The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

Yes I thought exactly that, M0nica.
But I thought I'd watch it last night anyway, just to spot the anachronisms, I'd identified just one before I dozed off!

I just wonder why modern playrights have so little confidence in their abilities, that they have to justify their work by hiding behind the pretence of adapting another author's work for the screen, when all they have done is taken the germ of an idea from another author and then woven their own work round it. A perfectly respectable thing to do.

I didn't see the programme last night, but as I understand so much of the story has been changed that Sally Phelps could have put it forward as her own original work, called it 'The Witches Sabbaoth' or something and had it stand on its own merits.

It is a perfectly good piece of work without the need to drape it with Agatha Christies name and the pretence that anything more than the idea came from her book, 'The Pale Horse'

I am enjoying this so far.

I read this years ago, but cannot remember the story. I still have the novel in my bookcase, so may dig it out after the series ends. I enjoyed The Pale Horse tonight, it was something good to watch for sunday night and quite creepy in bits.

I read this when I was about 14 but couldn't really remember it so I will take it as a new story and not an Agatha Christie.

I said immediately to DH 'that is not Surrey, it's the Cotswolds - nothing like Surrey!' And of course, it was filmed in the Cotswolds.

marmelise I haven't heard that word for years - brilliant!

I don't know why they go through the charade of calling it an Agatha Christie story. It would have been much better if she had just changed the title and the names and presented it as her own work. I can only think that the dramatist saw The Wicker Man as a small child and has never got over it.

I thought it was an enjoyable bit of hokum with its "witches" and echoes of the Wicker Man. The characters were all quite distinctive, so it wasn't too confusing . It doesn't require you to think too deeply about it, which suited me fine.

Well I fell asleep not impressed with it.

Well what did you think I m not familiar with the story so it was new to me I watched it all without falling asleep
Anyway the jury’s out not sure if I enjoyed it or not trying to understand it

I don't know the book and think I will continue not knowing it, as I understand the TV drama has changed a lot of things. I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode this evening and it's probably best enjoyed as a stand-alone drama rather than an adaptation of the novel.

The more publicity stuff I read about the less like the book it sounds. Such a pity because I really like the book.

I don’t think I’ll bother. I hate it when they mangle or ‘sex up’ a perfectly good plot, and modernise dialogue so that it sounds all wrong for the era/type of characters.

Like a pp, I like the superlative Joan Hickson Miss Marple best. She was after all the actress Agatha Christie herself wanted for Miss M. Some of the ITV remakes were IMO not a tiny patch on the Hickson versions.
In particular I remember Sleeping Murder - wonderfully creepy in the JH version, and utterly ruined by ITV.

That's a fair point, Beswitched. I suppose they are out of copyright now, but that's no excuse, really.

The Pale Horse was the first Agatha Christie book I read, when I was about 10.
I've read and watched lots since.
I can't remember what happens in the Pale Horse so may watch this.

But surely it would be better to write new dramas than to mangle stories written by a hugely popular author. It's a cynical way of making money out of her name while not respecting her work.

I loved AC books as an older child, but have read them all (some more than once), and seen the David Suchet Poirot and various Marples over and over, too.

I am pleased to see more adventurous adaptations, so I don't know for sure whodunit in the first scene. I do remember what happens in this one, so if Phelps plays around with the plot, so much the better.

Like SueDonim, Rufus Sewell will be my reason for watching!
I don't know the story at all, but the fact that it's a Sarah Phelps rewrite does ring warning bells ...

Well, I shall be watching so I can gaze at the divine Rufus Sewell.

I’ve never read an Agatha Christie so I have no expectations.

IF Agatha Christie's books are old-fashioned, why bother with them at all? The author of the screenplay should just try and write some plots of her own.

I love Agatha Christie novels in their natural form but I suppose they could be described as old fashioned. I suppose the rewriting is an attempt to update the stories and make them more palatable to the modern viewer.

Beswitched we all dropped out of ABC murders after the first episode.It was a shame as I seem to remember it was broadcast at Christmas and the whole family were looking forward to watching it.

I do not know exactly what it is, but some writers/ directors can marmelise a book. yet keep its essence. We read the Christmas Carol every Christmas - and then watch the Muppet's Christmas Carol because, somehow, they keep the essence and feel for the book. It was the same with this year's version of Little Women, frankly it was a real dogs breakfast of an adaptation, but kept the quintessensce of the book, which means I loved it in a way I have never enjoyed any previous adaptations. I am told by my most reliable critics - my family- that the new David Copperfield is another such, so we are off to see it.

I'm not holding out much hope for this. Sarah Phelps made a complete dog's dinner of Ordeal by Innocence and also over complicated The ABC Murders, although at least that was watchable.

I really hate this new thing of sexing up and rewriting Agatha Christie stories. It's really just writers indulging themselves and using her name to get a guaranteed audience.

Sometimes reimagining can be very good but other times it's dire. One of my favourites is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. All the genteel manners and social comments you expect from Jane Austen but with Zombies....what more do you need?

I'll look forward to it. One of my favourite stories.

Blimey, I didn't think posting something to watch on telly would cause such a to do.