Agatha Christie on the Big and Small Screen
Even though Dame Agatha may not have enjoyed adaptations of her mysteries, audiences have been loving them for decades
- By Daniel Eagan
- Smithsonian.com, May 16, 2011
(Mary Evans / Edward Small Productions / Ronald Grant / Everett Collection)
Another all-star production, Witness for the Prosecution (1957) was based on a hit play Christie wrote from a 1925 short story. Director and co-screenwriter (with Harry Kurnitz) Billy Wilder thought that Christie “plotted like a god” but had “cardboard” characters. For this courtroom mystery, Wilder changed the emphasis from murder defendant Leonard Vole (played by Tyrone Power) to Judge Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton), and added an amusing role for Laughton’s wife Elsa Lanchester as a no-nonsense nurse. Wilder also gave Marlene Dietrich, star of his earlier hit A Foreign Affair, a song routine in a flashback sequence. During a trip to Los Angeles, Christie visited the production to look over set designer Alexander Trauner’s meticulous recreation of the Old Bailey Courthouse. She also signed a contract with MGM to write a screenplay from the Charles Dickens novel Bleak House, a project that was never filmed.
Comments (10)
David Suchet is the best Poirot. I especially enjoyed his tour of the current Orient Express, followed by 'Murder on the Orient Express'. Although his supporting cast was good, it's a shame that he couldn't have had the cast Albert Finney had. As for Miss Marple, Jean Hickson is the best. She exactly fit my image of Miss Marple from the books.
Posted by Dorothy Burke on August 31,2011 | 01:41 PM
I thought Peter U. was a wonderful Poirot, until I witnessed the work of David Suchet in the role! He has the character down pat. The 2010 Murder on the Orient Express, was staggering in the emotion Suchet was able to render as Poirot!
After seeing it, I re-read the book, and Suchet (along with the production crew) absolutely hit it on the head!
Posted by anne on June 23,2011 | 08:32 PM
I have every book, audiotape, and video available of Agatha Christie's output. I never get tired of reading/hearing/seeing them again and again. Margaret Rutherford's Miss Marple may be a travesty of the original, but she sure is fun to watch. David Suchet IS Poirot!
Posted by Ginny on June 19,2011 | 02:10 PM
David Suchet is perfect.
Posted by cbenson on June 13,2011 | 09:59 PM
My all time favorite is Peter Ustinov as Poirot. I also enjoy David Suchet in that version, but dismissed Albert Finney from one of my favorite sleuths. He just doesn't cut it. But watch and read all of Agatha Christie. I may be journeying to her seaside town Of Torquay in 2012 can't wait!!
Posted by marianne rutka on June 6,2011 | 10:37 AM
David Suchet is the absolute best Poirot. Think I may have watched every one of the shows.
Posted by sue moore on May 30,2011 | 06:10 PM
"Judge" Wilfrid Roberts? Didn't Laughton play a counsel for the defense? He would have been a barrister, not a judge. Unless "Judge" was a nickname, or an honorific used to recognize a former judgeship. It has been a time since I've seen the film, but I'm sure Laughton was at the bar, not on the bench.
Posted by Ed Cash on May 25,2011 | 10:24 PM
Haven't seen this yet- looking forward to it!
Posted by nc on May 18,2011 | 03:06 PM
Dame Agatha seemed to have been a bit of a prissy pringle. THe mustache gave Mr. Finney a bit of dash. It is one of my favorite Christie movies and perhaps on one of my top ten lists for composition. It is a great movie to watch and enjoy.
I wish I could do interiors like Mr. Lumet.
Posted by JP on May 18,2011 | 12:30 PM
I love Agatha Christie. We watch her stories on PBS when they are available. After reading this, I want to look into more of the Dame's works.
Posted by Anton Solomon on May 18,2011 | 11:48 AM