Book Review: Poirot and Me

It's my absolute pleasure today to give you my review of the charming book 'Poirot and Me', by David Suchet (from Headline Publishing).  You may have already guessed if you're a regular reader of this blog that I am a huge fan of the Poirot television series, and it's probably no surprise then to hear that I adored this book.  It promised so much, and delivered!

The book starts at the end - the final episode of Poirot that is, and the experience of filming the demise of the Belgian detective - and the sentimental tone established in that first chapter had me gripped straight away.  The book is more than nostalgia though, and more than a 'companion' to the series.  Filled with humorous anecdotes about filming, and always showing Suchet's natural worries about doing justice to what Christie wrote, Suchet takes us from the very beginnings of the series on a journey through the precarious world of acting, the ups and downs of his personal life, and ultimately to the great success of a Poirot series that created 70 episodes and was broadcast to 83 countries.

Poirot Disappointment: The Big Four

Who watched 'The Big Four' on Wednesday evening?  It's the first in the final four interpretations of Christie's Poirot novels to be screened over the coming weeks.  As an addendum to this post, I will point you over to Bruce's blog, Eclectic Ephemera, where he also discusses this episode.

'The Big Four' must have been particularly problematic to bring to the screen.  If my memory serves correctly, it was originally a set of short stories, which already makes it difficult to put into one single tale.  Christie used these original short stories to cobble together the novel in 1927.  The tale was also very complicated, set over a long period of time, and had Hastings dashing off to Argentina, and was the ending somewhere in Europe?  I can't quite recall.

The media at the time gave it less than glowing reviews, this was one by the Scotsman, 17 March 1927:

"The activities of Poirot himself cannot be taken seriously, as one takes, for example, Sherlock Holmes, The book, indeed, reads more like an exaggerated parody of popular detective fiction than a serious essay in the type. But it certainly provides plenty of fun for the reader who is prepared to be amused. If that was the intention of the authoress, she has succeeded to perfection".

Anyway, in order to a) make the story simpler, b) set it over a shorter timeframe, and c) to avoid filming abroad, the story presented on our screens bore little resemblance to what Christie actually wrote.  They kept all the cliched bits that in retrospect Christie probably would have edited out, and then added more cliches in there. 

The Grand Reveal, in particular, was a little cringe-worthy.  All that standing around talking when there were two people poisoned with a paralysing drug, surely a bit of haste in getting them to hospital was required?!

Overall, the main theme of Christie's novel, international espionage, turned out to be nothing more than a red herring in this version, so they could trot out an even more implausible conclusion that it was a madman acting out of unrequited love for a woman he hadn't seen for a decade.

I have to admit I was also disappointed with the Poirot Christmas special they did a couple of years ago, an incredibly dark and depressing version of 'Murder on the Orient Express'.  Let's hope that the final 3 episodes give more joy.  There's always the old boxsets to return to, for restoration of faith in Monsieur Poirot, and some classic wardrobe moments displayed on Hastings and Miss Lemon.

What did you all think?

Poirot Fashion Special: The Dream

Sacre-bleu! What is this? Has Monsieur Poirot taken leave of his senses?!

Well, that is a ravishing dress Miss Lemon is wearing... (previously seen in other episodes)

This episode also sees the return of a much-coveted cardigan, and that lovely forest-green number we've seen before too.

Now to the other players. First up, Joely Richardson has quite an interesting wardrobe in this episode - she's active and quite boyish in her manner (she fences, she sits casually, she runs up stairs) but manages not to overdo it, and keeps a feminine edge to her clothing. I really like this first look - part French resistance!

It can't be seen in the screenshot, but that hat has a great little tassle on it!

I was trying to get a clear shot of the shoes as they're extremely flat, sort of like ballet-pumps but pointy. I didn't know they wore such flat shoes, anybody come across these before?

Next, we're in the Fencing Room and Miss Richardson is suitably attired.

Later, she's wearing trousers again and wears a simple blouse and jacket. I love the hairband, it's very rigid and shiny in a browny-amber colour, is it bakelite? Did they make hairbands out of bakelite?? I didn't even know they wore rigid hairbands in the 1930s. I've googled but not come up with any info on this topic, sorry folks!

And my favourite outfit of the episode - this knit houndstooth jacket is gorgeous. Looks great with that blouse and skirt. Joely is the kind of girl that doesn't spend time on her hair - she's got more important things to do, opponents to fence with, secret liaisons with her lover to attend.

Finally, the other lady that appears in this episode is older, has money, spends time and effort on her appearance (hair, make-up) in contrast to our young Joely. I think though that the outfit the older lady wears in this next scene somehow makes her frumpy, what do you think? Maybe it's the flat shoes and posture.

The blouse she wears in this scene is lovely, look at the detail on the neckline and the waistcoat-shaped hem. Shame about those crocodile tears!

And to finish, the evil Stepmother drops the pretence of being a caring wife in her modest dresses and cardigan ensembles and brings out the big guns - huge jewelled pin on her of-the-moment hat, and a big fur stole to show just how rich and dangerous she is. She wears a suit and silver fox-fur in the opening scene too but I couldn't get a screenshot of it, sorry readers!

It's been a while since I've done a Poirot fashion post - apologies for this, but I've had computer problems, my DVD player has a software issue!  Hopefully a new laptop this Autumn will allow many Poirot posts in future...

*** UPDATE - I know some people have been trying to follow me and can't find a 'follow' button - this feature has now been removed by Blogger and is affecting lots of blogs, not just mine!  To follow a blog now you can either copy the url and paste it into the box that comes up when you click 'Add' in your reading list, OR you can click 'join' if a blog has a Followers gadget in their sidebar. ***

Poirot Fashion Special: Peril at End House

This feature-length episode is a real treat, in terms of locations as well as costumes! The art-deco 'hotel' above is actually an apartment block in Torquay, Devon. People actually live there.

Now on to the clothes. First up, Miss Lemon, looking divine in this grey-sleeved number. Love the hat too.





I think this next picture is one of the few times we ever see Miss Lemon in evening wear. A pity there's no full-length shot.


Daywear....


Even the extras and minor players in this episode are super stylish! I love the hotel receptionist, and the hotel guest in the green print beach pyjamas.

Now let's have a look at the two main female characters in this story. That's Nick on the left, we're supposed to find her charming, vulnerable and beautiful. Freddie is the red-head in the middle, she's supposed to have a more acidic exterior. Out of the two wardrobes, I have to say I like Freddie's best! Which do you prefer?

Nick's wardrobe:








Freddie's wardrobe:









Did this give you some inspiration? I'd really like a little black '30s hat like Miss Lemon's, a pair of tropical print beach pyjamas, and a little fur cape for evening. What's your fantasy Poirot fashion shopping list?

Miss P xx

Poirot Fashion Special: The King of Clubs

Happy Easter to you! And welcome to another Poirot delight. Well, it's a small delight this week as The King of Clubs is an episode devoid of any real wardrobe changes - Niamh Cusack is the female lead but alas, the story is set over quite a short span of time and therefore she doesn't get many outfits in! First of all, Niamh is in a desert-scene in the film studio, and is wearing your typical desert-safari garb. The Arabian Prince on the left gets a better outfit deal in this scene for sure!


I don't mean to be unkind, but I'm not sure if the secretary in this next scene is actually a woman - she's really tall and quite masculine, is that actually a man in drag?! There's something about the hair that doesn't sit quite right. Love the bow, is that classed as a 'jabot'?


In contrast, Niamh looks feminine in this odd garment - is it a dress with a tunic jacket over it? It's so unusual, has anybody seen anything like this before? On looking through the accompanying Poirot Magazine to this episode, it's listed as a 'Mink day shawl'.

Later she changes into a lovely polkadot dress with matching hat, with a white fur coat over the top. Again the use of white fur shows just how much money she's making! I just love that the bow on the hat matches the one on the dress. For a very similar dress, you could try this one from Puttin' On the Ritz. The red dress the lady is wearing in the background is also nice but there isn't a clear shot of it.

The older lady on the phone has a brown blouse with white and orange print on it - or is it a dress?
Later, Niamh's in a white nightie as she recuperates from her little trauma of the night before.
Browns and dark reds again for the other ladies in the house, makes them seem quite drab in contrast, particularly as they don't have lipstick on! Still, I like the suit on the right.

We'll finish with a couple of shots of the gentlemen, just because I think they look quite dapper in these screen grabs!

I love the ostentatious look of this last shot, with the crazy blue swirling wallpaper and the gold everywhere - proper old Hollywood in feel.

That's all folks, it was indeed a short one this time!