Agatha Christie's Poirot Forums

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Remaining stories to be filmed

  • Avatar of mysteryfan427

    mysteryfan427

    [1]Jan 5, 2006
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    There are 12 novels, 1 short story collection, and one separate short story left to film before David Suchet finishes the Poirot canon. This is excluding short stories that are merely shorter versions of others that have alread been adapted (i.e. "The Market Basing Mystery", "The Submarine Plans"). So my question is, which ones do you want to see them make next? Here's the list:

    The Big Four
    Murder on the Orient Express
    Three-Act Tragedy
    Appointment with Death
    Mrs McGinty's Dead
    Dead Man's Folly
    Cat Among The Pigeons
    The Clocks
    Third Girl
    Hallowe'en Party
    Elephants Can Remember
    Curtain
    The Labors of Hercules (Short Story Collection)
    The Lemesurier Inheritance (Short Story)

    For the next batch of four, I would like to see two ones with Mrs. Oliver and two others. So I think I would choose Mrs. McGinty's Dead, Dead Man's Folly, The Big Four (a return to Hastings and Japp!) and, of course, Murder on the Orient Express. After those four, I think they should tackle The Labors of Hercules and "The Lemesurier Inheritance". After those are finished, I would say the next should be Three Act Tragedy, Appointment with Death, Cat Among the Pigeons, and Third Girl. Then, finally, the remaining four for the last season would be The Clocks, Hallowe'en Party, Elephants Can Remember, and Curtain.

    So what's your opinion on all of this? Which films do you want to see next? Also, do you think the play Black Coffee should be made into an episode?
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  • Avatar of djw66

    djw66

    [2]Jan 9, 2006
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    As I can't get enough of Poirot, any and all remaining I anticipate with excitement. I'm especially looking forward to 'Orient Express' as its one of my personal favorite.

    If only there were a source of the production schedule for the remaining 'Poirot's . . .

    Dave
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  • Avatar of Ethandune

    Ethandune

    [3]Jan 11, 2006
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    I really don't mind the order of filming very much, but of course mysteryfan427 is right that Curtain must come last - as with Inspector Morse and The Remorseful Day.
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  • Avatar of samiam78

    samiam78

    [4]Mar 18, 2006
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    Obviously Curtain will have to be last, but i am glad they are making them all. Hopefully they can bring back the old team at some point.
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  • Avatar of geoellis2

    geoellis2

    [5]Mar 26, 2006
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    As a big fan of the show, I would of course like to see all of those mentioned get produced. Obviously "Curtain" would be last, as previously pointed out. Let's remember, though, that "Murder on the Orient Express" was a blockbuster movie from 1974, in which Albert Finney gave a superlative, oscar-nominated performance. It might be unfair to David Suchet to be forced into competing with that. Peter Ustinov, a very competant actor, tried to follow that film, and made some embarassingly bad movies.
    To his credit, Suchet has already far surpassed those performances in several cases, but I think this point is worthy of a discussion.
    The good news is, though, "The Labors of Hercules" is twelve separate stories, so that's enough material for three mini-seasons all on its own.
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    peliassos

    [6]Mar 28, 2006
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    oh, curtain of course has to be last and they should warn people who have not read the book and also the ones not yet watched the rest on not watching it!

    when i was in junior high school, and my english was not sufficient to read the original work, i had read curtain as my 15th christie book or something, and i can not describe you how bad it felt.. the stupid publisher had neither put any notices like "the last book" nor they had published the translations in order. i remember crying a lot for my hero but then, i was only 14 or something like that
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  • Avatar of 19Chris21

    19Chris21

    [7]Apr 29, 2006
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    I really hope they are going to do "Black Coffee". I love this play and I even played the part of Poirot myself once.
    I like it that they have brought in Georges and Ms. Olliver and don't always put in Hastings and Ms. Lemon instead, but when they appear in the books, I want to see them again.

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  • Avatar of geoellis2

    geoellis2

    [8]May 20, 2006
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    'The Clocks' and 'Third Girl' are incredible stories and would make great shows. Again though, any new episodes would be welcomed by us.
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  • Avatar of investedarif

    investedarif

    [9]Jun 17, 2006
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    Hi all,

    I think all the remaining books should be filmed. Poirot is however on of the best adaptation of a novel ever & it is better to watch than the common TV junk we are bombarded with everyday. Above all I earnestly look forwards to episodes with Hasting, Lemon & Japp in them.

    Thnx

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  • Avatar of jbeauchamp17

    jbeauchamp17

    [10]Jun 26, 2006
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    geoellis2 wrote:
    Let's remember, though, that "Murder on the Orient Express" was a blockbuster movie from 1974, in which Albert Finney gave a superlative, oscar-nominated performance. It might be unfair to David Suchet to be forced into competing with that. Peter Ustinov, a very competant actor, tried to follow that film, and made some embarassingly bad movies. To his credit, Suchet has already far surpassed those performances in several cases, but I think this point is worthy of a discussion.

    I know that I am in the minority when I say this, but I happen to think that Albert Finney was the worst Hercule Poirot, and would love to see Suchet tackle "Orient" as I am unable to attempt a second viewing of the film, coutesy of Finney. While on the other hand, I view Peter Ustinov as the definitive Poirot (especially in "Death On The Nile"). Well, that's my opinion, but I'm just happen that Suchet is bringing all of the stories to life.

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  • Avatar of geoellis2

    geoellis2

    [11]Jul 7, 2006
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    jbeauchamp17 wrote:

    geoellis2 wrote:
    Let's remember, though, that "Murder on the Orient Express" was a blockbuster movie from 1974, in which Albert Finney gave a superlative, oscar-nominated performance. It might be unfair to David Suchet to be forced into competing with that. Peter Ustinov, a very competant actor, tried to follow that film, and made some embarassingly bad movies. To his credit, Suchet has already far surpassed those performances in several cases, but I think this point is worthy of a discussion.

    I know that I am in the minority when I say this, but I happen to think that Albert Finney was the worst Hercule Poirot, and would love to see Suchet tackle "Orient" as I am unable to attempt a second viewing of the film, coutesy of Finney. While on the other hand, I view Peter Ustinov as the definitive Poirot (especially in "Death On The Nile"). Well, that's my opinion, but I'm just happen that Suchet is bringing all of the stories to life.

    Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I consider that movie as one of the all-time greats. At the time, it was the highest grossing British movie of all time. And Finney looked and spoke exactly as many people envisioned while reading the book. I must strongly disagree with your view on Ustinov, though. He didn't appear to be Poirot at all. David Suchet is far superior. Let's agree that we would like to see more new eps, OK? 

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  • Avatar of jbeauchamp17

    jbeauchamp17

    [12]Jul 24, 2006
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    geoellis2 wrote:
    jbeauchamp17 wrote:

    geoellis2 wrote:
    Let's remember, though, that "Murder on the Orient Express" was a blockbuster movie from 1974, in which Albert Finney gave a superlative, oscar-nominated performance. It might be unfair to David Suchet to be forced into competing with that. Peter Ustinov, a very competant actor, tried to follow that film, and made some embarassingly bad movies. To his credit, Suchet has already far surpassed those performances in several cases, but I think this point is worthy of a discussion.

    I know that I am in the minority when I say this, but I happen to think that Albert Finney was the worst Hercule Poirot, and would love to see Suchet tackle "Orient" as I am unable to attempt a second viewing of the film, courtesy of Finney. While on the other hand, I view Peter Ustinov as the definitive Poirot (especially in "Death On The Nile"). Well, that's my opinion, but I'm just happen that Suchet is bringing all of the stories to life.

    Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I consider that movie as one of the all-time greats. At the time, it was the highest grossing British movie of all time. And Finney looked and spoke exactly as many people envisioned while reading the book. I must strongly disagree with your view on Ustinov, though. He didn't appear to be Poirot at all. David Suchet is far superior. Let's agree that we would like to see more new eps, OK? 
    Agreed. And Suchet does a terrific job portraying the character of Hercule Poirot, and I am delighted that it appears that he will be tackling the whole Poirot series. I just hope that more Agatha Christie novels are filmed (the non-Poirot, non-Marple cases).
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  • Avatar of Cecilia33

    Cecilia33

    [13]Jul 30, 2006
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    All novels that remaining are great, especially, in my opinion, Murder on the Orient Express, Mrs McGinty's Dead, Third Girl and Elephants Can Remember, but of course I think that all the remaining books must be filmed. It remaining only 12... only 3 seasons and eventually 2 seasons for short stories. I don't like so much The Big Four, but I think that Suchet must do this movie in next season because that novel has many location, many action, Poirot must running up and down all the time ... and Suchet is older and older every year. I can't imagine him in action for some years... Black Coffee is great Osborne adaptation. I love that novel and it will be absolutely necessary to filming it.
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  • Avatar of cryptobuddhist

    cryptobuddhist

    [14]Aug 8, 2006
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    I think most of us agree we'd like to see David Suchet film all the remaining canon and go out in grand style in Curtain (I'd insert a clever pun about bowing out or taking his curtain call here, but I'm not a native speaker of english so I'd rather be safe than sorry...).

    Just in case he doesn't, my favourites would be The Big Four (because Agatha Christie herself said at the time - 1924, I think - she was writing a parody by inserting several cliches about spies, evil foreigners, mad scientists, corrupt capitalists) where instead of reasoning out the facts from an armchair and ridiculing Japp and other "human bloodhounds" always sniffing for clues, Poirot is forced to travel all around Europe and engage in lots of action - shooting, using poison gas, being kidnapped, having a twin, falling in love...

    Cat Among The Pigeons would also be terrific - revolution deposing a conservative monarchy in an oil rich gulf state then the action switches to a girls prep school? Brilliant! And unlike some of the other stories still to be filmed, which already had forgettable tv or film or stage versions (apart from Murder On The Orient Express which had an unforgettable one) those two have never been dramatized at all...

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  • Avatar of Tguy

    Tguy

    [15]Aug 21, 2006
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    geoellis2 wrote:
    I must strongly disagree with your view on Ustinov, though. He didn't appear to be Poirot at all. David Suchet is far superior. Let's agree that we would like to see more new eps, OK?



    Well, count me in for filming the entire canon, which I seem to recall reading in The Radio Times (a few years ago...) is the aim. However, Poirot, to me, is captured perfectly by Suchet - to the extent that no-one else comes close.

    And Cryptobuddist:
    :
    Cat Among The Pigeons would also be terrific - revolution deposing a conservative monarchy in an oil rich gulf state then the action switches to a girls prep school? Brilliant!
    , you speak for me as well on this one - one of my favourite Christies.

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  • Avatar of Spikester1981

    Spikester1981

    [16]Oct 29, 2006
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    Well it looks like Mrs. McGinty's Dead is the next in line, which means I actually need to read that book. I seriously, seriously hope they film Murder on The Orient Express as I cannot stand Albert Finney's version of Poirot. The man is a Russian and it just didn't look like he could pull off a good Belgian character. I think the only reason that movie did so well is the outstanding talent supporting Finney like Lauren Bacall and Sean Connery to name a few.

    Orient definitely needs to be redone before Suchet retires the Poirot role he has done oh so spectacularly. As for other stories, I wouldn't mind seeing three of my personal favorites, The Clocks, Cards on the Table, and Curtain filmed.

    I sometimes wish that the stories were filmed in their chronological order that they were written so the actors can age with the timeline.

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  • Avatar of jbeauchamp17

    jbeauchamp17

    [17]Nov 6, 2006
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    Spikester1981 wrote:

    Well it looks like Mrs. McGinty's Dead is the next in line, which means I actually need to read that book. I seriously, seriously hope they film Murder on The Orient Express as I cannot stand Albert Finney's version of Poirot. The man is a Russian and it just didn't look like he could pull off a good Belgian character. I think the only reason that movie did so well is the outstanding talent supporting Finney like Lauren Bacall and Sean Connery to name a few.

    Orient definitely needs to be redone before Suchet retires the Poirot role he has done oh so spectacularly. As for other stories, I wouldn't mind seeing three of my personal favorites, The Clocks, Cards on the Table, and Curtain filmed.

    I sometimes wish that the stories were filmed in their chronological order that they were written so the actors can age with the timeline.

    Finally, someone else agrees with me about Finney.  Also, David Suchet has already done Cards On The Table, and it was a terrific film.  As to filming them chronologically, it doesn't bother me.  As long as Curtain is last; the others all tend to act as stand-alones.  You can read them in whatever order you please, which is what I do.

    From the remaining list, I am looking forward to most of them, though I must say that I was disappointed by both Appointment With Death and Elephants Can Remember.  Appointment was so slow, I thought, and took until the second half to get interesting, while Elephants was such a basic story and to me the solution was the only possible outcome (thus explaining why I solved it).  I developed the outcome from less than a fifth of the book in, only to continue reading with Poirot constantly reinforcing that particular outcome.  This worried me as I thought it was becomming too obvious, but try as I might, I couldn't come up with a different theory.  Why?  Because there isn't one.  Anyway, I'm hopeful that should both be filmed, they will be done very well.

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  • Avatar of Kaledmutant

    Kaledmutant

    [18]Dec 16, 2006
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    Hi all, New here but had to join the discussion as I am a Suchet Poirot fan. I used to see the Ustinov films when I was young and was a bit sceptical of Suchet's series (a bit like I can only see Joan Hickson as Miss Marple and the Geraldine McEwan ones are a travesty by comparison!). However I watched Death On The Nile and have since bought all the Suchet DVDs (although a couple took a bit of tracking down, then when I had found them and bought them the whole series was rereleased in a new format!!) I love his portrayal of Poirot but I see him in a different light to Ustinov. The Ustinov films were played with a level of humour which worked then, just as Suchet's more serious portrayal suits his version. I have seen the Finney film and although I can (again) see the strengths of that film I would dearly love to see Suchet take it on (especially as The Orient Express is another passion of mine - one day I will ride that train). However I did find the Alfred Molina version (2001) so awful that I have yet to see more than the first fifteen minutes of it without wanting to switch it off!

    Not too happy about the possibility of the Suchet series being cancelled before he has a chance to complete the canon, which Suchet has expressed as a lifetime wish of his own. Let us hope that cancellation is not the case, especially as there are now so few (!) left to make.

    Am seriously looking forward to the two new shows "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" and "Dead Man's Folly" in 2007, hope that the alleged four shows will prove to be true and it would be great if "Murder On The Orient Express" could be one of the other two!
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    emmalucas

    [19]Jun 28, 2007
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    Hi there. I work for the company who makes Poirot and have been reading your comments with interest. I am looking to interview a David Suchet fan for a customer magazine that I am compiling, and was wondering whether anyone would be interested.

    Thanks

    Emma

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    bobf_olkin

    [20]Jun 7, 2008
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    Ladies & gentelmen, please pay attention! Here is the whole list of ALL Hercule Poirot stories, which had ever been written by Agatha Cristie. If you not some accuracy, I would be grateful if you let me know... The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) Murder on the Links (1923) The Affair at the Victory Ball (7/3/1923) The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan (14/3/1923) The King of Clubs (21/3/1923) The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim (28/3/1923) The Plymouth Express (4/4/1923) The Adventure of the Western Star (11/4/1923) The Tragedy at Marston Manor (18/4/1923) The Kidnapped Prime Minister (25/4/1923) The Million Dollar Bond Robbery (2/5/1923) The Adventure of the Cheap Flat (9/5/1923) The Mystery of the Hunters Lodge (16/5/1923) The Chocolate Box (23/5/1923) The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (26/9/1923) The Veiled Lady (3/10/1923) The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly (10/10/1923) The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman (14/10/1923) The Case of the Missing Will (31/10/1923) The Submarine Plans or The Incredible Theft (7/11/1923) The Adventure of the Clapham Cook (14/11/1923) The Market Basing Mystery (17/11/1923) The Lost Mine (21/11/1923) The Cornish Mystery (28/11/1923) The Double Clue (4/12/1923) The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding or The Theft Of The Royal Ruby (11/12/1923) The LeMesurier Inheritance (18/12/1923) The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) Four and Twenty Blackbirds (4/1926) The Under Dog (1/4/1926) The Big Four (1927) The Mystery of the Blue Train (192 Double Sin (23/9/192 Wasp's Nest (20/11/192 The Third Floor Flat (1/1929) Dead Man's Mirror or The Second Gong (6/1932) Black Coffee (1930) Peril at End House (1932) The Mystery of the Spanish Chest (1/1932) Lord Edgware Dies (1933) Murder on the Orient Express (1934) Death in the Clouds (1935) Three Act Tragedy (1935) How Does Your Garden Grow? (8/1935) Problem at Sea (12/1935) The ABC Murders (1936) Cards on the Table (1936) Murder in Mesopotamia (1936) Triangle at Rhodes (2/1936) The Regatta Mystery (6/1936) Murder in the Mews (9-10/1936) Death on the Nile (1937) Dumb Witness (1937) Yellow Iris (6/1937) Appointment With Death (193 Hercule Poirot's Christmas (193 The Dream (2/193 The Labours of Hercules One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (1940) Sad Cypress (1940) Evil Under the Sun (1941) Five Little Pigs (1943) The Hollow (1946) Taken at the Flood (194 Mrs. McGinty's Dead (1952) After the Funeral (1953) Hickory Dickory Dock (1955) Dead Man's Folly (1956) Cat Among the Pigeons (1959) The Clocks (1963) Third Girl (1966) Hallowe'en Party (1969) Elephants Can Remember (1972) Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (1975)
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