New Agatha Christie!

Siope you are so right. When I was young the word coloured was used by my parents, at that time I think it was considered polite!!

I've just realised where I've seen the lead actor, David Jonsson, "Industry" a bit on the rude side, but I enjoyed it. I knew from the trailers he seemed vaguely familiar. Anyway still haven't watched Murder is Easy so nothing to contribute really other than that bit of information.

It's interesting to see how attitudes and values have changed over the years. That's another reason why I enjoy reading old books.

For whom was this production created? For history buffs? Or for today's multicultural audience?

luluaugust

Siope you are so right. When I was young the word coloured was used by my parents, at that time I think it was considered polite!!

Siope yes, I agree, but as trends and expressions change, it must be difficult for some people to keep up. When they hear the term "person of colour" used by well-known people like Diane Abbott it may be confusing that using the term "person of colour" is correct but "coloured person" is not.

As far as drama goes, I like a period piece to be true to the era it's set in as that makes it more interesting to me. Chacun à son goût.

The problem with this adaptation of a Christie story, is that it was a clunky adaptation, with a clunky script, badly produced and badly acted.
Interesting point, M0nica as the actors are well-known and experienced - perhaps they were all sending it up! 🤔
More farce than murder mystery which is a pity.

ITV did Poirot very well indeed. No big deal or insertion of current hot topics. Good quality viewing. Foyles War was excellent too.

Probably not helped by having the 2 Scottish actors from Shetland trying to talk in plummy English accents and making a hash of it.

glammagran

Probably not helped by having the 2 Scottish actors from Shetland trying to talk in plummy English accents and making a hash of it.

That's when I thought it was a send-up 😁

Although I did enjoy seeing them

It definitely had a Pantomime feel - oh yes it did

Callistemon In the same post I commented that my daughter, a trained actor who worked in the media for many years blamed the bad acting on bad direction.

However even good actors can have bad productions when no one seems to be able to do a good job, in the samw way that superb football teams have games when all of them are having an off day together.

I can see no reason why a black actor can't play Miss Marple or almost any other character for that matter. I particularly referred to the black actor because he was the principal character in the story and he felt too young to me. At least his acting wasn't embarrassingly awful, unlike quite a few of the other characters. There has been talk of a black actor for James Bond - which is certainly not in keeping with the book - but there is no reason why the part can't be played by a black actor.

I thought virtually all the acting in Murder is Easy was dreadful (apart from Penelope Wilton) and really corny. but I suppose the whole plot was totally ridiculous anyway. If they had hammed it up just a little bit more it might have been a mildly amusing parody.

glammagran

Probably not helped by having the 2 Scottish actors from Shetland trying to talk in plummy English accents and making a hash of it.

That was the best bit. Persuaded me not to take the whole thing too seriously.

GrannyRose15

glammagran

Probably not helped by having the 2 Scottish actors from Shetland trying to talk in plummy English accents and making a hash of it.

That was the best bit. Persuaded me not to take the whole thing too seriously.

I'd like to find a screen shot of them in their cricket sweaters!

Found an image. Love it! 😃

Brilliant!

I can see no reason why a black actor can’t play Miss Marple

Well, I can. It would just come across as totally unrealistic.

I thought Dougie Henshall looked suddenly older and a bit porky, very different from when he was in Shetland.

I liked to see all the lovely clothes of the 1950s.

The young black actor looked about 18 but I’m sure I must be wrong. I didn’t realise he was supposed to be a replacement for Miss Marple. He looked so smart, how did he get all those pressed suits in his suitcase 😀

I can see no reason why a black actor can't play Miss Marple

How many elderly black women lived in sleepy English villages circa 1935?
It’s ridiculous.
It’s as ridiculous as a white man playing Nelson Mandela.

NanKate, he wasn’t a replacement for Miss Marple. He was a replacement for a white man, recently returned from what Agatha often called the colonies.

Miss Marple was not in the ‘Murder Is Easy’ book.

She was shoe horned in in one of the tv adaptations, the one with Benedict Cumberbatch I think.

Fancy! 1954 and nobody smoked!

Ilovecheese

Fancy! 1954 and nobody smoked!

😁

Calendargirl

Miss Marple was not in the ‘Murder Is Easy’ book.

She was shoe horned in in one of the tv adaptations, the one with Benedict Cumberbatch I think.

Nobody seems to object to a whole character being erroneously inserted into an adaptation, but a change of skin colour and all hell breaks loose

I thought they were playing tennis? Loved seeing 'Thomas' from Ghosts in another role. Think he was also in a Death in Paradise.

I object to both Doodledog. Have now lost faith in BBCs taste and choice of scriptwriters.