David Suchet as Hercule Poirot |
Poirot has
a certain way of behaving, he loves symmetry, is a bit vain and using ‘his
little grey cells’ is more important that running after clues. He also has
strong moral values and a strict sense of justice, although he also has a deep
compassion for people and an understanding of why they do certain things.
Poirot has
been played by many actors, but the best is David Suchet, who played the little
Belgian detective in 13 series over 25 years. All the short stories and the
books about Poirot were covered.
In the
first series Poirot is joined by captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), Inspector Japp
(Philip Jackson) and Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran), but in later series Poirot
receives help from others.
Hugh Fraser and David Suchet as Hastings and Poirot |
As always
the attention to details in the costumes and the sets is perfect. I also enjoy
very much the different English actors who play minor roles, these are either
actors who stood at the beginning of their careers and became very famous
later, or these are famous actors already who just loved to play a part in Poirot.
I especially love Zoe Wanamaker as detective writer Ariadne Oliver.
In later
series the script writers sometimes changed things and this has not always been
for the best. Simplifying a storyline or write out some characters are things
that are understandable, but you do not change plot or even the identity of the
murderer. There is no need to improve on Agatha Christie in this respect.
Cards on the table, The mystery of the blue
train and Appointment with death are not very good
or even quite bad because of this. On the other hand often the result is amazing, like in The ABC-murders, Cat among the pigeons or Mrs. McGinthy’s death and of course Poirot’s last case, Curtain.
David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker as Poirot and Ariadne Oliver |
Agatha Christie’s Poirot is a great series, with often the
ingenious plots by Agatha Christie, played with a subtle humor and respect for
the original. In short, I love spending an afternoon with Poirot, often with a
cup of tea.
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