I really wasn't referring to any one person on here, but more in general to the media who seem to express the view that Hastings should be in ALL episodes of Poirot and bang on about it ad infinitum demonstrating their total ignorance of all things Christie, many of them probably never having read one of the books.

Murder on the Orient Express looks stunning, can't wait to see it - although I guess ITV will hold on to it until Christmas. Halloween Party looks slightly altered but good nonetheless, while The Mirror Crack'd, on the five or so minutes shown, looks to be a really good interpretation, with Joanna Lumley on top form.

MissQuin 30 Mar 10 at 4:55 p.m. GMT

No problem Tommy.