Agatha Christie disliked the theatrical adaptations of this novel and felt they were full of needless changes. This one is no different and is in fact one of the worst of the David Suchet' Poirot episodes.
1. The narrator is completely lost, Dr Sheppard is a completely secondary figure in this version and does not have the necessary 'Watson' role that is fundamental to the novel. 2. The warm comedy of Dr Sheppard's relationship with his sister and her whole role in the story is lost. Again! Strange how those who adapt the novel seem to dislike Caroline, a character Agatha herself was very fond of. 3. There is a completely superfluous second murder. 4. There is far too much shouting and running and unnecessary action. 5. I miss many of the characters from the novel, especially Mrs Russell the housekeeper. 6. In the novel, Geoffrey Raymond is not a 'bit of a stick' but a likable young man who might be a possible romance for Flora. I have yet to see an adaptation where his character is retained which is a pity as he is one of the most sympathetic characters in the novel. 7. The whole 'small town gossip' atmosphere of the book is lost. 8. Japp and Poirot are too close, in the novel the inspector (not Japp in this case) is to a degree his antagonist.
The end result is quite disappointing. Will this novel, one of AC's best, never be adapted properly?
1. The narrator is completely lost, Dr Sheppard is a completely secondary figure in this version and does not have the necessary 'Watson' role that is fundamental to the novel. 2. The warm comedy of Dr Sheppard's relationship with his sister and her whole role in the story is lost. Again! Strange how those who adapt the novel seem to dislike Caroline, a character Agatha herself was very fond of. 3. There is a completely superfluous second murder. 4. There is far too much shouting and running and unnecessary action. 5. I miss many of the characters from the novel, especially Mrs Russell the housekeeper. 6. In the novel, Geoffrey Raymond is not a 'bit of a stick' but a likable young man who might be a possible romance for Flora. I have yet to see an adaptation where his character is retained which is a pity as he is one of the most sympathetic characters in the novel. 7. The whole 'small town gossip' atmosphere of the book is lost. 8. Japp and Poirot are too close, in the novel the inspector (not Japp in this case) is to a degree his antagonist.
The end result is quite disappointing. Will this novel, one of AC's best, never be adapted properly?