Agatha Christie was so good in forensic psychology, it’s amazing. Her description of different kinds of antisocial personalities is so spot on. And all her evil characters stems from before the FBI started to profiling. Reading the books of Agatha is the best way to recognise them all. Agatha’s biggest truc is that people you least expected to be the killer because of their persona. Neville should be played by an actor everybody liked in a different tv series. Like Jones from midsummer murders. Charming, nice, pleasant. People liked Neville. That’s why Audrey didn’t know what she was afraid of. And the actor who played Wexford is for me the prototype Battle.
I would have loved some novels featuring Mrs. Oliver. She's great with Poirot, but I'd have liked to see her on her own. She's just such a fun character to read!
If you aren’t familiar with Alan Davies, I can imagine you’d want more introduction to the detective he plays. But, some of us have loved “Jonathan Creek” for years and needed no introduction.
Thanks for a very interesting video. I have not read Towards Zero (yet), but have enjoyed watching the tv version a few times. Most of it was filmed in and around my hometown of Salcombe on the south Devon coast, so it is quite special to me. Also a few Poirot stories were filmed around there too. In fact one of my nephews was an extra on the beach in an early Poirot!
16:17, I’ve noticed that many of these “Agatha Christie’s Marple” adaptations are adaptations of previous television, not of the original book. I. E., “Nemesis” is an adaption of the Joan Hicks version and has little resemblance to the original book.
I can't stand so many Christie adaptations, and they seem to be getting worse, not better. It's like the writers are driven to make their mark on the story, without understanding it. News flash: if you think you're better than Christie, you're not.
I feel like writers typically know that. It's network/film executives who don't. And they don't have enough sense to know that stories that have made money for almost a century, can keep making money without thier input.
Cards on the Table will probably always be most notable for Mrs Oliver's crossover from Mr Parker Pyne to Poirot. Towards Zero is Battle at his best; I especially liked not only how Audrey reminded him of his daughter but also how there being one polished and one unpolished fender ball reminds him of Poirot.
Totally agree I saw the adaptation first and I love Greg Wise as Neville, especially his disintegration at the end but they could've kept that while characterising him correctly. Also, I hate Mallard but I think that's a general problem with the police detective in the modern Marple. Superintendent Harper (Body in the Library), DI Slack (Murder at the Vicarage), Inspector Graves (Moving Finger), Inspector Bird (Bertram's Hotel) and Inspector Neele (Pocket Full of Rye) are all also treated as bumbling oafs with an antagonistic/patronising attitude to Miss Marple. Even when their superiors, like Colonel Melchett in Body in the Library, are vouching for her.
As someone who never read the book, but watch the Marple film, the reason it worked for me was because it put us in the same position as the police. A double blind. Not only did the evidence lead the detectives to suspect their lead was faulty, but his actions made the audience believe the same thing. He was so obviously the killer to both fiction characters and real people we all had a chance to be fooled by the outcome.
I really enjoy Towards Zero myself. A couple of insane coincidences-a pet peeve of mine, but the main crime was plausible with well fleshed out characters and personalities. But it is much more of an ensemble piece versus the traditional detective story where we follow the detective POV alone.
@@marianne6876 one or two coincidences I don't mind, but after that when it can get up to 8 like in Murder on the Links, then I have a problem. I like Towards Zero. It's probably in my top 10 of Agatha Christie novels. But just because I like it overall doesn't mean I have to like everything about it. Is my opinion really going to stop people from reading it if I point out the unrealistic coincidences? Why do people get so twisted when someone offers constructive criticsm of stories they love?
interesting that you choose The Doctor as Harley Quinn - I would never have thought of that association, but from what little I know of Harley Quinn does make a lot of sense. of all her characters, he is the one who certainly intrigues me the most...
In Doctor Who, the Doc and Donna meet Agatha Christie. It's implied their adventure together inspired other stories from the famed author. Hence the association in the video.
I love Superintendent Battle. Especially in Towards Zero. He is very internal and subtile. Still I did kinda think you were going to go for Mr Satterthweit since I iften see him forfoten about. Quinn usually gets all the atention.
Miss Marvel does not belong in towards zero and when she is stuffed into a story that is not meant for her it is the worst of all the movies or or stories that they can find why can't miss Marvel just be in her own stories that she's good at and Parole in his own stories and all the other ones that are supposed to be
Really? Inspector Battle seemed to be a one dimensional character Agatha didn't use more for that reason,, stop trying to insert Idris elba into everything. It was cast fine, it would have been jarring to say the least, to see Idris Elba cast as the police Inspector in 1920s England.
I think the inclusion of MacWhirter is a weakness of the book. The relationship with Audrey is just to unbelievable, given that they know nothing about each other at all. Even compared to other Christie couples, it's just strange. I can understand, that he's done away with in most (or all?) adaptations, including Christie's stage play.
Yes, I agree. And Christie's treatment of MacWhirter's character is wildly inconsistent. When we first meet MacWhirter, we see him recovering from his attempted suicide. He tells the nurse about the misfortunes that arose from his refusal to lie to the police to back up his boss's false story. He lost his job; his wife ran off with his friend etc. But he proudly proclaims, "Well, I wouldn't say say what he wanted. It was a lie. I don't tell lies". So, having established this fundamental aspect of MacWhirter's character, what do we get? By the end of the book MacWhirter is lying his arse off to the police about seeing a man climbing the rope. Admittedly Battle is aware that MacWhirter is lying. And MacWhirter says as much to Audrey. But I've always thought that it's a huge character inconsistency.
@@robertthomson1587 No I dissagree. I think it’s perfect. This upright man who never tells lies is Faced with someone who he sees and recognizes through his own personal experience is in total despair. Remembering his own despair he cannot help but he moved and so for once in his life compromises his values of truthfulness because of it. It is so poetic and beautiful. A whole story about who he is in just a few pages.
I have seen last scene from movie nemesis but I am totally disappointed by the movie and also by the green archer movie in both of them the books are excellent
I cant understand why the directors have so hard to follow the books. Why changed a perfect story and all this political correctnes if someone is homosexual in the books great but if not why bring it up i think about the body in the library for example
Well for some of the adaptions it’s because if people want to see a great and pretty accurate version of a Miss Marple they’ll just watch a Joan Hickson adaption. So if you want to make something people will watch it needs to be a new variation with new stuff in it.
@@MissCaraMint yes I understand that but if they want first class quality they should stick with the real story, I am sure the new audience would like it to.
Agatha Christie was so good in forensic psychology, it’s amazing. Her description of different kinds of antisocial personalities is so spot on. And all her evil characters stems from before the FBI started to profiling. Reading the books of Agatha is the best way to recognise them all.
Agatha’s biggest truc is that people you least expected to be the killer because of their persona.
Neville should be played by an actor everybody liked in a different tv series. Like Jones from midsummer murders. Charming, nice, pleasant. People liked Neville. That’s why Audrey didn’t know what she was afraid of. And the actor who played Wexford is for me the prototype Battle.
I would have loved some novels featuring Mrs. Oliver. She's great with Poirot, but I'd have liked to see her on her own. She's just such a fun character to read!
If you aren’t familiar with Alan Davies, I can imagine you’d want more introduction to the detective he plays. But, some of us have loved “Jonathan Creek” for years and needed no introduction.
Harry Andrews as Battle in 1981's "The Seven Dials Mystery" is perfect casting in my book!
Don't forget Mr. Satterthwaite, who is the "active" partner in solving mysteries, with the help of "catalyst" Harley Quinn.
True. I tried to acknowledge him via Bernard Cribbins.
He is such a nice character, with his little flaws.
It's funny because in his stories he's also overlooked and stands by until his cue comes
Thank you! I have always loved Inspector Battle, always so solid, always knowing more than one thinks. A great, underappreciated character.
Thanks for a very interesting video. I have not read Towards Zero (yet), but have enjoyed watching the tv version a few times. Most of it was filmed in and around my hometown of Salcombe on the south Devon coast, so it is quite special to me. Also a few Poirot stories were filmed around there too. In fact one of my nephews was an extra on the beach in an early Poirot!
16:17, I’ve noticed that many of these “Agatha Christie’s Marple” adaptations are adaptations of previous television, not of the original book. I. E., “Nemesis” is an adaption of the Joan Hicks version and has little resemblance to the original book.
I can't stand so many Christie adaptations, and they seem to be getting worse, not better. It's like the writers are driven to make their mark on the story, without understanding it. News flash: if you think you're better than Christie, you're not.
I feel like writers typically know that. It's network/film executives who don't. And they don't have enough sense to know that stories that have made money for almost a century, can keep making money without thier input.
Cards on the Table will probably always be most notable for Mrs Oliver's crossover from Mr Parker Pyne to Poirot. Towards Zero is Battle at his best; I especially liked not only how Audrey reminded him of his daughter but also how there being one polished and one unpolished fender ball reminds him of Poirot.
Yeah Towards Zero is just an amazing novel in it’s own right, but is also a wonderful place for Battle to really shine.
Cards on the table was always Poirot
@@susanwilsonroberts6044 Yes, but this is the novel in which he and Mrs Oliver first appear together.
My fave is Poirot because he's funny, then Harley Quin because he's mysterious, and then Superintendent Battle because he works in the background.
Totally agree
I saw the adaptation first and I love Greg Wise as Neville, especially his disintegration at the end but they could've kept that while characterising him correctly.
Also, I hate Mallard but I think that's a general problem with the police detective in the modern Marple.
Superintendent Harper (Body in the Library), DI Slack (Murder at the Vicarage), Inspector Graves (Moving Finger), Inspector Bird (Bertram's Hotel) and Inspector Neele (Pocket Full of Rye) are all also treated as bumbling oafs with an antagonistic/patronising attitude to Miss Marple. Even when their superiors, like Colonel Melchett in Body in the Library, are vouching for her.
I love young Tommy and Tuppence stories
As someone who never read the book, but watch the Marple film, the reason it worked for me was because it put us in the same position as the police. A double blind. Not only did the evidence lead the detectives to suspect their lead was faulty, but his actions made the audience believe the same thing. He was so obviously the killer to both fiction characters and real people we all had a chance to be fooled by the outcome.
Very interesting analysis - thank you!
I really enjoy Towards Zero myself. A couple of insane coincidences-a pet peeve of mine, but the main crime was plausible with well fleshed out characters and personalities. But it is much more of an ensemble piece versus the traditional detective story where we follow the detective POV alone.
Real coincidences happen in real life, so keep your hair on.
@@marianne6876 one or two coincidences I don't mind, but after that when it can get up to 8 like in Murder on the Links, then I have a problem. I like Towards Zero. It's probably in my top 10 of Agatha Christie novels. But just because I like it overall doesn't mean I have to like everything about it. Is my opinion really going to stop people from reading it if I point out the unrealistic coincidences? Why do people get so twisted when someone offers constructive criticsm of stories they love?
interesting that you choose The Doctor as Harley Quinn - I would never have thought of that association, but from what little I know of Harley Quinn does make a lot of sense. of all her characters, he is the one who certainly intrigues me the most...
In Doctor Who, the Doc and Donna meet Agatha Christie. It's implied their adventure together inspired other stories from the famed author. Hence the association in the video.
But remember, it's Quin with one N, lest we wander into Batman.
lol. Neville the dingbat XD
Great review. I'm excited for you doing my request soon (I asked you to cover Taken at the Flood if you don't remember XD)
Nice work. Thanks much.
Read them all (or practically) . One of many great novels 👍
Harley Quin and Mr. Satterwthaith are my favorites. I named my first cat Harley Quin. ❤️
That’s so sweet.
Exterminated by stairs.
Fun Fact: If you take away Nevile’s first and last letter of his first name, it spells “evil”
loved L' HEURE ZERO
I love your fan cast of Superintendent Battle!
I also love Battle. I've read this and Cards on the table.
I, too, love Battle. The Seven Dials Mystery was a great adaptation of the book, but I was disappointed in the casting of Battle.
I love Superintendent Battle. Especially in Towards Zero. He is very internal and subtile.
Still I did kinda think you were going to go for Mr Satterthweit since I iften see him forfoten about. Quinn usually gets all the atention.
That's true.
Love Tommy and Tuppence. Can't remember Battle.
Innocent lies is not only disturbing, it also completely forgets about the plot halfway in. 😂
Bonus points for the Doctor Who refrence
I definitely feel Superintendent Battle needs more love, yeah.
Miss Marvel does not belong in towards zero and when she is stuffed into a story that is not meant for her it is the worst of all the movies or or stories that they can find why can't miss Marvel just be in her own stories that she's good at and Parole in his own stories and all the other ones that are supposed to be
love 'regenerate' lol
I really enjoy your Christie adaptations compared to the novels.
MacWhirter's first name in the book is Angus, not Andrew.
I did notice he was called Andrew in some scenes and Angus in others. Weird.
He should've been cast as an English Tommy Lee Jones.
The description of how Battle should be portrayed is opposite of what is required of acting on a visual medium.
*Insert image of Leonard Nimoy (RIP) as Spock raising eyebrow.
I really like Supt. Battle.
If you don’t consider him to be cast very well,m then clearly you have not watch The Seven Dials Mystery. In that production he is cast perfectly.
Oh really. I need to Watch that then.
Really? Inspector Battle seemed to be a one dimensional character Agatha didn't use more for that reason,, stop trying to insert Idris elba into everything. It was cast fine, it would have been jarring to say the least, to see Idris Elba cast as the police Inspector in 1920s England.
I think the inclusion of MacWhirter is a weakness of the book. The relationship with Audrey is just to unbelievable, given that they know nothing about each other at all. Even compared to other Christie couples, it's just strange. I can understand, that he's done away with in most (or all?) adaptations, including Christie's stage play.
Yes, I agree. And Christie's treatment of MacWhirter's character is wildly inconsistent. When we first meet MacWhirter, we see him recovering from his attempted suicide. He tells the nurse about the misfortunes that arose from his refusal to lie to the police to back up his boss's false story. He lost his job; his wife ran off with his friend etc. But he proudly proclaims, "Well, I wouldn't say say what he wanted. It was a lie. I don't tell lies".
So, having established this fundamental aspect of MacWhirter's character, what do we get? By the end of the book MacWhirter is lying his arse off to the police about seeing a man climbing the rope. Admittedly Battle is aware that MacWhirter is lying. And MacWhirter says as much to Audrey. But I've always thought that it's a huge character inconsistency.
@@robertthomson1587 No I dissagree. I think it’s perfect. This upright man who never tells lies is Faced with someone who he sees and recognizes through his own personal experience is in total despair. Remembering his own despair he cannot help but he moved and so for once in his life compromises his values of truthfulness because of it. It is so poetic and beautiful. A whole story about who he is in just a few pages.
@@MissCaraMint yes, and Audrey needs him, he understands her. Thomas wouldn’t.
Audrey should have ended up with Andrew.
Agree, Thomas is for Mary. Now Mary is left alone.
Actually, the man who tried to commit suicide is named Angus not Andrew
Interesting! In the older edition I have, his name is Andrew, but in the newer one it's Angus.
@@MysteryMiles Well that’s odd because in the version I have, his name is Angus to, I don’t know, make him more Scottish?
sorry my dear very far from forgotten
I really disliked the adaptation, for exactly these reasons - I think there should be a new series called 'Battle'!
I have seen last scene from movie nemesis but I am totally disappointed by the movie and also by the green archer movie in both of them the books are excellent
So this is in reality a retelling of the book. And one movie. I see. I was expecting there to be an actual point here somewhere. Silly me.
I cant understand why the directors have so hard to follow the books. Why changed a perfect story and all this political correctnes if someone is homosexual in the books great but if not why bring it up i think about the body in the library for example
Well for some of the adaptions it’s because if people want to see a great and pretty accurate version of a Miss Marple they’ll just watch a Joan Hickson adaption. So if you want to make something people will watch it needs to be a new variation with new stuff in it.
@@MissCaraMint yes I understand that but if they want first class quality they should stick with the real story, I am sure the new audience would like it to.
Tommy and Tuppence were awful, the kind of cuteness that was too common in the inter-war period.