A selection of what I consider the best Poirot film adaptations. The first few clips are actually from the film Lord Edgware Dies, as Alibi is a lost film.
After seeing almost every single Poirot movie and TV episode, I think my favorite is Five Little Pigs. Beautiful, sad music, beautiful to watch. Great plot and acting, and the unusual premise of Poirot piecing together clues years after the event.
Five Little Pigs have a magnificent cast, and the music is iconic. Even when we finally return to the house of so many years ago, the ghosts of the pasts are there oddly without any movie editting, just the music alone brings that across. The only scene that I admit has ever moved me more than the ending of Five Little Pigs, is the ending of The Murder of the Orient Express - which offers a crescendo and turmoil that is just as powerful and overwhelming. Absolutely stellar show.
All the adaptations with David Suchet are my favorites - I absolutely adore the man and for me HE IS POIROT..although I do like Peter Ustinov as well. But Suchet will always equal Hercule Poirot for me. I can watch each episode with him in it over and over again. Having said that, as the years progressed the adaptations became more and more cinematographic and beautiful. Murder on the Orient Express (though not one of my favorite stories) is a difficult one to watch with David Suchet, because the expression on his face at the end (*spoiler alert - when he realizes he has to let them all go and shouldn't do anything) is so haunted and sad it makes me cry. Also I watched Curtains once and shall not ever watch it again as it pained me too much 💔
I cried my eyes out five minutes into watching Curtains (knowing how it would end from already having read the book). Is it better than the book? It's not. It is equal.
My favorite is Five little pigs starring David suchet. There is something sad, melancholic and beautiful about this adaptation. Beautifully shot and the mystery having only 5 key characters made it so much more focused. I did not see that ending too. Brilliant!
Agreed! Agatha Christie doesn't often explore the sadness and impact of a crime after the fact, and the adaptation took this underrated story and ran with it.
My all-time favourite adaptation is Death On The Nile(1978). I can watch it over and over because the performances are just so enjoyable, the costumes are stunning and the recreation of the S.S. Karnak is perfect. They play it on UK TV at Christmas, usually after another favourite Evil Under The Sun (1982), and I always watch them both.
My favourite will always be Suchets Death on the Nile as it was my first introduction to Agatha Christie. When i was 14 my Gran bought me the first instalment of a Poirot magazine and DVD. I remember watching it with her and then again over and over and I still have the DVD to this day which was bought back in 2005. have recently introduced my fiance to these adaptions and we have since worked our way through each one with joy and appreciation. My partner is a huge Branagh fan and was sure he would prefer his interpretation however he actually finds Suchet's Orient Express far more compelling. I have loved sharing this with him and he is now reading her books too. Loved this list and I was really happy to see "five little pigs on there" as we both found that story to be one of the best. My only addition would be "The Labours of Hercules" but this may be down to the fact that I solved this just before Poirot's reveal and the rush was incredible! ;)
I really enjoyed your ranking. I agree with you on Poitot’s Christmas being one of the best. I have shown this in my H.S. English class. But by far my favorite is “The Problem at Sea” . I show it in class to get the students interested in reading and Agatha Christie. It is the best episode because the "dénouement" is spooky, very interesting and exciting! I love watching the students, eyes glued to the monitor during Poirot’s explanation! It is by far the best “final reveal” of all the stories!! If you don’t remember it, watch it again, it’s terrific!!
Very nice indeed. A couple of my personal faves are *The Hollow.* and *Third Girl.* Of course, the only Poirot is Mr. Suchet, as far as I'm concerned. I don't do Miss Marple, except 4:50 from Paddington with Margaret Rutherford. Thanks Miles, nice job.
My favorite Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot adaptation is the Adventure of the Cheap Flat with David Suchet. It happens to be the first one of the 70 episodes starring David Suchet that that I saw and it became a big hit with me. I enjoyed it immensely and every time I watch it I enjoy it just as much. My favorite adaptations all star David Suchet. They are as follows: Evil Under the Sun, Murder in Mesopotamia, ABC murders, Death on the Nile, Triangle at Rhodes, the Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, the Big Four, Peril at End House, The Murder of Roger Akroyd, Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Hickory Dickory Dock, Third Floor Flat and Dumb Witness. Murder on the Links, Appointment with Death, The Dream, Murder in the Mews, Dead Man's Mirror and Murder on the Orient Express are episodes I watch also whenever the mood strikes. I love all 70 episodes starring Hercule Poirot but my preference is to watch the episodes with David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran in them. What a dynamic little group of well-matched actors!. I have watched Five Little Pigs several times and it is very good. I watched Yellow Iris just last week for the fifth time and I do enjoy watching it. The Underdog, Four and Twenty Blackbirds and Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan are very entertaining as are One, Two, Buckle My Shoe and The Affair at the Victory Ball. The episodes I gravitate to the least are The Kidnapped Prime Minister, The Adventure of Johnny Waverly, The Plymouth Express, Third Girl and the Mystery of the Blue Train. I must also comment on Dead Man's Folly....excellent in my opinion on every level but one I will watch on rainy days and I usually follow with The Veiled Lady.
Hello there. I'm an Agatha Christie fan too. I enjoy the David Suchet Poirot series. My favorite Miss Marple episode is 4.50 from Paddington (Joan Hickson version). They are so watchful and superb 👌.
Even though David Suchet is my favourite Poirot, I do love Peter Ustinov's version of Death on the Nile (my personal fav) and Evil under the Sun more. Five little piggies and Sad Cypress are absolutely great, brilliant performances too. I have to include Albert Finneys Murder on the Orient Express too, I think that comes in second for me.
Evil Under the Sun! I really enjoyed all the performances from some of our finest actors. But, the music had me mesmerized from the first note, and I still lust for the watercolor drawings under the title credits.
The Chocolate Box is my favorite, I loved seeing his backstory and he and Inspector Japp were so great together. Of course, it was wonderful to see Hercule in love, if only it had been me!!!
The entire TV series with David Suchet is the best film adaptation of Poirot. Period. The most heartrending episode imho is "The Hollow". Great score by Christopher Gunning. Death on the Nile from 1978 is great too. Kenneth Branagh... I loved his Sheakspeare adaptations...🙄
@@jmchez Heard that comment from a friend a while back and rewatched Orient after. Personally I thought most action elements on that one were on the milder side. And the story still worked wonders. But that's just me. Your mileage may vary...
I think Lord Edgeware Dies was the pinnacle of Poirot. The screenplay, narrative structure, clewing, dramatis personae, subplots, recreation of period, the balance of drama and humour, just about everything was at its peak in that one episode.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas is an absolute classic of a murder mystery- my single complaint is the inclusion of the mother of the murderer which sometimes feels jarring, even though it is certainly mysterious.
I'm a fan of Suchet, so his Poirot adaptations are always superior to all other in my opinion. But I LOVE Angela Lansbury in Death on the Nile "this crocodile has lost its croc" LOL
In terms of sheer cleverness of plot I feel the ABC Murders deserved a mention. ? ( the David Suchet version bien sur !) Donald Sumpter 's performance as the prime suspect was beautifully done . He's probably unknown to viewers outside of UK but had a long career in theatre in UK.
Glad to see so many David Suchet films on the list - excellent Poirot though I like your other picks too. If you think everyone should know who Diana Rigg is (and I concur wholeheartedly), you should also perhaps note that Rachael Sterling who is in Five Little Pigs is her daughter (and is almost as beautiful, nay that's unfair, just as beautiful. She looks like her mum).
I once travelled with Vernon Dobtcheff who plays the old man in Christmas, he was lovely and fun and a great travelling companion. He has made 373 films !! Must be a record.
My favourite is Appoinment with Death,2008 with David Suchet and Tim Curry, the music is fantastic, moving and put the film to a higher level. My second is Sad Cyprus (2003), but Five pigs I also watch over and over again...
100% AGREE I have never read the actual books( not Englishman) but to me the best episodes have to be ones where the murder is very ingenious, setting has to be splendid, and the cast and soundtrack amazing and when you put all those things together my top 10 is 1.Appointment with death 2.Death on the Nile 3.Murder in Mesopotamia 4.Cards on the table 5.After the funeral 6.Lord Edgware dies 7.One, two, buckle my shoe 8.Evil under the sun 9.Five little pigs 10.Labours of Hercules Honorable mention to Murder on the Orient Express, The clocks and The mystery of the blue train
Five little pigs, Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient express with David Suchet are just AMAZING! But honestly I LOVE Poirot in Silent witness! The way he interacts with Bob is just hilarious!
I would agree with you that Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is the best (we watch it every Christmas Eve), but I would say the most heartbreaking and moving adaption is Sad Cypress, which is in someway due to the score played by the ‘cello - the most mournful of all orchestral instruments. However, I would also say that both the David Suchet versions of Death on the Nile and Evil under the Sun far surpass the others. Dumb Witness (also Double Sin) was lovely for the beautiful scenery around the Lakes, but of course I am biased as I am from here!!!
David Suchet is amazing and I love him. But I also have a soft spot for Peter Ustinov and all the touches of comedy he brings to the role. For sheer celebration of the mystery form done right, I've never seen anything top the 1974 "Murder on the Orient Express". Branagh directed "Dead Again" and I loved it... thought he did a wonderful job. But I was so disappointed by his attempts at Christie... what happened to the story?
After Suchet, Peter Ustinov is my second fave. Albert Finney's portrayal of Poirot in Murder on The Orient Express leaves me cold...he looks like Hitler in the film!
The "this guy" in the Death on The Nile, is the guy from the 1980s TV show, Crazy Like A Fox. I think it was a private detective kind of show. My parents watched it when I was little. I'm sure he's been in lots of other things, but I remember him as the father who drove his adult son crazy on the show. Now I've got to see where I can watch that show again! Lol Thanks for the memory flash back.
THANK YOU! YES POIROT'S CHRISTMAS is the best holiday film...not Home Alone or Christmas Carol or Love Actually oh so glad to find another soul out there that feels the same
I agree with all your ratings of the poirot movies. I love both the books and the movies. I watch the movies over and over again without getting tired of them. Also, Hercule Poirot Christmas is a must see for me too at Christmas. ❤
My favorite adaptations (aside the classics Murder on the Orient Express, Evil under the sun and Death on the Nile - not the 2022 version -), are Halloween Party, Third girl, Dead Man's Folly and Elephants can remember: the last managed to transform the boring plot in the book in a very interesting one.
My personal fav Poirot are the Suchet Orient Express and I totally agree with you about the Suchet "Clocks". I honestly like it better than the book as well. My absolute favourite Christie adaptation has to be either the And Then There Were None miniseries, or the Russian adaptation of the same story from the 80s.
I absolutely like the adaptaion of "The affair at the victory ball". The short story was really boring, but the episode is absolutely fun and vibrant. "Triangle at Rhodes" is also a gem.
I like almost anything with David Suchet (Mrs. McGinty´s Dead, Elephants Can Remember, The Mystery of The Blue Train and many more..), but Death on the Nile (1978) was probably the first one I saw so it stands out for me - I liked all the actors except Peter Ustinov, to me that was not Poirot at all (as I imagined him).
Good list; I also like Peril at End House - miss Lemon pretends to be a medium, Hastings and Japp also participate, and in the end it turns out that Miss Lemon and Hastings never knew that Japp's name was James and they try to list all the possible shortened versions of that name, which is ridiculous, but fun.
My favourite of the David Suchet adaptions is Three Act Tragedy, I love it's theatrical tone and the solution i didnt see coming. I do want to mention on your point of "adaptions better than the book" that Third Girl is one of my favourites and its most definetly better than the book xD
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My favorite one is... Three Act Tragedy. I just love how Martin Shaw plays Sir Charles. I loved the book which probably helped. Five Little Pigs is number 2 and Murder on the Orient Express (Finney version) is nr 3.
@amt1960 In terms of my favourite Poirot episode which I can just watch, love, enjoy as it is over and over: Peter Ustinov's Evil Under the Sun. In terms of an episode that made me *feel* things (even if one of those feelings was frustration over the sad ending and led me down a rabbit hole to pick up writing again after a 5 year hiatus): definitely Three Act Tragedy. Martin Shaw as Sir Charles is just divine!
@amt1960and then later: 'did you see me swim?' 'No' 'then I did go for a swim!' 😂 but honestly ALL the actors are great. The 'sass-offs' between Maggie Smith and Diana Rigg alone are worth it and the music is a delight too.
@amt1960 I don't know how often I've rewatched certain scenes from Three Act Tragedy (now I have the excuse that it's for writing research 😉), but I'm stunned each time by just how good he is in this! Not only in terms of gorgeousness (though I love everything where he finally has his hair a bit of a 'normal' length and this cut really does it for him!), but how regal and 'larger than life' he makes Charles appear. And the chemistry between him and Egg is honestly amazing. Oh and the music and cinematography in this episode are really aesthetically pleasing too.
@amt1960 it's just for fun, basically just to give myself closure on how things could have ended differently after the end of the episode. I did share the first 2 Chapters with my long suffering friend (she made me watch the episode, so she's in it now!) who is a native speaker and also writes for fun and one of her first texts after reading it was 'Just how often did you rewatch that episode to nail their speech pattern like that?' So this gives me a great confidence boost 😉 I just love how much these two tease each other yet you can still feel the love between them. The writers of the show did a terrible job on Oliver though! He and Egg have zero chemistry, he is just so mean and dismissive of her for no reason and his personality is 'soggy wet toast'- and then they put him against Charles and dare pretend that it would be hard for Egg to choose which man is the better option 🤦🏻♀️
I cannot express how disappointing I find Kenneth Brannaugh’s adaptations. Murder on the Orient Express changed what felt like the most important elements of Poirot’s internal reality, completely altering his take on events, and the recent Death on the Nile made Poirot a war hero with a dead fiancé, piles of personal guilt, and a scar to explain his large mustache (which is impressive in size but not in the elegant and fastidious manner of the character). Such a shame.
I started reading Agatha Christie novels in the early 70's. I'll never forget getting to the revealing of the murderer usually not being who I thought it was, then reading half the book again to find out what I missed I have recently started watching all the movies again on Britbox. I'm up to The Pale Horse, which is my favourite, I love the beginning, the atmosphere. I also love the ABC murders.
I absolutely love David Suchet as Poirot, but the Peter Ustinov, Death on the Nile, is so much better. I’m older than you are so I fan girled Bette Davis as well as Maggie Smith. I too love Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. I am now rewatching Suchet’s HP from the beginning.
Cat Among the Pigeons earns a spot on this list. The one about a killer present in an all-girl elite prep school. This and Sad Cypress closest to Five Little Pigs in terms of emotional impact. I did not expect them capable of doing the dynamic between principal and vice principal ( maybe best side-character duo of any Christie novel), but man did the actresses a wonderful heartwarming job!
The 1978 version of Death on the Nile is one of my favorites. I also like After the Funeral and Five Little Pigs. Also the 1980 version of Evil Under the Sun. Is the better version.
A truly fine analysis - not because I agree/disagree but because your logic and perception are unarguable. Also impressive to support the idea that a film adaptation (with finely worked modifications) can actually be superior to a literal rendition - especially if the book is short of Christie’s absolute best level.
The weekly TV series usually comprising of ten 50 episodes(without ads) covers mostly the short stories. The series ran for 6 seasons. I doubt they would covered the novels afterwards had not the series been popular.
The Suchet "Five Little Pigs" is one of my absolute favourite (and the novel is great, too)! I also really love "Cat Among the Pigeons", which I think is another one where the adaptation is much better than the book.
Totally agree with your list! Evil under the sun is one of my favorites that Suchet isn't starring! I also very much like Peril at End House; unpredictable plot, Poirot in his finest :)
Peril at End House also had the great advantage of being in. I just wish th the second season, when run times were longer. My only regret was that they didn't keep Poirot's method of listing the suspects A-I with J for someone unknown and how the answer turned out to be K.
The 1974 version of "Murder on the Orient Express" is my favorite murder mystery movie. No, I don't think Albert Finney is better Poirot than David Suchet, I'm not a savage. But I don't think he is terrible in the role either and the rest of the movie is just so entertaining that I don't care.
David Suchet is the best of the best, also I love Hastings role😊
After seeing almost every single Poirot movie and TV episode, I think my favorite is Five Little Pigs. Beautiful, sad music, beautiful to watch. Great plot and acting, and the unusual premise of Poirot piecing together clues years after the event.
I think "Five Little Pigs" is the best of the Suchet series and one of the best Christie adaptations I have ever seen.
It’s my favourite as well, it was very captivating and made me even tear up. The whole “vibe” of the movie is just so enchanting and perfect.
Five Little Pigs have a magnificent cast, and the music is iconic. Even when we finally return to the house of so many years ago, the ghosts of the pasts are there oddly without any movie editting, just the music alone brings that across. The only scene that I admit has ever moved me more than the ending of Five Little Pigs, is the ending of The Murder of the Orient Express - which offers a crescendo and turmoil that is just as powerful and overwhelming. Absolutely stellar show.
Definitely agree with this
Also has littlefinger so
David Suchet’s performance in Murder on the Orient Express is phenomenal. Very dark - but fantastic!
Yes, my favourite Poirot ever.
@@bejbimama6689 Indeed, that ending is cathartic, thats my fav also.
Love how the creative team tied it into Curtain
The Suchet Orient express is better than the 1974 version. The recent one is an abomination.
I'm in the minority. I think the Suchet version is the worst of the adaptations of the story, and one of the worst adaptations of a Christie novel.
All the adaptations with David Suchet are my favorites - I absolutely adore the man and for me HE IS POIROT..although I do like Peter Ustinov as well. But Suchet will always equal Hercule Poirot for me. I can watch each episode with him in it over and over again. Having said that, as the years progressed the adaptations became more and more cinematographic and beautiful. Murder on the Orient Express (though not one of my favorite stories) is a difficult one to watch with David Suchet, because the expression on his face at the end (*spoiler alert - when he realizes he has to let them all go and shouldn't do anything) is so haunted and sad it makes me cry. Also I watched Curtains once and shall not ever watch it again as it pained me too much 💔
@AMT oh my goodness how absolutely wonderful is that??? It is my one wish to meet him ❣️ how was he???
I cried my eyes out five minutes into watching Curtains (knowing how it would end from already having read the book). Is it better than the book? It's not. It is equal.
My favorite is Five little pigs starring David suchet. There is something sad, melancholic and beautiful about this adaptation. Beautifully shot and the mystery having only 5 key characters made it so much more focused. I did not see that ending too. Brilliant!
Agreed! Agatha Christie doesn't often explore the sadness and impact of a crime after the fact, and the adaptation took this underrated story and ran with it.
Every Christmas my Mother and I watch Hercule Poirot's Christmas and Theft of the Royal Ruby.
David suchet THE best and THE only poirot
YESSSSS 🙌🏼
100% and Geraldine McEwan is Miss Marple
My all-time favourite adaptation is Death On The Nile(1978). I can watch it over and over because the performances are just so enjoyable, the costumes are stunning and the recreation of the S.S. Karnak is perfect. They play it on UK TV at Christmas, usually after another favourite Evil Under The Sun (1982), and I always watch them both.
Wish they played them in USA!
My favorite is Five little pigs. So sad and moving at the same time. The actors’ performances are perfect
I read somewhere that Agatha Christie's grandson thought David Suchet was the best Poirot
My favourite will always be Suchets Death on the Nile as it was my first introduction to Agatha Christie. When i was 14 my Gran bought me the first instalment of a Poirot magazine and DVD. I remember watching it with her and then again over and over and I still have the DVD to this day which was bought back in 2005. have recently introduced my fiance to these adaptions and we have since worked our way through each one with joy and appreciation. My partner is a huge Branagh fan and was sure he would prefer his interpretation however he actually finds Suchet's Orient Express far more compelling. I have loved sharing this with him and he is now reading her books too. Loved this list and I was really happy to see "five little pigs on there" as we both found that story to be one of the best. My only addition would be "The Labours of Hercules" but this may be down to the fact that I solved this just before Poirot's reveal and the rush was incredible! ;)
Thanks for that. Watching them all now. Really liked Suchet version of Orient Express - fabulous steam train inspired score
david suchet IS Poirot for me!
I really enjoyed your ranking. I agree with you on Poitot’s Christmas being one of the best. I have shown this in my H.S. English class. But by far my favorite is “The Problem at Sea” . I show it in class to get the students interested in reading and Agatha Christie. It is the best episode because the "dénouement" is spooky, very interesting and exciting! I love watching the students, eyes glued to the monitor during Poirot’s explanation! It is by far the best “final reveal” of all the stories!! If you don’t remember it, watch it again, it’s terrific!!
Very nice indeed. A couple of my personal faves are *The Hollow.* and *Third Girl.*
Of course, the only Poirot is Mr. Suchet, as far as I'm concerned.
I don't do Miss Marple, except 4:50 from Paddington with Margaret Rutherford. Thanks Miles, nice job.
Five Little Pigs is possibly my favourite of the Poirot David Suchet adaptations, closely followed by Mrs McGinty's Dead and Sad Cypress.
Sad cypress is one of my five favorite , such a sad story, poor girl
Five Little Pigs it's such a beautiful movie, probably my favourite.
My favorite Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot adaptation is the Adventure of the Cheap Flat with David Suchet. It happens to be the first one of the 70 episodes starring David Suchet that that I saw and it became a big hit with me. I enjoyed it immensely and every time I watch it I enjoy it just as much. My favorite adaptations all star David Suchet. They are as follows: Evil Under the Sun, Murder in Mesopotamia, ABC murders, Death on the Nile, Triangle at Rhodes, the Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, the Big Four, Peril at End House, The Murder of Roger Akroyd, Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Hickory Dickory Dock, Third Floor Flat and Dumb Witness. Murder on the Links, Appointment with Death, The Dream, Murder in the Mews, Dead Man's Mirror and Murder on the Orient Express are episodes I watch also whenever the mood strikes. I love all 70 episodes starring Hercule Poirot but my preference is to watch the episodes with David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran in them. What a dynamic little group of well-matched actors!. I have watched Five Little Pigs several times and it is very good. I watched Yellow Iris just last week for the fifth time and I do enjoy watching it. The Underdog, Four and Twenty Blackbirds and Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan are very entertaining as are One, Two, Buckle My Shoe and The Affair at the Victory Ball. The episodes I gravitate to the least are The Kidnapped Prime Minister, The Adventure of Johnny Waverly, The Plymouth Express, Third Girl and the Mystery of the Blue Train. I must also comment on Dead Man's Folly....excellent in my opinion on every level but one I will watch on rainy days and I usually follow with The Veiled Lady.
Hello there. I'm an Agatha Christie fan too. I enjoy the David Suchet Poirot series. My favorite Miss Marple episode is 4.50 from Paddington (Joan Hickson version). They are so watchful and superb 👌.
After The Funeral was better in the movie adaptation solely for the presence of Michael Fassbender smoldering his way through the plot.
The Hollow, Five little Pigs and Death on the Nile are my favorites. So I loved season 9
The Hollow. 👌🏻 Hardwicke is well cast - echoes of Dr Watson.
Even though David Suchet is my favourite Poirot, I do love Peter Ustinov's version of Death on the Nile (my personal fav) and Evil under the Sun more. Five little piggies and Sad Cypress are absolutely great, brilliant performances too. I have to include Albert Finneys Murder on the Orient Express too, I think that comes in second for me.
My favorite is the Third Girl. I also really like the Labors of Hercules and An Appointment with Death
I just love anything with David Suchet and friends. The TV series was my childhood and he is an immaculate actor
Evil Under the Sun! I really enjoyed all the performances from some of our finest actors. But, the music had me mesmerized from the first note, and I still lust for the watercolor drawings under the title credits.
The Chocolate Box is my favorite, I loved seeing his backstory and he and Inspector Japp were so great together. Of course, it was wonderful to see Hercule in love, if only it had been me!!!
My favourite is "Death on the Nile" with David Suchet.
The Albert Finney Orient Express is iconic, but his accent was just so bizarre, there's no European accent like it.
The entire TV series with David Suchet is the best film adaptation of Poirot. Period.
The most heartrending episode imho is "The Hollow". Great score by Christopher Gunning.
Death on the Nile from 1978 is great too.
Kenneth Branagh... I loved his Sheakspeare adaptations...🙄
Come on, let's all say it. The Branagh adaptions are abominable, period.
@@jmchez Really like his first.
Even after seeing all the Suchet, the Finney and reading the novel.
Orient Express honestly seems pretty good to me...
@@pieterboelen2862 He tried to turn Poirot into an action hero!
@@jmchez Heard that comment from a friend a while back and rewatched Orient after.
Personally I thought most action elements on that one were on the milder side.
And the story still worked wonders.
But that's just me.
Your mileage may vary...
the hollow is the most boring to watch, and none of the characters are likeable.
I think Lord Edgeware Dies was the pinnacle of Poirot. The screenplay, narrative structure, clewing, dramatis personae, subplots, recreation of period, the balance of drama and humour, just about everything was at its peak in that one episode.
Cinemax used to play "Evil Under The Sun" all the time when I was a kid. Still my favorite.
Halloween is definitely one I watch every year. Ties up the loose ends of the book too (the dead teacher)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas is an absolute classic of a murder mystery- my single complaint is the inclusion of the mother of the murderer which sometimes feels jarring, even though it is certainly mysterious.
I'm a fan of Suchet, so his Poirot adaptations are always superior to all other in my opinion. But I LOVE Angela Lansbury in Death on the Nile "this crocodile has lost its croc" LOL
My top three is Death on the Nile (Suchet-version), Five Little Pigs and Sad Cypress.
Great picks, there all in my top 5, but it has to be Peter Ustinov's version of Death on the Nile for me.
I’ll comment again later, but the Christmas film is extraordinary. I’ve never felt an atmosphere like it. I watch it regularly.
Nice to see Sugden in The Crown!
I agree on the most, but you forgot about Sad Cypress, this is my number one, immediately followed by Poirot's Christmas, Chocolate Box and more.
In terms of sheer cleverness of plot I feel the ABC Murders
deserved a mention. ? ( the David Suchet version bien sur !)
Donald Sumpter 's performance as the prime suspect was
beautifully done . He's probably unknown to viewers outside of UK but had a long career in theatre in UK.
Glad to see so many David Suchet films on the list - excellent Poirot though I like your other picks too. If you think everyone should know who Diana Rigg is (and I concur wholeheartedly), you should also perhaps note that Rachael Sterling who is in Five Little Pigs is her daughter (and is almost as beautiful, nay that's unfair, just as beautiful. She looks like her mum).
Appointment with Death, 1988, Peter Ustinov, Lauren Bacall, Piper Laurie, Princess Leia. I did not see that one coming.
I once travelled with Vernon Dobtcheff who plays the old man in Christmas, he was lovely and fun and a great travelling companion. He has made 373 films !! Must be a record.
My favourite is Appoinment with Death,2008 with David Suchet and Tim Curry, the music is fantastic, moving and put the film to a higher level.
My second is Sad Cyprus (2003), but Five pigs I also watch over and over again...
100% AGREE I have never read the actual books( not Englishman)
but to me the best episodes have to be ones where the murder is very ingenious, setting has to be splendid, and the cast and soundtrack amazing
and when you put all those things together my top 10 is
1.Appointment with death
2.Death on the Nile
3.Murder in Mesopotamia
4.Cards on the table
5.After the funeral
6.Lord Edgware dies
7.One, two, buckle my shoe
8.Evil under the sun
9.Five little pigs
10.Labours of Hercules
Honorable mention to Murder on the Orient Express, The clocks and The mystery of the blue train
Five little pigs, Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient express with David Suchet are just AMAZING! But honestly I LOVE Poirot in Silent witness! The way he interacts with Bob is just hilarious!
I would agree with you that Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is the best (we watch it every Christmas Eve), but I would say the most heartbreaking and moving adaption is Sad Cypress, which is in someway due to the score played by the ‘cello - the most mournful of all orchestral instruments. However, I would also say that both the David Suchet versions of Death on the Nile and Evil under the Sun far surpass the others. Dumb Witness (also Double Sin) was lovely for the beautiful scenery around the Lakes, but of course I am biased as I am from here!!!
I think the Suchet versions of both "Death on the Nile" and "Evil Under the Sun" were at best, mediocre.
@@juanitajones6900 I do not agree, the are far superior and more faithful to the novels than any gone before or since.
All my knowledge of the Lake District came from Poirot episodes. You are so lucky to live there!
@@Pickle8able thank you! Yes, I do love living here 🙂
Mine is evil under the sun. Both adoptations are great
David Suchet is amazing and I love him. But I also have a soft spot for Peter Ustinov and all the touches of comedy he brings to the role. For sheer celebration of the mystery form done right, I've never seen anything top the 1974 "Murder on the Orient Express". Branagh directed "Dead Again" and I loved it... thought he did a wonderful job. But I was so disappointed by his attempts at Christie... what happened to the story?
After Suchet, Peter Ustinov is my second fave. Albert Finney's portrayal of Poirot in Murder on The Orient Express leaves me cold...he looks like Hitler in the film!
@@mrh8279The Hitler comment had me rolling 🤣
The "this guy" in the Death on The Nile, is the guy from the 1980s TV show, Crazy Like A Fox. I think it was a private detective kind of show. My parents watched it when I was little. I'm sure he's been in lots of other things, but I remember him as the father who drove his adult son crazy on the show. Now I've got to see where I can watch that show again! Lol Thanks for the memory flash back.
THANK YOU! YES POIROT'S CHRISTMAS is the best holiday film...not Home Alone or Christmas Carol or Love Actually
oh so glad to find another soul out there that feels the same
Hallowe'en Mystery was mine. Also the death of Mrs. McGinty.
Very nice film 🎥 David wonderful
Poirot's Christmas is the most underrated of the bunch, and my solid number 3...
I was glad to see the chocolate box mentioned!! But I would also put in the big four in there
It almost made it!
The best TV feature length episode of Poirot starring Suchet in my opinion are After The Funeral and Five Little Pigs.
Hickory Dickory Dock is my favourite Poirot adaptation. Not because I've read the novel, but because of its complexity and creepy atmosphere.
I think David Suchet is fantastic, and my favorite Poirot movie is Murder in Mesopotamia
I agree with all your ratings of the poirot movies. I love both the books and the movies. I watch the movies over and over again without getting tired of them. Also, Hercule Poirot Christmas is a must see for me too at Christmas. ❤
The dramatization of The Hollow is the masterpiece of the lot.
Yep.
True, especially if you read the book. The characters correspond so well and the casting is amazing. Such great acting by the gerta actress.
My favorite adaptations (aside the classics Murder on the Orient Express, Evil under the sun and Death on the Nile - not the 2022 version -), are Halloween Party, Third girl, Dead Man's Folly and Elephants can remember: the last managed to transform the boring plot in the book in a very interesting one.
I agree with elephants can remember , I love Ariadne Oliver
@@marcelowk8151 So do I: Zoe Wanamaker is outstanding in that role
@@cristinademartini1284 She is
My personal fav Poirot are the Suchet Orient Express and I totally agree with you about the Suchet "Clocks". I honestly like it better than the book as well. My absolute favourite Christie adaptation has to be either the And Then There Were None miniseries, or the Russian adaptation of the same story from the 80s.
I love the 2010 version too ❤
I absolutely like the adaptaion of "The affair at the victory ball". The short story was really boring, but the episode is absolutely fun and vibrant. "Triangle at Rhodes" is also a gem.
I personnally liked also the ABC Murder, the acting of Poirot and Mr. CUst
Excellent analysis and fine produced. Don’t stop here.
I like almost anything with David Suchet (Mrs. McGinty´s Dead, Elephants Can Remember, The Mystery of The Blue Train and many more..), but Death on the Nile (1978) was probably the first one I saw so it stands out for me - I liked all the actors except Peter Ustinov, to me that was not Poirot at all (as I imagined him).
Good list; I also like Peril at End House - miss Lemon pretends to be a medium, Hastings and Japp also participate, and in the end it turns out that Miss Lemon and Hastings never knew that Japp's name was James and they try to list all the possible shortened versions of that name, which is ridiculous, but fun.
I just discovered your channel. How have I missed this?????????? LOVE IT!!!!!!
I like the most The Murder In Mesopotamia and The Poirot’s Christmas
Love what you’re doing here. Keep it up!
This is a wonderful, wonderful video!
Brilliant, brilliant video. Thanks, sir!
I thought Hercule Poirot Christmas was kinda boring, definitely far from first. Five little pig is my number one for sure.
My favourite of the David Suchet adaptions is Three Act Tragedy, I love it's theatrical tone and the solution i didnt see coming.
I do want to mention on your point of "adaptions better than the book" that Third Girl is one of my favourites and its most definetly better than the book xD
My favorite one is... Three Act Tragedy. I just love how Martin Shaw plays Sir Charles. I loved the book which probably helped. Five Little Pigs is number 2 and Murder on the Orient Express (Finney version) is nr 3.
Recently rewatched Three Act Tragedy and liked it much more than when I saw it the first time.
@amt1960 In terms of my favourite Poirot episode which I can just watch, love, enjoy as it is over and over: Peter Ustinov's Evil Under the Sun. In terms of an episode that made me *feel* things (even if one of those feelings was frustration over the sad ending and led me down a rabbit hole to pick up writing again after a 5 year hiatus): definitely Three Act Tragedy. Martin Shaw as Sir Charles is just divine!
@amt1960and then later: 'did you see me swim?' 'No' 'then I did go for a swim!' 😂 but honestly ALL the actors are great. The 'sass-offs' between Maggie Smith and Diana Rigg alone are worth it and the music is a delight too.
@amt1960 I don't know how often I've rewatched certain scenes from Three Act Tragedy (now I have the excuse that it's for writing research 😉), but I'm stunned each time by just how good he is in this! Not only in terms of gorgeousness (though I love everything where he finally has his hair a bit of a 'normal' length and this cut really does it for him!), but how regal and 'larger than life' he makes Charles appear. And the chemistry between him and Egg is honestly amazing. Oh and the music and cinematography in this episode are really aesthetically pleasing too.
@amt1960 it's just for fun, basically just to give myself closure on how things could have ended differently after the end of the episode. I did share the first 2 Chapters with my long suffering friend (she made me watch the episode, so she's in it now!) who is a native speaker and also writes for fun and one of her first texts after reading it was 'Just how often did you rewatch that episode to nail their speech pattern like that?' So this gives me a great confidence boost 😉 I just love how much these two tease each other yet you can still feel the love between them. The writers of the show did a terrible job on Oliver though! He and Egg have zero chemistry, he is just so mean and dismissive of her for no reason and his personality is 'soggy wet toast'- and then they put him against Charles and dare pretend that it would be hard for Egg to choose which man is the better option 🤦🏻♀️
Great video man. You should make more videos about Poirot.
You nailed it!!! Thank you.
Omg I agree with you completely! Especially #1!!!
I cannot express how disappointing I find Kenneth Brannaugh’s adaptations. Murder on the Orient Express changed what felt like the most important elements of Poirot’s internal reality, completely altering his take on events, and the recent Death on the Nile made Poirot a war hero with a dead fiancé, piles of personal guilt, and a scar to explain his large mustache (which is impressive in size but not in the elegant and fastidious manner of the character). Such a shame.
I haven’t been able to watch them because I can’t cheat on David Suchet like that 😬
@@arielthequeen890 I assure you, you are not missing anything.
Totally agree.
I agree. I don't know why he insisted on taking up this project. Schuet nailed it long ago--and if it ain't broke don't fix it.
@@arielthequeen890Same 😉
Fantastic! Thank you!
(0:40) I have to say I'm one of them. I have a hodgepodge set of his episodes on a couple of DVDs but no complete set.🙂
"
Curtin" is one of the best
I started reading Agatha Christie novels in the early 70's. I'll never forget getting to the revealing of the murderer usually not being who I thought it was, then reading half the book again to find out what I missed
I have recently started watching all the movies again on Britbox.
I'm up to The Pale Horse, which is my favourite, I love the beginning, the atmosphere. I also love the ABC murders.
I absolutely love David Suchet as Poirot, but the Peter Ustinov, Death on the Nile, is so much better. I’m older than you are so I fan girled Bette Davis as well as Maggie Smith. I too love Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. I am now rewatching Suchet’s HP from the beginning.
david schucett nailed them all
The way you feel about Hercule Poirot`s Christmas (both novel and adaptation) is how I feel about Death on the Nile (both novel and 1978 adaptation).
In HALLOWEEN PARTY, one of the actors portrayed Agatha Christie in an episode of DOCTOR WHO some years ago.
Yes! Finella Woolgar.
Cat Among the Pigeons earns a spot on this list. The one about a killer present in an all-girl elite prep school. This and Sad Cypress closest to Five Little Pigs in terms of emotional impact. I did not expect them capable of doing the dynamic between principal and vice principal ( maybe best side-character duo of any Christie novel), but man did the actresses a wonderful heartwarming job!
My favorite Poirot is, Five little pigs. My favorite Miss Marple is, And the mirror cracked.
Dear Miles have you listened to the John Moffatt BBC Poirot Radio plays? they're really good
No I haven't, but I'll put them on my list!
great video dude
The 1978 version of Death on the Nile is one of my favorites. I also like After the Funeral and Five Little Pigs. Also the 1980 version of Evil Under the Sun. Is the better version.
As much as I adore Suchet, re-watching Ustinov is somehow refreshing.
My favorite Agatha Christie adaptation is Witness for the Prosecution. As a comedy writer, the screenplay is just unbeatable. :-)
Mine is Murder on the Orient Express with David Suchet. His performance at the end really impressed me.
I found it over-the-top, like Branagh's performance at the end of the 2017 movie.
There's just something about Suchet's version of Evil Under The Sun that's special to me. It wasn't even the first version of it I saw.
A truly fine analysis - not because I agree/disagree but because your logic and perception are unarguable. Also impressive to support the idea that a film adaptation (with finely worked modifications) can actually be superior to a literal rendition - especially if the book is short of Christie’s absolute best level.
The weekly TV series usually comprising of ten 50 episodes(without ads) covers mostly the short stories. The series ran for 6 seasons. I doubt they would covered the novels afterwards had not the series been popular.
Awesome video!
The Suchet "Five Little Pigs" is one of my absolute favourite (and the novel is great, too)! I also really love "Cat Among the Pigeons", which I think is another one where the adaptation is much better than the book.
Totally agree with your list! Evil under the sun is one of my favorites that Suchet isn't starring! I also very much like Peril at End House; unpredictable plot, Poirot in his finest :)
Peril at End House also had the great advantage of being in. I just wish th the second season, when run times were longer. My only regret was that they didn't keep Poirot's method of listing the suspects A-I with J for someone unknown and how the answer turned out to be K.
Halloween Party is one of my favourite mystery novels how can you find it boring😭
The 1974 version of "Murder on the Orient Express" is my favorite murder mystery movie. No, I don't think Albert Finney is better Poirot than David Suchet, I'm not a savage. But I don't think he is terrible in the role either and the rest of the movie is just so entertaining that I don't care.
5 little pigs with David Suchet:-) the music... Eric Satie's Gnosienne was perfect for this film
Maggie Smith and Peter Ustinov did like to work with each other, and "Evil Under the Sun" wasn't their first time. Ever heard of "Hot Millions"?
I have not! I'll look it up.