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The Clocks

CatAmongthePigeons 27 Jun 11 at 3:07 p.m. GMT

The Clocks was interesting in several ways.  The dark cloud of war looming over England is being ratched up; anti-semitism rears its ugly head -- the Waterhouses turn out to be German Jews (Suchet plays this as if Poirot had figured it out the moment he met them, which is interesting.), and when Ms. Waterhouse comes out with the embarrassing fact that Britain could be just as anti-semitic as Germany, Colin is rather nonplussed.  The two proto-Fifth Columnists responsible for the first deaths each represent the different camps of the appeasement movement:  one isn't particularly ideological but has been traumatized by personal loss in the War That Didn't End All Wars and will do anything to prevent future loss of life, and the other is an ideologue of the worst kind (choosing Fascism over Communism, hating Churchill, and directing a nasty insult at the Waterhouses).

Oh, and by the way, did anybody recognize Tessa Peake-Jones (the original Mary of the first PBS Pride and Prejudice) as Valerie Bland?  I didn't until I saw the credits.

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Tommy_A_Jones 05 Jul 11 at 1:29 p.m. GMT

I ameant She was a Great Actress and would have played Miss Marple Brilliantly

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Jul 11 at 12:46 p.m. GMT

he was a Great Actress and someone who could have played Miss Marple Brilliantly

GKCfan 04 Jul 11 at 9:24 p.m. GMT

Anna Massey, who played Miss Pebmarsh in The Clocks, and who also played Agatha Christie herself in Agatha Christie: A Life In Pictures, has passed away at age 73. Rest in peace, Ms. Massey.

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Jul 11 at 1:39 p.m. GMT

GKCfan that title would give too much away, if there has to be an alternate title I think it should be Murder At Wilbraham Crescent although I have no problem with the Present title, I don't think you like this book do you which might be why you don't like The Clocks as a Titlee

I can be very lazy and can't be bothered to look at links unless they are highlighted and all you have to do is cick.

GKCfan 02 Jul 11 at 6:48 a.m. GMT

My alternate title for The Clocks would be "Blind Woman's Bluff."

For my thoughts on the recent adaptations of The Clocks and Murder on the Orient Express, see:

http://agathachristie.com/insight/papers/2011/06/29/tv-adaptation-review-poirot-clocks/

and

http://agathachristie.com/insight/papers/2011/02/10/one-train-two-very-different-journeys/

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Jul 11 at 4:55 p.m. GMT

"Orient Express" is quite Dark which I suppose is appropriate for the book and subject matter, The Denoumont is Rushed and the Beginning is in my view Unnecessary

I think The Title of "The Clocks" is wonderfully Mysterious, I love the Ambiguity of the Title, What else could the Book be called?

Lone_Wolf 29 Jun 11 at 8:25 p.m. GMT

"True Fans"? WTF?

I haven't watched "Orient Express", but from what I've heard about it, it seems to be pretty artifical and bad - the kind of Hammy Moral Issues style I once mocked on that forum. "The Clocks" film wasn't really that 'dark', in my option. 

The book suffers from the randomness of the title plot point and the rambling repeating style of late AC.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Jun 11 at 3:48 p.m. GMT

I have not seen The Clocks yet but after reading your review CatAmongThe Pigeons and Lone_Wolf I can't say I am looking forward to it, with Anti-ar which isk Cloud of War over England being mentioned much in the book. Why Can't ITV Adapt ACs books the way they were Written, That is what the True Fans want, If The Books are not Dark enough for you why don't you read Books which are.

I agree Murder On The Orient Express was Dark but not as Dark as the Adaptation.

How can ANYONE say that The Clocks was Bland? It had everything anyone would want from a Poirot Book to call it Bland makes me wonder if we are talking about the same Book, It was a Caper, It had Humour Romance and The Secret Service, To call it Bland is a Real insult, Murder in Mesopotamia Bland, The Clocks NOT BLAND AT ALL. 

CatAmongthePigeons 29 Jun 11 at 1:54 p.m. GMT

Lone_Wolf

Yeah, "The Clocks" - a rather bland novel in the original - was rewritten for the better. There were some awkard moments on part of the screenwriters (I understand the intention with that part with Colin's previous dead love, but it was kinda awkard), but overall, it's a rare example of a rewrite that is both necessary and successful. The pre-war athmosphere and two different collaborationists were done well.

I agree.  A lot of people didn't like the darkness of Murder on the Orient Express, but I thought it set the tone for the coming conflict where nothing is certain and the fun, carefree spirit of the first cases -- set between 1935-1937 -- has been wiped away.  The Clocks continues this moodset perfectly, spelling out what England will be facing in just a year's time.

Lone_Wolf 28 Jun 11 at 4:50 p.m. GMT

Yeah, "The Clocks" - a rather bland novel in the original - was rewritten for the better. There were some awkard moments on part of the screenwriters (I understand the intention with that part with Colin's previous dead love, but it was kinda awkard), but overall, it's a rare example of a rewrite that is both necessary and successful. The pre-war athmosphere and two different collaborationists were done well.