"Super Sleuth - Poirot" is a superb one-hour documentary about great British mystery. This film, made for TV, has three related parts or subjects, in the mix. The first is about the great British mystery writer, Agatha Christie. The second is about her most famous fictional character, private-eye Hercule Poirot. The third is about David Suchet in the role of Poirot, as the quintessential character developed and played by Suchet.
Any and all who have enjoyed these mysteries presented first on the BBC and then on PBS in the States, or who may since have watched them on DVD or streaming, should enjoy this documentary. And, to the delight of all, all of the familiar cast of Poirot's frequent circle comment in this film. Thus, Hugh Fraser, who plays Captain Hastings, is here. So too are Philip Jackson, who plays Chief Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard, and Pauline Moran, who plays Poirot's efficient and delightful secretary, Miss Lemon. These are supplemented with others, including some from the production end of the films and series.
The latter include Brian Eastman, producer from 1988 to 2001, Ed Bennett, the original director, Anthony Horowitz, screen writer, and Clive Exton, writer and script consultant in 1998 to 2001. Among others who contribute are author Martina Cole; crime writer Val McDermid; crime writer and critic Maxim Jakubowski; Simon Brett, president of the Director's Club; Matthew Prichard, grandson of Agatha Christie; Margaret Kinsman of academia; Laura Thompson, Agatha Christie biographer; and a former deputy chief constable, John Stalker.
The narrator says that Agatha Christie "wrote more over 80 novels and short story collections as well as 16 plays." She also wrote romance novels under the pen name, Mary Westmacott. Over two billion Christie books have been sold worldwide, making her the third most read source after the Bible and William Shakespeare.
Of all of her characters, Hercule Poirot caught the public's attention with her first story about him. She wrote more, and although she quickly tired of him and didn't care that much for the character, her publishers leaned on her to write more of Poirot because of his huge popularity with the reading public. As a result, Christie wrote 33 novels and 56 short stories about Poirot.
Suchet describes Poirot as "an extraordinary-looking little man. He was hardly more than five feet, four inches, but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and it always perched a little on one side. As a detective, his flair has been extraordinary, and he had achieved triumphs by unraveling some of the most baffling cases of the day." That description fits perfectly the character as Suchet was made up to and as he appeared in playing the Belgian super sleuth. The narrator added that Christie "stepped up the investigator with a big brain."
Suchet and others comment on various aspects and traits of Poirot. Suchet noted his "obsession with neatness, with symmetry, with order, with detail." Hugh Fraser says, "He's a master of that method - analytical thought." Brian Eastman says "Poirot has a wonderful eye for detail and a great interest in human psychology."
The former real deputy chief constable, John Stalker, says, "Murder seems to follow him around. He'd be my number one suspect." And that bit of humor plays out early in the films when Chief Inspector Japp makes a similar comment. Indeed, it's a thread in many of the stories, noted by Ariadne Oliver and others from time to time, that where Hercule Poirot shows up there most likely will soon be a murder. It's all quite delicious and entertaining.
The narrator notes that the familiar characters of Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon and Chief Inspector Japp are in some of the early books and short stories, but not most of the works. But, the screen writers of the TV films wrote them into more of the stories. Clive Exton says that, "for a televisions series, you need a basic family unit, whether it's a family or not, people who relate with each other." No one doubts that Christie would have approved of the additions that were made. Indeed, for as good as all of the later films are, and the books, I have a slight sense at times reading or watching one of these stories that a little something may be missing. If nothing else, a little warmth or touch of humanity in a friend or associate being around with Poirot at the end of a story.
Before David Suchet played Poirot, two other actors had played the part in early films - Peter Ustinov and Albert Finney. But no one before read, studied and delved into the character as did Poirot. Christie saw the early film of Ustinov, but there was no comment here about what she thought of the character. The narrator says, "On the 8th of January 1989 - 13 years after Agatha Christie's death, David Suchet became Hercule Poirot."
Suchet sums up Hercule Poirot and his portrayal, thusly: "It's her (Christie's) character. And all I have done is lift him off her pages for you to see."
This excellent documentary is a must see for fans of Agatha Christie and/or Hercule Poirot.
Any and all who have enjoyed these mysteries presented first on the BBC and then on PBS in the States, or who may since have watched them on DVD or streaming, should enjoy this documentary. And, to the delight of all, all of the familiar cast of Poirot's frequent circle comment in this film. Thus, Hugh Fraser, who plays Captain Hastings, is here. So too are Philip Jackson, who plays Chief Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard, and Pauline Moran, who plays Poirot's efficient and delightful secretary, Miss Lemon. These are supplemented with others, including some from the production end of the films and series.
The latter include Brian Eastman, producer from 1988 to 2001, Ed Bennett, the original director, Anthony Horowitz, screen writer, and Clive Exton, writer and script consultant in 1998 to 2001. Among others who contribute are author Martina Cole; crime writer Val McDermid; crime writer and critic Maxim Jakubowski; Simon Brett, president of the Director's Club; Matthew Prichard, grandson of Agatha Christie; Margaret Kinsman of academia; Laura Thompson, Agatha Christie biographer; and a former deputy chief constable, John Stalker.
The narrator says that Agatha Christie "wrote more over 80 novels and short story collections as well as 16 plays." She also wrote romance novels under the pen name, Mary Westmacott. Over two billion Christie books have been sold worldwide, making her the third most read source after the Bible and William Shakespeare.
Of all of her characters, Hercule Poirot caught the public's attention with her first story about him. She wrote more, and although she quickly tired of him and didn't care that much for the character, her publishers leaned on her to write more of Poirot because of his huge popularity with the reading public. As a result, Christie wrote 33 novels and 56 short stories about Poirot.
Suchet describes Poirot as "an extraordinary-looking little man. He was hardly more than five feet, four inches, but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and it always perched a little on one side. As a detective, his flair has been extraordinary, and he had achieved triumphs by unraveling some of the most baffling cases of the day." That description fits perfectly the character as Suchet was made up to and as he appeared in playing the Belgian super sleuth. The narrator added that Christie "stepped up the investigator with a big brain."
Suchet and others comment on various aspects and traits of Poirot. Suchet noted his "obsession with neatness, with symmetry, with order, with detail." Hugh Fraser says, "He's a master of that method - analytical thought." Brian Eastman says "Poirot has a wonderful eye for detail and a great interest in human psychology."
The former real deputy chief constable, John Stalker, says, "Murder seems to follow him around. He'd be my number one suspect." And that bit of humor plays out early in the films when Chief Inspector Japp makes a similar comment. Indeed, it's a thread in many of the stories, noted by Ariadne Oliver and others from time to time, that where Hercule Poirot shows up there most likely will soon be a murder. It's all quite delicious and entertaining.
The narrator notes that the familiar characters of Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon and Chief Inspector Japp are in some of the early books and short stories, but not most of the works. But, the screen writers of the TV films wrote them into more of the stories. Clive Exton says that, "for a televisions series, you need a basic family unit, whether it's a family or not, people who relate with each other." No one doubts that Christie would have approved of the additions that were made. Indeed, for as good as all of the later films are, and the books, I have a slight sense at times reading or watching one of these stories that a little something may be missing. If nothing else, a little warmth or touch of humanity in a friend or associate being around with Poirot at the end of a story.
Before David Suchet played Poirot, two other actors had played the part in early films - Peter Ustinov and Albert Finney. But no one before read, studied and delved into the character as did Poirot. Christie saw the early film of Ustinov, but there was no comment here about what she thought of the character. The narrator says, "On the 8th of January 1989 - 13 years after Agatha Christie's death, David Suchet became Hercule Poirot."
Suchet sums up Hercule Poirot and his portrayal, thusly: "It's her (Christie's) character. And all I have done is lift him off her pages for you to see."
This excellent documentary is a must see for fans of Agatha Christie and/or Hercule Poirot.
