It’s often said that imitating someone is the most genuine way to show admiration, and if we consider the large number of TV shows inspired by Agatha Christie, it’s clear that she would have felt truly honored and appreciated for her work.
The television and movie producer who is a great-grandson to Agatha Christie, James Prichard, who handles her literary and media rights, finds himself particularly thrilled by the current surge in mystery series reminiscent of Christie’s works, such as the Knives Out film series and Only Murders in the Building featuring Daniel Craig and Steve Martin. However, what truly delights him most is the highly-rated BBC show The Traitors.
He thinks that the program, which Claudia Winkleman presents, derives its plot from Agatha Christie’s well-known novel “And Then There Were None,” first published in 1939. In this story, a band of individuals find themselves marooned on an island and systematically killed off, one by one.
In addition to its other elements, The Traitors employs common themes found in Christie’s works, like a grand library and a lavish train, which are frequently utilized as part of the storyline in her novels.
According to Prichard, “The Traitors” is simply outstanding. He believes it’s built around the classic mystery format seen in Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries. This intriguing show, which seems to have reinvigorated reality television, revolves around themes of trust and deceit.
Initially, the story unfolds as they travel by train. A chilling board displays a countdown, each face disappearing successively. The setting includes a library filled with works reminiscent of Agatha Christie. In many aspects, it mirrors the plot of “And Then There Were None.
He mentions: “Many crime writers acknowledge that my great-grandmother serves as an inspiration for them. That’s fantastic! I’m thrilled to see that the genre of murder mysteries is gaining more attention and interest.
Christie adaptations have consistently been highly popular, but during the ’70s and ’80s, there was often a charming, somewhat quaint quality to these film and television productions, such as those featuring Peter Ustinov and David Suchet portraying Hercule Poirot, and Joan Hickson playing Miss Marple.
When Sarah Phelps began transforming Agatha Christie’s novels into BBC productions in 2015, with Ordeal by Innocence and The ABC Murders among them, she infused a sense of gloom into the popular mystery series.
After that, both Hugh Laurie and Kenneth Branagh have taken on adaptations of Christie’s works: the first created “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” for BritBox, while the second has produced film versions of “Murder on the Orient Express”, “Death on the Nile”, and “A Haunting in Venice”. John Malkovich starred in “The ABC Murders”, while a new three-part series on BBC, titled “Towards Zero”, features renowned actress Anjelica Huston.
According to Prichard, executive producer of Towards Zero, it’s incredibly gratifying to observe that people are treating Agatha Christie with a greater sense of importance.
By examining the caliber of individuals associated with our projects, such as Kenneth Branagh, Hugh Laurie, Angela Huston, or John Malkovich, one can appreciate the unique level we’ve reached. This is an exceptional situation that I find particularly meaningful.
Prichard acknowledges that Phelps provides a fresh perspective on Christie, highlighting the profound aspects of her works. He emphasizes how frequently Christie tackles deep-rooted themes like post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, sorrow, and mistreatment in her novels.
He mentions that Agatha Christie can occasionally veer into a more exaggerated or overly theatrical style, which he isn’t fond of. However, David Suchet’s portrayal of Poirot generally managed to avoid this campiness. Yet, he feels their performances weren’t as intense or serious as the current approach.
Through Sarah’s insightful guidance, she broadened my perspective on an aspect I had overlooked before. I owe her a debt of gratitude for being the catalyst in my understanding and appreciation of my great-grandmother’s work.
It’s important to note that Prichard doesn’t ignore contemporary sensitivities when adapting Christie’s novels. In fact, the newer adaptations deliberately steer clear of the regrettable trend in modern media of centering on young women who meet tragic ends at the hands of men.
Prichard acknowledges, “We indeed find quite a lot of it in Agatha Christie’s stories. It’s become quite a challenge these days to avoid this repetition in crime fiction. In fact, I sometimes feel that there might be too much of it in my great-grandmother’s works for my liking.
It’s important to exercise caution. I once let my daughter read ‘The Body in the Library’ at a relatively young age without fully considering its content – the story begins with a child getting murdered. This serves as a reminder for us to be mindful about the suitability of what we share with them.
Following the more somber Phelps tales, Rachel Bennette’s adaptation, titled “Towards Zero,” shifts towards a slightly brighter tone. It revolves around a passionate love triangle involving Nevile Strange, his ex-wife Audrey, and second wife Kay, portrayed by Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ella Lily Hyland, and Mimi Keene. The story unfolds on the stunning Devonshire coast, complete with scenes of dancing, jazz, and extravagant costumes that are truly captivating to the eye.
Prichard expresses his dislike for the term “cozy crime,” stating that he believes it doesn’t accurately represent the style of writing his great-grandmother employed, although her works did contain humor. He feels that not everything should be as grim as Sarah’s portrayal and this particular piece is lighter in tone, suggesting there might be more similar projects in the future.
Could it be that we’re in for a revival of Miss Marple? The BBC series based on all 12 of her novels, featuring Joan Hickson in the title role, aired in over 30 countries and wrapped up in December 1992. An origins film centered around a young Marple, starring Jennifer Garner, was proposed back in 2011, but it never came to fruition.
According to Prichard, there’s a new play being developed. He can barely contain his excitement as he shares this news without revealing any details about the production. For quite some time now, he has been eager to bring Miss Marple to life on stage. Despite Poirot having hogged the spotlight since the beginning of time, Miss Marple has always deserved her own moment in the limelight. Recently, Prichard re-read all the Miss Marple stories and was reminded just how captivating they are.
Poirot might be among the top four best-loved Agatha Christie characters, but if we expanded our list to ten, there would undoubtedly be at least two or three of Miss Marple. She’s often overlooked. My great grandmother created many robust female characters, with Miss Marple being the most notable, and Audrey and Kay from Towards Zero serving as additional examples.
She exhibited an intriguing personality in a unique blend of shyness and assertiveness. While appearing reserved, she was undeniably strong-willed. Despite denying her feminist identity, she held the belief that she possessed equal power to any man she encountered. Such was the kind of woman her writings portrayed.
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2025-02-25 04:10