Agatha Christie, She Watched

Warning: Spoiler-Free for the first 10 minutes; spoiler-heavy review afterwards! Teresa and Bill Peschel are talking about mysterious mediums, a wise child, post-war traumas, and water in the basement, a LOT of water in the basement. It’s “A Haunting in Venice,” the 2023 Hercule Poirot movie starring Sir Kenneth Branaugh in his third outing as Poirot and Tiny Fey as Ariadne Oliver. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction SPOILER-FREE ZONE 10:07 SPOILER ZONE BEGINS with the “Nemesis” connection 12:32 Poirot in retirement 14:56 Incidents that pay off later in the movie 19:12 A motif borrowed (from “Peril at End House” which I forgot to mention) 25:16 Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver: Hit or miss? 28:29 A deeply felt movie

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about a night at the opera, comical assassinations, suitcase nukes, and seaside resorts. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “N or M?” from 2015 starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine as Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 6:18 Teresa speculates about the Tommy and Tuppence story arc 14:41 An overview of the story 18:13 Shenanigans right out of “I Love Lucy” 21:36 The guests at the Sans Souci 26:30 More missed opportunities 32:20 The problem with casting

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about queen bees, Soho whorehouses, sugar millionaires, and Commie infiltration. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “The Secret Adversary” from 2015 starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine as Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 6:30 A change in era 8:52 Bad beekeeping 14:48 Tommy attempts to join the intelligence community 16:18 The fake sugar millionaire and his sugar cookie 19:21 The deadly assignation and an adult Albert 23:52 The missed opportunities for a good story

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about Egyptian queens, gossip kings, snooping party guests, and adoptions gone wrong. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side” from 2010 starring Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple and Joanna Lumley as Dolly Bantry. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 6:06 ITV’s reputation for Christie adaptations 9:35 The Downton Abbey connection 13:04 After failing to remember Christian Bale’s name 18:56 The (lack of) emotional intelligence of Marina Gregg 22:31 Joanna Lumley as Dolly Bantry 28:02 Summing up

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about scarlet pimpernels, Belgian refugees, blown marriage proposals, and spill vases. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” from the Poirot series starring David Suchet. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 5:02 The time this episode is set 8:49 Explaining the scarlet pimpernel joke 13:32 The story opens with Hastings 16:35 Coffee before bedtime, are you crazy? 17:15 Hastings goes to Styles 19:56 Why John Inglethorpe hates the interloper 24:48 The link between “Styles” and “Death on the Nile” and “Roger Ackroyd” 31:48 Poirot investigates and his wonderful toys 35:44 The importance of the Land Girls

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about sleazy directors, pompous playwrights, alcoholic detectives and a murderous Agatha Christie. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “See How They Run,” a meta parody of the production of “The Mousetrap” starring Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 2:31 Christie’s future as a fictional character 5:02 What is a meta movie? 8:11 Adrien Brody at the heart of the movie 15:03 Inspector Stoppard and Constable Stalker play dominant roles 18:56 Riddled with Easter eggs 22:42 Stalker sends Stoppard to dreamland 25:26 A movie in which you want to pay attention 27:36 Dealing with mixed-race casting 30:44 Agatha’s role at the climax

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about staged accidents, movable plasters, carnival rides, and cross-dressing heroines. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “The Blue Geranium,” a Miss Marple episode starring Julia McKenzie. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 4:40 Julia Mackenzie does not do dithery 9:04 The relationship between the sisters 12:02 Why don’t these couples have children? 12:55 The source of Mary’s anger 13:55 The source of the doctor’s anger 16:05 “Mary is absolutely toxic” 17:55 The Miss Marple motif 22:20 George Pritchard as the thread uniting the story 27:56 What Teresa would have added to the story 30:00 The blue geranium clue 32:00 Was this a top 10 episode? 34:26 The afterlife of Agatha Christie and Jane Austen

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about staged accidents, movable plasters, carnival rides, and cross-dressing heroines. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?,” the 2020 adaptation by Hugh Laurie. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels. Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 4:17 General overview of the plot 6:20 Moira’s age appropriate for the story 8:02 The story vs. the novel and other TV versions 12:06 Frankie’s assertiveness vs. rudeness 13:05 The role of vicars in the class hierarchy 15:37 The backstory 20:06 Another change, working at the carnival 24:00 Investigating the Bassington-ffrench’s 26:57 Variations in Bobby playing the chauffeur 30:37 How well the end worked

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about creepy flashbacks, rock climbing, old-fashioned tugboats, and the workings of fate. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss Desyat Negrityat, the 1987 Soviet version of “Ten Little Indians.” Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 2:03 A brief history of the movie versions 6:04 Teresa’s opinion of the movie 7:07 Taking it from the top 13:17 How to tell Blore and Lombard apart 18:43 How the judge mislead everyone away from the truth 22:11 Ghostly hauntings make this a psychological thriller 33:10 Is it worthwhile watching 10 adaptations? 36:34 Bill gets an idea for a nonfiction book 40:53 Which is the best version? 45:17 Next time: “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” with Hugh Laurie!

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about strange visions, helpful assistants, seaside comedy shows, and magical summers. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “Sleeping Murder,” the 2006 episode of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple starring Geraldine McEwan. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 7:57 Getting into Sleeping Murder 16:30 Who are the Funnybones and why were they added? 19:00 What’s the problem with the Indian police? 25:43 The fatal announcement in the Times 31:00 Creepy Dr. Kennedy 33:34 That memorable summer for the Funnybones 37:10 A parallel between Dickie’s situation and “They Were Ten” 38:56 Happy families and concluding thoughts

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! We’re serious. Don’t listen if you want to read “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” first. This week, we’re talking about endless rain, morose Russians, Orson Welles, and the golden age of cruising. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “Poirot’s Failure,” the 2002 Russian adaptation of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Look for “Agatha Christie, She Watched,” our a coffee-table sized book and ebook (not coffee-table sized) collection of Teresa's reviews of 201 Agatha adaptations. Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 3:45 How Agatha fooled you from the first page 5:53 Almost five hours long! 6:42 A most un-English setting 11:14 Dr. Sheppard longs to travel 13:58 How Caroline Sheppard was handled 17:30 Comic elements in the episode 22:26 Watching the movie when you know the secret 24:46 The tragedy of Caroline Sheppard 28:19 Sheppard’s choice 31:12 The longing of Hector Blunt and weakness of Ralph Paton 34:31 The funny mother-in-law 35:19 Wrapping up

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about abusive husbands, musical numbers, young lovers, and comic butlers. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “Mist” (Dhund) the 1975 Bollywood adaptation of “The Unexpected Guest.” Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ We also published “Agatha Christie, She Watched” as a coffee-table sized book (with ebook to follow). Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 2:12 Did incorporating music into the movie work? 6:20 The unexpected guest arrives 11:02 Getting the characters straight 11:27 An unexpected appearance by Isaac Hayes 13:41 The Indian police arrive 19:13 The cultural relevance of a nude shower scene 24:16 The trial of the attorney for murder 30:24 Murder as a way of determining someone’s fate 36:01 The value of foreign movies

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about sleazy gangsters, musical numbers, young lovers, and comic butlers. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “Unknown” (Gumnaan) the 1965 Bollywood adaptation of “And Then There Were None,” with an all-star Indian cast. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ We also published “Agatha Christie, She Watched” as a coffee-table sized book (with ebook to follow). Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about sleazy Argentinians, ballroom dancers, ambitious Girl Guides, and old fools. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss “The Body in the Library” the 2004 episode from Agatha Christie’s Marple starring Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of the complete, annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ We also published “Agatha Christie, She Watched," a collection of 201 reviews of Agatha Christie movies, as a coffee-table sized book (with ebook to follow). Learn more at https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 3:48 Let’s get into the story and not rant about the ending yet 7:47 What Jane Marple as a woman recognized that the male detectives did not 13:16 How Cousin Ruby was lured to Eastbourne 18:16 The class divide in Agatha Christie 22:25 Jumping to the climax and why it fails 30:15 Why the novel ending was better

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about crusading prosecutors, aging courtesans, murderous villains and strangers on a train. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss the “Murder on the Orient Express” episode from “Checkmate” the Chinese TV series that debuted this year. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of complete, uncensored, and annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Learn about Teresa Peschel’s “Agatha Christie, She Watched” book (published now in trade paperback) and read her movie reviews: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about weird wills, Catholic ballet dancers, panting painters, and spying servants. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss the 1987 “4.50 from Paddington,” starring Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Learn about Teresa Peschel’s “Agatha Christie, She Watched” book (coming in early 2023!) and read her movie reviews: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about refugees, Communists, rustic pig farmers, and coffee. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss the 1985 “A Murder Is Announced,” starring Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated uncensored Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Learn about Teresa Peschel’s “Agatha Christie, She Watched” book (coming in early 2023!) and read her movie reviews: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about nursery governesses, patient attorneys, foreign doctors, and PP letters. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss the 1985 “The Moving Finger,” starring Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Learn about Teresa Peschel’s “Agatha Christie, She Watched” book (coming in early 2023!) and read her movie reviews: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about betrayed soldiers, betrayed lovers, betrayed immigrants, and betrayed children. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss Ils étaient dix, “They Were Ten,” the 2020 French miniseries version of “And Then There Were None” Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Learn about Teresa Peschel’s “Agatha Christie, She Watched” book (coming in early 2023!) and read her movie reviews: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 4:25 A major difference between this version and previous versions 8:19 The roll call of characters: Eddy 15:41: Eve the policewoman 17:06 The crime of Gilles the solar panel salesman 19:18 Nelly Nasib, the good time girl and betrayer 21:20 Victoria the surgeon 24:00 Meet Xavier, the jealous soldier 26:18 Meet Malick, the NGO lawyer 34:11 Eve’s story of universal eeeeeeevil 38:00 Was Agatha Christie acting as an Old Testament god? 45:41 Agatha Christie inspired the slasher flick

Warning: Spoiler-heavy review! This week, we’re talking about friendly guard puppies, ballet dances, Las Vegas showgirls, and Greek tycoons. Teresa and Bill Peschel from Peschel Press discuss the 2017 movie “Crooked House.” Sponsored by Peschel Press, the publisher of annotated Agatha Christie novels by Bill Peschel. Support Peschel Press! Visit our website to learn about our Complete, Annotated Line of Agatha Christie novels: https://peschelpress.com/the-peschel-press-complete-annotated-series/ Learn about Teresa Peschel’s “Agatha Christie, She Watched” book (coming in early 2023!) and read her movie reviews: https://peschelpress.com/teresa-peschels-agatha-christie-movie-reviews/ Chapters 0:00 Introduction 3:54 Enjoying Crooked House the first time 4:22 Beautiful English country house images 7:10 The Leonides Family and there’s something wrong with Josephine 10:52 What makes this novel unique 11:19 Who are the family members? 16:55 Charles and Sophie in Cairo 20:11 Sophie’s problem 23:56 Max’s problem 25:13 What they did right 30:51 What makes Agatha Christie’s characters fascinating 32:43 Observations about Gillian Anderson, Julian Sands, Amanda Abbington, and Christina Hendricks