The ABC Murders (Poirot) (BBC)

JP Liz V1

John Malkovich to play detective Poirot in BBC One’s three-part Agatha Christie adaptation The ABC Murders.

The ABC Murders is set in 1930s Britain and follows Poirot as he faces a serial killer known only as A.B.C. As the murder count rises, the only clue is the copy of The ABC Railway Guide at each crime scene. Poirot’s investigations are thwarted at every turn by an enemy determined to outsmart him. If Poirot is to match his nemesis then everything about him will be called into question; his authority, his integrity, his past, his identity.

In addition to Malkovich, the cast includes: Rupert Grint (Harry Potter, Sick Note) as Inspector Crome, Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman) as Franklin Clarke, Eamon Farren (Twin Peaks, Chained) as Cust, Tara Fitzgerald (Game Of Thrones, Requiem) as Lady Hermione Clarke, Bronwyn James (Harlots) as Megan and Freya Mavor (The Sense Of An Ending, Sunshine On Leith) as Thora Grey.

https://www.tvwise.co.uk/2018/05/john-malkovich-star-bbc-ones-agatha-christie-adaptation-abc-murders/

The Black Oil

Well, it wouldn't be winter without a Christie adaptation.

Kicks off on Dec 26th at 9pm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-JnLcOuqro

JP Liz V1

The ABC Murders will premiere on Boxing Day (Wednesday December 26th) at 9pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZCzEdtIdpI

Tom Mann Centuria

Only watched the Suchet version of this story the other day. Actor playing Cust will have to go some to beat the actor in Suchets version, he was excellent.


Edit: Donald Sumpter played Cust in the ITV version.

The Black Oil

Mes amis, if you wish to solve the murder with your little grey cells, it starts tonight at 9pm on BBC1.

Tom Mann Centuria

Lot of style, moody music, lighting and camerawork, grittier than the Suchet version but still prefer the ITV version so far to be honest.

The Black Oil

I'm enjoying it. Polished without seeming to indulgent. Mind you, episode 2's ending did lay it on a bit thick with Poirot's remarks about the killer's mistake and coming slaughter.

Haven't seen the Suchet version.

Tom Mann Centuria

The Black Oil wrote: »

I'm enjoying it. Polished without seeming to indulgent. Mind you, episode 2's ending did lay it on a bit thick with Poirot's remarks about the killer's mistake and coming slaughter.

Haven't seen the Suchet version.

Way more faithful to the book, so if you like Christie's style you might well prefer that version, but I know a lot of people really don't like the way she wrote and I think the current adaptation will fill that gap nicely.

Still prefer the by the numbers Suchet version myself but certainly don't hate this one. Read somewhere Suchet's Poirot felt more like a theatrical production, and I think that's fair comment.

The Black Oil

Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »

Way more faithful to the book, so if you like Christie's style you might well prefer that version, but I know a lot of people really don't like the way she wrote and I think the current adaptation will fill that gap nicely.

Still prefer the by the numbers Suchet version myself!

Sarah Phelps? I hadn't heard of her until this. People commenting under the Guardian's write up we generally not keen on how this has turned out. I got the sense some are protective of the character and original writing.

She's got an Irish thing out next year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dublin_Murders

Tom Mann Centuria

The Black Oil wrote: »

Sarah Phelps? I hadn't heard of her until this. People commenting under the Guardian's write up we generally not keen on how this has turned out. I got the sense some are protective of the character and original writing.

She's got an Irish thing out next year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dublin_Murders

She's not popular with Christie purists I don't think. She did the 10 little Indians adaptation last year which got a fair bit of hate. I didn't really enjoy that, but I am not a fan of that story anyway. Then you have the Suchet fans who are also precious about their man.

I'm a Ustinov fan for sheer overblown Poirot though, so Suchet isn't that special to me, besides most Poirots are watchable (I even made it through to the end of Kenneth Brannaghs effort).

I'd love to see Phelps write her own stuff because I'd say It'd be very watchable, I'll definitely check out the new thing next year anyway.

The Black Oil

The conclusion picked up the pace somewhat, bringing things forward a little.

No confrontation of all parties a la typical Poirot, plus we learned that he tended to a different flock in a past life.

odyssey06

I thought there was a very good 2 hour movie in there, if the edit upped the pacing & cut out some of the clunky stuff about foreigners / Poirot being on the out with the police which all felt a bit forced.

I really liked the previous 10 Little Indians \ And Then There Was None adaptation but also felt it was a bit stretched out into a 3 hour adaptation when a 2 hour movie would be more appropriate.

Wombatman

Probably the best thing on TV this Christmas. Hopfully they will do another one with Malkovich next year a la Sherlock.

MisterAnarchy

odyssey06 wrote: »

I thought there was a very good 2 hour movie in there, if the edit upped the pacing & cut out some of the clunky stuff about foreigners / Poirot being on the out with the police which all felt a bit forced.

I'd agree with all of that .

It was too drawn out and there was too much time wasted on Cromes suspicions of Poirots abilities.
He was regarded as the best detective in the world ,how could he have fallen from grace so much.

Jaap killed off ?

No need for that either.

The writer was obviously trying to work Brexit and immigrants into the story somewhere .
The revelation about Poirots earlier life was just nonsense and the actual reveal of the killer ,well if you blinked you'd miss it .
It made no sense either .

It was all a bit of a mess ,Phelps And Then There Were None adaption was vastly superior .

not great.
obvious "twist"
priest backstory faff added nothing.
Malkovitch seemed wasted in the role, let down by the production and story adaptation.

brian_t

Somebody else can start a thread for it but Sarah Phelps latest Agatha Christie adaptation is a two-part series of The Pale Horse.

It starts Sunday 9th February, 9pm, BBC One.