HPC Forums

[Winston]

I just finished watching the 2nd part of Sleeping Murder on PBS. I'm not sure why they changed so much of the story, but it reminded me of another AC story that takes place in India - does any one remember one that ends up being similar to the way they ended Sleeping Murder?

[JCB]

SPOILER



Yes


It is Taken at the Flood, although the film version won't tell you that. (Dynamite..........!)
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[PoirotLover]

I too was disappointed in how much Sleeping Murder was changed. As for By the Pricking of My Thumbs, Miss Marple has no right to be there but it's a guilty pleasure.

[Betty]

Grrrr....I tried to watch the "By the Pricking of My Thumbs" with Tommy & Tuppence and couldn't stomach how they were portraying Tuppence(as an alcoholic). The whole premise of this couple was the witty repartee they had together and also how much they cared for each other. I only watched the first half hour of this show and I was turned off. Tuppence seemed so lost and lonely and she didn't seem like she was getting any support from Tommy. And I cannot fathom why they would want to insert Jane Marple into this story! I hate when they completely change the nuances of any AC stories and I was totally unhappy with how this adaptation was going. I had to shut it off - maybe I didn't give it a chance but I cannot stomach how they changed the characters around.

[PoirotLover]

I thought the first part was okay but the second half was pretty bad. Tommy seemed to ignore Tuppence and act, as you described before, like a "cold fish." Anthony Andrews' initial scenes portrayed Tommy very well, but it went downhill after that.

[Lizzie Brookes]

If you are talking about Sleeping Murder with Geraldine in it to tell the truth I loved it. I know they changed it a lot but it was really interesting - Kennedy becoming a psychiatruyst to analsyse what was mentally wrong with him, it was much more powerful that it was her real mother killed by her uncle and while there were only subtle indications in the book it was fairly obvious thatDr Kennedy wantedhs sisteras a lover whih I admit is a bit scary/freaky but from a pstychological viewpoint its really intriguing/interesting as well.

[James]

Lizzie, thanks for your comments. I'll still have to watch that episode.

[Lizzie Brookes]

Thanks James. I know most people prefer Joan Hickson but I actually like Geraldine more as Miss Marple and also they have explored new things rather than just sticking to the novel. So far I klike all the McEwan ones except Murder inthe Vicarage which I think the Joan Hickson one was better. Nemesis I idn't watch because out of the twelve Miss Marple books that was one I really hated for some reason - maybe because of the violence in it. I hope you'll like it- Sleeping Murder I mean.

[moonraker]

I really think you have to try to forget the books in this series. If you watch them with a clear mind, you might enjoy them.

Or, perhaps not!

Incidentally, I think Thelma Barlow would make an excellent Miss Marple.
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Books are the quietest and most constant of friends.

[James]

moonraker, tell us more about Thelma Barlow. I noticed she was in the recent Marple story "The Moving Finger".

Anybody seen this, and care to venture an opinion of this episode?

[Agatha's fan]

I though that 'The Moving Finger' was really enjoyable, but I detested "Sittaford Mystery" so much, mainly because of the amazing number of changes from the book. It was more like "The Mousetrap"- it annoyed me so much that i made a comment on IMDb to this effect (which I never, ever do). Timothy Dalton is a good actor, but the problem with using famous actors is that many people just watch it to see him, rather than actually taking in the story. I think that the writers just changed the story to get as as many scenes with Timothy Dalton as possible.

I think Judi Dench would be a good Miss Marple, but she is too much of a star to play somebody in a TV movie. Maybe they could make a big screen adaption?!!?!?

[James]

Agatha's fan, great comments! I absolutely loved the book "The Sittaford Mystery". But I have heard disappointing things about the TV adaptation. That's really a shame.

I love Timothy Dalton, so I would like to see him in the movie. You said the problem about having famous actors is that it will entice TV viewers to watch the show for the sake of seeing that actor. I think that's true. I wonder: how many people tuned in to see the Poirot story "The Mystery of the Blue Train" just to see Elliot Gould? I don't know if people care about him, but you know what I mean?

I would really like to see Judi Dench in an adaptation--but I'm sure, Agatha's fan, that if she is ever in one, it'll be a theatrical release. That reminds me of Lumet's "Orient Express" movie from 1974. What an all-star cast!

[moonraker]

[PoirotLover]

[Agatha's fan]

I agree, PoirotLover, in that The Moving finger was a good adaption. I also think Frances De La Tur & James D'Arcy were great.

If I had to rate the episodes, it would be like this:

1. A Murder is Announced
2. The Moving Finger
3. The Murder at the Vicarage
4. By the Pricking of my Thumbs
5. Sleeping Murder
6. 4:50 From Paddington
7. The Body in the Library
8. The Sittaford Mystery (boo, hiss!)

Many people say that they really enjoyed '4:50 from Paddington', but I actually found it really annoying. There is no reason for this, but I just didn't like it! (I didn't like the book v. much, either- tho)

I will be interested 2 see the new ones, but I really hope 'At Bertram's Hotel' is well done, as it was one of my fave Miss Marple books. O well.
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