Fannish Fifty: Hercule Poirot

[smallhobbit]

How could I have left out Agatha Christie's little Belgian detective with the magnificent moustaches for so long?

I do enjoy the original novels and short stories, although to be fair, if I was forced to choose between Poirot and Miss Marple, the spinster sleuth would certainly win.  However, I don't have to, so that's okay.  I also like the BBC Sounds versions with John Moffat, especially as Philip Jackson plays Inspector Japp in many of the stories.

Then there's David Suchet as Poirot, who I think like many others, portrays Poirot's mannerisms very well and again Philip Jackson is Japp.  I wasn't impressed with Kenneth Branagh in the latest film version, A Haunting in Venice, but I didn't enjoy the film particularly either.

I enjoy writing Poirot fics and ficlets and bringing in Captain Hastings and Miss Lemon, who both have their own parts to play in the plot.  It's fun putting the 'little grey cells' to good use.

Comments

[blueraccoon]

Oh I love Poirot! I prefer him to Miss Marple, honestly, although I might like Miss Marple more these days. I admit I haven't really seen any of the film adaptations, but I love the Poirot books. The first time I read Murder on the Orient Express I had zero idea of the ending and was just blown away.

(fun fact, in my trek epics I made Khan a fan of Christie.)

[smallhobbit]

Excellent - delighted you like Poirot. And as for preferences, just because I like Miss Marple more than Poirot, it's rather like I prefer lemon drizzle cake to chocolate, but I do like both! Murder on the Orient Express is a brilliant plot, and not one that is ever forgotten!

I'm very pleased Khan is a Christie fan :)

[shipperslist]

I wasn't impressed with Kenneth Branagh in the latest film version, A Haunting in Venice, but I didn't enjoy the film particularly either.

I haven’t seen it because I simply cannot picture Branagh as Poirot. Just. Can’t. It’s David Suchet or bust.

[smallhobbit]

The film was on at our local independent cinema and we had a free Sunday afternoon, so I thought I'd see what Branagh was like. I wouldn't have gone otherwise.

[sallymn]

Suchet was brilliant, the definitive Poirot for me. I do admit, however, to a soft spot for Peter Ustinov's very-unlike-Christie-but-fun portrayal in Death on the Nile.

[smallhobbit]

Yes, I agree with you about Peter Ustinov's Death on the Nile - not particularly Christie but definitely fun.

[rusty_armour]

I've been meaning to read more Poirot stories and novels (and more Christie in general). I love the series with David Suchet. I'm also a fan of Albert Finney's portrayal of Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, not to mention the Peter Ustinov series of films. I've avoided all the Kenneth Branagh movies so far.

I hadn't realized that Philip Jackson also played Japp in the BBC Sounds versions of the Poirot stories. I have a soft spot for Jackson because he had a recurring role on Robin of Sherwood.

I've never been brave enough to write any Christie fic or ficlets, so kudos to you. It must be a fun challenge putting those "little grey cells" to work.

[smallhobbit]

I enjoy reading Christie - and because I know most of the plots it's an easy read which is good. I'd continue to avoid the Kenneth Branagh movies - there's very little connection between them and the Poirot we know.