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T&T Partners In Crime Series

LovesMysteries 02 Jan 11 at 8:17 p.m. GMT

I don't hear too much discussion about the Tommy & Tuppence "Partners In Crime" television series that aired in the 80's, that starred James Warwick and Francesca Annis in the leading roles. They also filmed an adaptation of the first novel in the series "The Secret Adversary".

Overall I think this was a great series and also it was a product of it's time and different from the more refined and polished Agatha Christie adaptations that were made soon after. I think this series defintely captured the spirit, the time period, and the tone and color of the original stories. Yes, the stories revolved around murder and crime and still had its serious side to it but they were also light-hearted and fun. And if you read the "Partners In Crime" short story collection you'll see how light-hearted and fun these stories are--very different from the Poirot and Miss Marple books.  

Anyways what are your thoughts about the series? I would love to hear your insight on a series that is rarely mentioned on any one's list of favorite A.C. adaptations!

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41 replies

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Tommy_A_Jones 17 Dec 11 at 10:58 a.m. GMT

John Gielgud was Excellent in Evans, I have this one and Seven Dials where he plays Lord Caterham both are Brilliant, I also have The Secret Adversary which is also good, I so wish ITV had done the other books at the time.

samchn07 16 Dec 11 at 10:26 a.m. GMT

i would love to get that and watch it on my PC@!

MissQuin 08 Feb 11 at 3:51 p.m. GMT

Those sound like great books, I'm very tempted to buy some of these titles. But I have far too many books for the place I'm living, there's just not enough room! But I carry on buying them anyway.

I did want to know more about the older adaptations. I'm starting to think those are much better. The old black and white TTWN was fun to watch. Plus Witness For.. looks great, so I'll try hiring the DVD from somewhere. Plus I colud find little about the 80's adapts- T&T and The AC hour. I'd be happy to just find pictures of Tuppence's hats! Those are so chic.

I read Laura Thompson's bio of AC. It was pretty good. I did find there were lot's of spoilers, so I had to skip some parts of it. I also skipped the sections with Agatha Christie's personal letters. I just didn't feel comfortable reading them. They weren't meant for other people and it felt very intrusive. But it's probably just me. I always put myself in someones else's place and I know I wouldn't want my personal letters being read.

johnwaynefreak 07 Feb 11 at 3:45 p.m. GMT

One of my favourites (and one which includes the info on "Evans?") is the Mark Campbell "Pocket Essential: Agatha Christie", although I don't believe the author really viewed the rarer titles he includes (he doesn't have much to say about the Austin Trevor films, and dismissed the silent "Secret Adversary" as overlong - the Italian DVD I have is barely an hour!). It's cheap, short, snappy and a handy guide to the films, series and books, though.

I also use "The Agatha Christie Companion" although it predates the major TV adaptations. Two which are good for photos are "The Films Of Agatha Christie" and "The World Of Agatha Christie", the latter being available in a reprint edition with a new dustjacket for £5 in The Works.

Another I have is "Agatha Christie's Poirot: A Celebration Of The Great Detective", a companion to the Suchet series - Amazon gives the release date as 1995 - it's in the loft so I can't check but I feel sure the book runs up to "Dumb Witness" (1996) - perhaps, like the current episodes, this one was filmed but held back. It has an episode guide at the back but certain parts read like cobbled together press releases - again, some good pictures here. That one's a favourite as my Auntie snapped it up for me in the Pound Shop when I was little!

"Agatha Christie - A Reader's Companion" has some beautiful illustrations of first editions, probably my favourite Christie reference to leaf through in an idle moment.

I tend to steer clear of the heavier titles, such as "Agatha Christie: The Finished Portrait" - I'm not one for over-analysis of people, or reading drivel into nothing at all, and that particular title is absolute bilge. I find Laura Thompson's biography gives the fullest picture of Christie herself, and of course previous biographies and Christie's own autobiographies can now be supplemented with the superb "Notebook" volume(s).

MissQuin 28 Jan 11 at 2:59 p.m. GMT

I will read Evans then try and catch the adapt on TV. They do show at on ITV 3 from time to time. That really is a huge budget.

That sounds like a good reference JWF, which one is it?

johnwaynefreak 28 Jan 11 at 12:24 p.m. GMT

According to several of my Christie reference books (which predate Wikipedia before anyone asks about reliability! ) "...Evans?" had a £1,000,000 budget (enormous for 1980), Eric Porter, John Gielgud and Bernard Miles (the latter two in small parts) and a three month slot for shooting - if it was a test, it was a very expensive one!

MissQuin 26 Jan 11 at 12:01 p.m. GMT

Number3

I'm not sure, but was the Warrick/Annis version of "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?"  a test run to see how well the actors worked together before having them commit to the T&T series?

I don't know, it colud have been. I have a copy of Evans with Warrick/Annis on the cover. I've not read Evans yet. Maybe they liked the chemistry between them so much, they asked them to do the film Secret Adversary? Then a full length series.

Many actors have returned to Chrsite though like Nicholas Farrell. He was in The Agatha chrisite Hour, then to episodes of Poirot as different characters. I also think that Zoe Wannamaker was in an early Poirot episode possible Dumb Witness? then later played Mrs Oliver and she was in Marple. I've lost count of how many Samantha Bond has appeared in! Maybe 4 AC adapts? I wonder if their big fans of her work.

Tommy_A_Jones 25 Jan 11 at 3:42 p.m. GMT

I have also resorted to buying my own Agatha Christie Adaptations, I bought The Man In The Brown Suit last week, I try to watch at least one Adaptation a Weekend, last week I watched Murder On The Orient Express aswell as The Man In The Brown Suit (rwice in 1 day) the weekend before I watched Evil Under The Sun and Death On The Nile (Both PU versions).

I too would love it if the last 3 T&T stries were made with Francessca Annis and James Warwick but I doubt they will be, more's the pity.

I should think the Next Marple series would have to be A Caribbean Mystery and at least one MM short story to justify it being called Marple It would have been so much better if ITV had had the Courage to just make Agatha Christie Adaptations PROPERLY and called it Agatha Christie Mysteries like they did with Ruth Rendell non Wexfords but they didn't have the Courage to do that which is a shame and a disservcice to Agatha Christie the people who love her books and the ITV viewers, some I suspect love Poirot and loved The BBC Miss Marple series and like the films based on Agatha Christie books.

Number3 25 Jan 11 at 1:40 p.m. GMT

I'm not sure, but was the Warrick/Annis version of "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?"  a test run to see how well the actors worked together before having them commit to the T&T series?

MissQuin 19 Jan 11 at 3:04 p.m. GMT

It's true that there has been some terrible music in the recent Marple adapts. But then again one of the Hickson's had very bad music, it sounded vaguely sleazy and out of place. I think it was Body In The Library.

I like the Partners in Crime music them tune, it's quite uplifting. Of course the old Poirot theme tune is iconic. I love it.

LovesMysteries 18 Jan 11 at 6:23 p.m. GMT

MissQuin

No it's not been disclosed which Marple adapts will be made next. But perhaps Caribbean Mystery? I would like them to make the Miss M short stories too.

I watched The Secret Adversary the other day. It was pretty good. I was trying to work out when it was meant to be set. Some of the clothes looked pre-1920 other's rather Flapper like. So maybe it was 1920. I did work out who Mr Brown was very quickly though. But it was all good fun. I do have a tendaency to laugh at the supposed serious moments. I don't know why. I think it's best when it's being more playful.

I'm glad that you liked The Secret Adversary. It came from a period in which the producers wanted to be faithful and respectful to the material and I wish they thought like this today. I can't imagine them filming this T&T story today . . . . . the film would be so full of melodrama and corny music.

I wish the last 3 remaining T&T stories would be filmed. It would be nice for the original actor/actresses that played the part would return to their roles and finish the series.

MissQuin 18 Jan 11 at 6:17 p.m. GMT

No it's not been disclosed which Marple adapts will be made next. But perhaps Caribbean Mystery? I would like them to make the Miss M short stories too.

I watched The Secret Adversary the other day. It was pretty good. I was trying to work out when it was meant to be set. Some of the clothes looked pre-1920 other's rather Flapper like. So maybe it was 1920. I did work out who Mr Brown was very quickly though. But it was all good fun. I do have a tendaency to laugh at the supposed serious moments. I don't know why. I think it's best when it's being more playful.

LovesMysteries 07 Jan 11 at 10:56 a.m. GMT

I will defintely tell you what I think of The Agatha Christie Hour when I watch it!

Do you know by any chance the next group of Miss Marple films that are going to be made? I don't care how many adaptations they film or short stories they make I still prefer Joan Hickson as Miss Marple and I still prefer those films.

MissQuin 07 Jan 11 at 10:52 a.m. GMT

I agree with that one. I love talking about anything relating to Agatha Chrisitie. Let us know what you think of the episodes on the post below. Ive not seen some of them and I'm curious.

http://www.agathachristie.com/forum/have-your-say/television-and-film/the-agatha-christie-hour-dvd/

As for the Marple Chimneys - up there with the worst ever episode The Sitaford mystery.

LovesMysteries 07 Jan 11 at 10:46 a.m. GMT

MissQuin

Happy Belated birthday LovesM! Do you know other people who love Chrisite? I don't, so I end up having to buy Christie presents for myself. ;)lol

So many DVDs I want, not enough money.

I wish I did know a lot of A.C. fans personally but unfortunately I don't. But I'm glad that this forum is here and I met a lot of hardcore Agatha Christie fans and I enjoy discussing her books with you all

Tommy_A_Jones 05 Jan 11 at 3:26 p.m. GMT

The Secret of Chimney's wasn't as bad as some in the past.

MissQuin 05 Jan 11 at 12:28 p.m. GMT

I was only joking about Tuppence cocktail drinking. The idea she drank too much in the POMT adapt came out of the blue. Probably just put it in so that Miss Marple could solve the crime.  

In Towards Zero the sleuth was turned into a clumsy muddlehead, so Miss M colud solve it. Murder Is Easy Luke became some gormless man. Will they stop making the origanl sleuths look stupid?! I'm still reeling from last night Chimneys.

Happy Belated birthday LovesM! Do you know other people who love Chrisite? I don't, so I end up having to buy Christie presents for myself. ;)lol

So many DVDs I want, not enough money.

LovesMysteries 04 Jan 11 at 8:22 p.m. GMT

Actually Tuppence was drinkng quite a few cocktails in Partners In Crime, maybe that's where they got the idea from?! "chin chin darlings" Then under the table. She could some daamge with that enlongated cigarette holder. ;)

Agatha Christie Hour DVD? I envy you! Great fun.

Well if that's where they got the idea from they defintely took it to the extreme . . . but I noticed that with these new adaptations--they always take a situation to the extreme.

There are actually 2 sets to The Agatha Christie Hour and the 2nd one is coming out later this month. Yesterday was my birthday so I thought I'd treat myself to buying this DVD set. I also saw the T&T Partners In Crime Set 2 DVD and I should have got that as well . . . . oh, well maybe next time!

MissQuin 04 Jan 11 at 7:58 p.m. GMT

Yes I could just picture Tuppence sneaking off for a little "tipple" right in the middle of a denoucement. Or Tommy bullying the murderer so much they end up in tears.  Complete farce.

Actually Tuppence was drinkng quite a few cocktails in Partners In Crime, maybe that's where they got the idea from?! "chin chin darlings" Then under the table. She could some daamge with that enlongated cigarette holder. ;)

Agatha Christie Hour DVD? I envy you! Great fun.

LovesMysteries 04 Jan 11 at 7:27 p.m. GMT

The way Tommy and Tuppence were portrayed in the recent Marple serires was cruel to T&T fans. Tuppence and alcoholic and Tommy so unpleasant. That would never work as a series now would it?

I guess it would work as a series but they would have to focus on Tuppence's alcoholism and Tommy's unpleasantness (rolling my eyes, lol). Doesn't really sound like too much fun. It totally strips away Tommy & Tuppence's bubbily personalities.

Btw, MissQuin I just bought the first set of The Agatha Christie Hour yesterday! I'm going to watch it very soon!