Norty Ana Mixed reviews. As with most things some like it some don't What is sad that some of those who were enjoying it had it marred by too much smog & dim lighting. A bit reminiscent of other programmes reflecting London of that time. A Sherlock Holmes episode springs to mind. I'm afraid I like my Christmas Agatha Christie to be a 'cosy murder'
We enjoyed it too. I like anything with Toby Jones in anyway. As soon as he had the fight with his wife I got the feeling that we would see the walk into the sea at the end (he had a b****y long way to walk though! I might changed my mind before I even got my feet wet!!).
The ending was very interesting - I think it was his horror at the maid being hung which upset him far more that what the wife said but that was just the last straw. I wonder what other law men - whether police, solicitors or barristers have felt when they have subsequently discovered they helped send an innocent person to the gallows - or assisted in getting a killer released and who then went on to kill again. Not a job I would like to do.
Enjoyed it, I thought the "gloom" gave it atmosphere. Liked the twist,having not read the book we thought it was the maid and then thought it was Romaine. Toby Jones was excellent.
We enjoyed it too. Very unexpected ending which added to the enjoyment. I don't know where the beach scene was filmed but the tide goes out that far at Weston Super Mare
I thought the second part much better than the first ( I watched them last night back to back) yes, gloomy lighting, but sound production was good.Good acting all round and good dialogue.Had my suspicions about the girlfriend.Toby Jones is very good in anything at all, hope he isn't being typecast in period stuff though.
The lighting and atmosphere were very murky, but maybe that was deliberate to reflect an era when sodium street lighting was yet to arrive, not sure when it did, but think gas lighting was still around in the '20s. Quite liked the final part in Le Touquet where the fog and mists disappeared to be replaced with sunshine and the final twist was revealed. We didn't watch much tv over the Christmas period but this programme was a chance to put our feet up after a lot of entertaining and it was good to have something worth watching.
I noticed the lightness of the scenes at Le Touquet as contrasted with the darkness of London too. Nice touch. And I'm glad Mayhew's cough was sorted...he looked soooo much better in the second half...especially in the lightweight suit-very elegant (if "elegant" is ever an adjective one could use to describe Toby Jones...).
Clever Beeb-very well done. We're so spoilt for drama now. Must be hard trying to come up with fresh ideas.
I also preferred the original film, the ending was different as well. I haven`t read the book, so not sure which ending is down to Agatha Christie. The only books I read of hers were the Miss Marple ones, and the ones about a married couple of detectives, she was called Tuppence.
We had gas lights on the outskirts of Heathrow (although it was very much out in the sticks at the time!) up till the end of the 40s Terri - I used to watch the man come and light them every evening and put them out in the morning. I can also remember the controversy about the dreadful yellow sodium lights - made everything look awful colours.
It was apparently partly at least filmed in Morecambe at the Winter Gardens theatre and nearby beach. I bet not many of you thought Morecambe could be substituted for Le Touquet!
I thought it was great. The dark and dim lighting was so essential to the story and of course reflected the era. I remember my gran had gas lighting in her scullery- horrible and not much use. The ending in Le Touquet where all seemed to be sunshine and light was so unexpected and so dark. Brilliant piece.