Dead Man's Folly (1986) - Movie Review
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Hercule Poirot is back! And so am I, with this next review of Peter Ustinov's continually charming take on the character. But this time, Ariadne Oliver joins the fun as well, to Poirot's delight(?).
Starring Peter Ustinov, Jean Stapleton and Jonathan Cecil
* All images from the film are the property of their respective owners.
#Poirot #AgathaChristie #MurderMystery
What was interesting & what was curiously omitted from an otherwise sparkling review was that in contrast to the book we lose the character of Miss Lemon but gain Captain Hastings. The inclusion of Hastings in no way feels artificial as having him in a military intelligence role when MoD records help solve said case feels logical. And Johnathan Cecil does indeed play Hastings less as a buffoon for laughs than in the Lord Edgeware Dies adaptation Thirteen At Dinner which is a sign that the actor is settling into the part & is thus more at ease playing the role as he is developing a better style.
Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I love your Ustinov/Poirot reviews and was delighted to see a new one today! I love that you, like I, like to let the mystery unfold without trying to get too worked up about solving it, since we can't without the private information that is only revealed at the end of the film.
I agree with you about Ustinov probably being allowed to do whatever he wanted with the character in this and other films. Ustinov had a great reputation as an actor, writer, raconteur, improviser, and mimic, among other talents. He was known to be naturally entertaining and delightfully funny without being too "manic" (Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Chris Farley). Having an actor of his talent and caliber was a Godsend, so naturally any savvy director would capitalize on his skillset , and allow him to work his "Ustinovian" charms in these films. I notice that this is evident mostly in the television adaptations, rather than the big screen adaptations in which Ustinov starred.
I can't wait for your next Poirot review!
Thanks so much, I'm glad you're enjoying them! They're a lot of fun to put together.
I totally agree with your comments on Peter Ustinov, he is an incredible actor. In contrast to his lovable portrayal of Poirot, a while ago I rewatched "Quo Vadis" for the first time since I first saw it when I was very young. His Nero seems to be a bit humourous at first glance, until he reveals himself to be the insane tyrant that we expect him to be. It's so different from his Poirot series but again, an excellent performance.
Yes. He met Ariadne Oliver in the novel CARDS ON THE TABLE. (Published on November 2, 1936)
Hastings isn't in the original book
In the original Ariadne Oliver is Poirot's foil and she
calls him in to solve her murder mystery trail
that she has been hired to compose which
explains Poirot's indifference to the murder hunt.
That's good to know. I don't believe I've read this story before, but I'm looking forward to going back to the book yet to compare. Thanks for you comment!
@@HildebrandProductions I really felt for Mrs Oliver in the book. She'd made the clues too difficult in the Murder Hunt or thought she had, and accordingly told one player who didn't recognize her that a Folly was a building only to be rewarded by his saying he'd heard Ariadne Oliver was at the fete and that everyone said she drank like a fish. But things perked up - though she played almost no role in the investigation Poirot came to realize he had erred in not taking her plans for the Murder Hunt fully into account.
Yes that is true. But as with the David Suchet adaptations of Evil Under The Sun & Murder In Mesomptamia Hastings along for the ride is great !
Another great review. Am looking forward to your take on one of my favorite Ustinov versions, Murder in Three Acts. If you need , I have a copy of the out of print “Appointment With Death” that I can send you.
Cheers.
Thank you! You'll have to let me know what makes "Murder in Three Acts" one of your favourites, I hope to get to a review of it soon.
And that would be really great actually. I've been trying to track it down, but you're right, it is hard to come by.
Murder in Three Acts, aside from a great performance by Tony Curtis and Emma Sams, uses a phenomenal backdrop not only in shooting locations but in its actors. You are always watching the background and supporting cast. Hastings is at his absolute best in his role along side Ustinov. Curtis was cast perfectly and played his part very well.
My copy of appointment with death is/was supposed to be a licensed bootleg? Not sure how true that is but I took a chance and it showed up, works fine but most importantly allowed us to finally see the film. It’s a pretty bad movie by all accounts but the cast is phenomenal! It was made by golan-globus (cannon films), so is about the same quality as some of the better chuck norris films made by them.
That's good to know. I've watched it already so I'm hoping to get a review ready soon.
I was aware of the Cannon Films connection to "Appointment with Death", so I'm very curious to check it out. It seems like such an odd choice of productions for them in amongst the usual Norris/Bronson movies they were putting out at the time.
Poirot does not belong in the 1980s or any time except the 1930s and perhaps the early 1940s. He is a man of his era and does not fit in our world. The world has changed a great deal since 1935 and men like Poirot and Hastings no longer belong in it. I prefer the David Suchet version, available in full on RUclips.
I would have said the same thing until I watched 1985's "Thirteen at Dinner". As I mentioned in my review of that film, I enjoyed seeing Poirot, who doesn't appear to have modernized with the world around him, still solving cases and living life as he always has. While I wouldn't want every interpretation to be updated like these, I still think they're a lot of fun.
And as you say, we did get period appropriate interpretations of all these stories in the David Suchet series. His "Dead Man's Folly" is in my collection, so I will be getting to it eventually.
That why the Poirot versions with Suchet set beyond the '40s fail mostly.
Agreed ❤❤❤
@@bovnycccoperalover3579There’s only one in the Suchet series that’s set in the 1940s and that’s curtain. The rest is set in the 20s/30s. The affair at styles is set around about 1917 and curtain is set 30 years later.
I think it is perfectly portrayed to have Poirot bearing a sense of moral righteousness about his work. He really does believe that he is fighting evil as a humble servant of God (he is a devout Catholic, after all). This can be found in the book version especially in Curtains and Murder on the Orient Express.
That's true. And I think showing that aspect in Peter Ustinov's portrayal balances out his humorous side. Thanks for your comment!
This is the first time I’ve seen you and have subscribed! You are most interesting and I enjoyed your review. I’m a huge Ustinov fan and have watched this movie twice because of him. I never thought this was one of Agatha’s better ideas- so convoluted that it’s easy to get lost. I’ve also never liked the Ariadne character. But, hey, it’s Christie, so what’s to lose? 🤷🏼♀️
Thank you, I appreciate your comments! This was my first encounter with the Ariadne Oliver character onscreen, so I'm curious to see how I feel about her once I get to the David Suchet version of this story, as well as the others she appears in.
@@HildebrandProductions There’s something about Ariadne that I find irritating. She talks too much for one thing.
But I subscribed to you because you speak so well and I look forward to your future posts.
5:00 - OMG! I'm one of those people who will always think of Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker. It's amazing to picture her as Ariadne Oliver! I must see this movie!
You should review the David Suchet version. It’s so much better and the house they use in Devon actually belonged to Agatha Christie.
"Giant mullet" 🤣
You have thousands of movies there, how do you find time to watch them all? Do you get out much?
I actually haven't left my house since mid-2015...
In all seriousness, I watch them when I have time.