27 March 2009
The 1980s BBC series
Playing Shakespeare with director John Barton guiding RSC actors through some of Shakespeare's most famous plays is now available on DVD in the US area from June. A happy day in history - up till now it has only been released as an expensive educational series on VHS and on cheap but illegal DVDs.
My sincere hope is that it will be released in UK as well, so Europe won't have to pay all these expensive taxes they put on when buying overseas.
21 March 2009
While we're waiting on The Orient Express we might as well spend the time on another 'tour' cruising down the Nile with SS Sudan (The legendary Karnak in Death on the Nile)
With thanks to Pascale for the link!
10 March 2009 updated 11 March
While we're waiting...
There hasn’t been much to add lately. Apart from plenty of ‘a liitle bit of thiiiz and a liitle bit of tzaaat’, which I have decided not to put up right now, there is silence out there. We’re still waiting for Godot when it comes to news about “Murder on the Orient Express” which, according to rumours, will be the first they make of the next four new Poirot episodes. No matter which one they begin with, shootings start in March; we know that from previous statements. So now we can only wait... and wait...
However, I rush to tell that BFI Southbank Cinema in London on Sunday 8th showed special previews of the latest Poirot episode ”Appointment with Death” and the Marple episode ”A Pocket Full of Rye” with 'debutant' Julia McKenzie. After the screening both Suchet and McKenzie ‘joined forces’ in an onstage interview followed by a Q&A session.
"It's All in the Shoes
On Sunday afternoon at the British Film Institute on London’s Southbank, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple held court. The clue to understanding this most unlikely event lies in the location – David Suchet and Julia McKenzie, the new Miss Marple, were in conversation with Mathew Billington from The Guardian. In a small theatre filled with Christie fans, we’d just watched a glorious Christie double bill on the big screen – two brand new films: the very exotic Appointment with Death followed by the faithfully adapted A Pocket Full of Rye. Poirot’s moustache and Miss Marple’s hat had never looked so fine. I won’t discuss the contents of the films and thus spoil your anticipation but I thought I would share my account on the evening’s discussion.
David entertained us all with anecdotes from his 20 year reign as Poirot – the time heatstroke hit (the Moroccan sun and his “fat suit” proving a deadly combination) – the honour of Poirot’s head being chosen for a Belgian coin: “and then they went Euro!”) – how he came to recreate for the screen Poirot’s walk, his “rapid mincing gate”, and the laborious but enjoyable preparation required for reassuming the role (20 hours spent watching previous performances to get every detail just right). David also told us that once the moustache goes on, the transformation is complete and David speaks as Poirot – no matter whether on set or off – to his agent, his wife or the director!
Julia was very amusing and self depreciating and claimed to be still finding her feet but everyone agreed she made a most wonderful Miss Marple. While David found The ABC Murders to be Christie’s most ingenious plot, Julia quite rightly didn’t know yet! And, she explained, when it was announced that, the by now very Hollywood, Joan Collins would be playing a role in The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side – Julia declared: “She’s not having my Winnebago!”
If you’ve seen any pictures of Julia as Miss Marple, you’ll know that she wears very sturdy brogues and for Julia these were the equivalent to David’s moustache. Because so much filming is on location, Wellington boots are required until the final step onto set – so once the brogues are on, Julia is Miss Marple.
Both declared their hope that they could make many more films to come - for David there are ten more Poirot films to make to complete the canon. I, for one, can’t wait to see them!
The conversation between David and Julia (and the questions from the audience) will shortly be available to download from the BFI’s website. We’ll let you know when it’s available."
With thanks to Thomas for parts of this info
7 February 2009
- don't forget the
Desert Island Discs radio episode with Suchet tomorrow 8th at 11:15 am (GMT) on BBC4....
According to Stage online two of Suchet’s musical choices for the program will be the Agatha Christie’s Poirot Theme and You’ll Never Walk Alone.
A written excerpt from the program...
5 February 2009
According to
Channel Canada Canadian CBC Television shows
Diverted March 8 at 20.00 local time. Well... there's a whole month for that... always nice to have something to look forward to.
"DIVERTED... is a fictional story inspired by what happened to the people of Gander, Newfoundland and the passengers on the planes on Sept. 11, 2001, when the Federal Aviation Authority shut down the skies over the United States.
Suddenly, more than 200 aircraft flying over the Atlantic at the time had to find a new place to land.Thirty-nine of those flights made their way to Gander, Newfoundland, and on that day 6,500 people descended on a town of 9,000.
DIVERTED stars Shawn Ashmore (X-Men, Terry) as a young air traffic controller who falls in love with a woman he never should have met; David Suchet (Agatha Christie: Poirot, The Bank Job) as a New Yorker desperate to contact his missing son; and Joanne Whalley (Willow, The Virgin Queen) and Colin Buchanan (Dalziel and Pascoe, The Secret) as passengers who find solace in each other."
Suchet was awarded with an Honorary Fellowship of University of Chichester for excellence in the performing arts on students’ graduation day October 10th last year.
Nice outfit they keep, them Brits...
A close-up video-interview with Suchet on ceremony day. Notice the ’hats in the air’ tradition – hopefully all were engraved with their rightful owners’ names... otherwise it’s finders keepers...
Photos on Flickr
Thanks to Pascale for these great links and the photo! And - a belated - congratulation to Suchet!
27 January 2009
Suchet arriving at the Southbank Show Awards, Dorchester Hotel in London, January 20. Copyright Contact Music.
My "French Connection" Pascale has sent a whole bunch of links to share, thanks!
Video -
Southbank Show Awards, arrivals. Wait for Suchet to show up... Ben Kingsley is also among the guests to arrive.
The whole Agatha Christie documentary Crime does Pay - presented by Keith Blackler, celebrating Christie’s 100th anniversary. Features interviews with Suchet and Joan Hickson as well as Christie’s grandson Matthew Pritchard. Also features the meeting between Poirot and Miss Marple at Torquay Station
Behind the scenes -
After the Funeral +
Cards on the Table Part 1Behind the scenes - After the Funeral + Cards on the Table Part 2
Behind the scenes - The Mystery of The Blue Train – Part 1
Behind the scenes - The Mystery of The Blue Train – Part 2
20 January 2009
A couple of extra photos from the day Suchet was awarded with Freedom of City of London...
Suchet and wife Sheila - Photo © Getty Images
Photo © Getty Images
Thanks to Pascale and Thomas for parts of these informations
7 January 2009 20:30
A new year, a new start, a new page...
Did you make any promises for the new year? I never do... because I know I most likely won't be able to keep them if they are decided on New Year's Eve and 1st of January proclaimed a cutoff-point.
In stead I try to change things in my own speed and throughout the whole year whenever an urge for changes occurs... I have to admit, I don't succeed with that often either, but occasionally it happens.
Anyway, it's not a new year's promise, but I will try to expand the website more during 2009, especially concerning the Work section such as putting on more film sheets, Poirot episodes etc. Possibly Suchet's "20 years with Poirot" Jubilee will generate a lot of article's and photos, too. I have a lot of articles already, also some with behind-the-scenes photos from the latest four Poirot-episodes, just waiting to be put up!
There is also the making of Suchet's bios to think of... I have notes as well as ideas for a rather long one already, but it takes a lot of time putting it all together and to research on it. I might go for a brief bios to put up this year - a longer one with photos, details etc, will then come up at another time.
I’m also trying to learn how to convert DVD clips and films into videos, so I hopefully can put some up in here. If I make any progress in that, you will soon notice. One problem is, though, that I have limited room for videos in here, because it takes up several MB if not GB, so I will probably choose only to show shorter clips or make replaceable larger files. Another problem is of course the time it takes making them. But we will see what happens as times go by.
The general news still have first priority and will as usual keep on coming, at least that’s the plan.
So let's start with some Suchet news...
According to Press Association Suchet has been given the award Freedom of the City of London.
Press Association also tells, quoting Suchet, that there is 6 Poirot stories left when the next four has been shot this year (starting in March), and we also hear a bit about Complicit starting today (as you may remember from the news in December).
Freedom of London gives Suchet the priviligue and right to drive sheep over London Bridge. He can even do it with a swinging sword if he prefers, since the award also includes the right to carry one in public. With the rights come some duties too; Suchet has to live an honourable life and warn the Mayor of London of impending disasters.
"Poirot actor David Suchet has been given Freedom of the City of London.
The 62-year-old took the honour at the Guildhall in London alongside his wife Sheila.
The honour, which dates back to the 13th century, means the couple can now drive sheep over London Bridge and can carry a naked sword in public, and the actor joked the he will do both next New Year's Eve.
"We are absolutely thrilled to bits. What is wonderful is that I feel part of a 13th century City of London tradition. Being a Londoner, born in Paddington, I'm just so proud and it makes me feel that I really belong," he said.
The actor had to promise he would live an honourable life and would warn the mayor of any impending disasters, at the ceremony.
He plays an American lawyer in the Kevin Spacey-directed play Complicit, which opens tonight at the Old Vic.
"Fingers crossed, it's a new play about the freedom of the press, and it is very exciting. Kevin is just brilliant, partly because he is an actor himself and he knows how actors work," he said.
Mr Suchet is reviving his most famous role, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, in March, and revealed that he is desperate to see the character through to his conclusion.
"We are filming four episodes this year, which will leave six more to do and that will be the complete works. He doesn't exist after that," he said.
"I feel two emotions, great sadness to leave him, and 700 million people watch it throughout the world, but also terrific joy if I am given the opportunity to do the complete works. It really depends if the money is there because they might not have the funding."
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2009, All Rights Reserved.
More on the award and a renovation of a flat according to MailOnline...
"Poirot is free to float his boat...
Having fallen in love with canals more than three decades ago when he realised a narrowboat could chug him around the country's repertory theatres, David Suchet's passion for inland waterways has won him the Freedom of the City of London.
Yesterday, the actor was at the Guildhall being inducted into the Company of Watermen and Lightermen. 'It's all rather complicated,' he says. 'But to join a City livery company, you have to be a Freeman of the City first. It is a great thrill - I am passionate about our rivers and canals.'
So passionate, in fact, that Suchet and his wife, Sheila, are living on board a barge on the Thames while their Docklands flat is renovated.
'We should be able to move in around April or May and then we'll sail the barge across the Channel and take her through the canals of Belgium.'
How fitting for the moustache-twirling star of Poirot."
Might I suggest a short trip to the canals of Copenhagen, too, Mr. Suchet? I'll be more than happy to be your tour-guide for one day in June... just give me a call and I'll be there...
ITV3 marathon with Poirot...
Tomorrow (8 January) and nine days ahead ITV3 airs selected back episodes of Poirot as well as selected episodes of the documentary Poirot & Me (8 – 11 January) and a behind-the-scenes documentary of The Mystery of the Blue Train (10 January). Last but not least the channel shows the documentary Super Sleuths 11 January.
Check the schedule here - with thanks to Thomas for this info!
Reminds me… I have Super Sleuths on DVD (one of Diana’s great gifts) and have had in mind making transcripts of it for you eventually, like I did with the Poirot & Me. But for now that will have to wait.
A new site with photos of Poirot locations…
Joan Street has launched a site with her own photos of locations from various Poirot episodes. According to Joan the site will expand over the year. She has also started a forum where you can discuss the locations
Murder in Mind...
Pascale found the whole episode of Teacher from the BBC thriller series Murder in Mind on You Tube. There is six parts and to make it easy for you, I've listed them all the way Pascale sent them to me – thanks Pascale!
Murder in Mind was a TV series from 2001-2003 featuring one-hour episodes which all depicted a murder as seen from the murderer’s point of view.
Check the cast list made by Pascale here
Teacher (2001) 1/6
Teacher (2001) 2/6
Teacher (2001) 3/6
Teacher (2001) 4/6
Teacher (2001) 5/6
Teacher (2001) 6/6
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