![]() I just cannot understand why there is a pathological insistence, particularly in this series, of wanting to change something purely for the sake of change? Will there next be an attempt to have Poirot solving Marple mysteries, and vice-versa, or will Superintendent Battle solve the lot? And will someone then come up with the idea of the collecting together Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, Supt Battle, Parker Pyne, Mr Quinn, Tommy & Tuppence, and calling them "The Seven Scanner Eyes"? Why can't they leave Dame Agatha alone? Would they have the gall to treat Charles Dickens in such a scandalous way? Can I suggest Wilkins Micawber to solve "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"? I don't think that anyone can deny Dame Agatha Christie's place in classical literature, even if most of her works are "only" murder mysteries. Overall this production is only slightly better than "Sleeping Murder" (which was nothing but utter carnage). ![]() It was only a yawn or two that actually kept me awake. Plot-wise, "By the Pricking of my Thumbs" is not a bad whodunit, but the under-played performances from the top stars on display here were sadly lack-lustre. ![]() I read this Tommy and Tuppence tale years ago, but it's storyline has faded from my memory, so I can't tell (apart from the fact that Jane Marple wasn't in the novel) how much this production has veered from the original. Whilst Tommy is away on MI6 business, Tuppence and Jane Marple (who had also been a-visiting at the home) join forces to solve the mystery. Then she learns that Ada's friend Mrs Lancaster (June Whitfield, the BBC radio Miss Marple) had suddenly disappeared that same evening. A week or so later Tuppence is told of said Auntie's sudden death and treats the news with suspicion. The Beresfords visit Tommy's Aunt Ada at the nursing home in which she is living, where they hear of a supposed murder of a child in bygone years. If anything Tuppence was always the brighter and more forthright of the married couple, and there was never ever a suggestion by Dame Agatha that such a weakness existed. However the transformation of Tuppence Beresford into a bored housewife with a drink problem, is somewhat at odds with the character that Agatha Christie created. Like this? try these.I had reservations about the combining of Tommy & Tuppence with Miss Marple, and wondered how it would be achieved. "Mon Petit Doigt m'a dit" casts Catherine Frot and André Dussolier as the leads ,but it has a dream of a cast:it's a joy to see again Laurent Terzieff ,Alexandra Stewart,Genevieve Bujold (Whom I did not recognize)and Bernard Verley.The lines are generally witty ,with a good sense of humor (I particularly dig the lines about the sponges in the home for retired people)which anyway was present (albeit subdued) in Christie's works.Pascal Thomas has found a good way of renewing Christie's novels.After two good works ("murder on the orient express" and "death on the Nile") ,the theatrically released films lacked tempo and got too often bogged down into endless questionings and investigations,which was quite good in the books,but which became boring on the screen.Almost entirely filmed on location,on the banks of the Leman lake,with plenty of characters ,some sinister-looking ,and a dash of supernatural thrown in for good measure.There is often something eerie in Christie's books ,with that feeling of déja vu (Miss Marple's last case had something of this kind). Tommy and Tuppence (her name was changed anyway it was a nickname "two pence" which meant "Quat'sous" ),unlike MIss Marple ,appeared when they were young and they grew old with the novels and the writer. Preceding the made-for -TV English version-which oddly also features Miss Marple anyway it's part of a Marple miniseries to my knowledge ,Christie never put her three sleuths together in her novels or short stories-,this Pascal Thomas made-in-France Christie is much fun to watch.
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