It won’t be Murder on the Orient Express, but it will be David Suchet on the Orient Express.
Tonight, on your local PBS station (unless they are doing a special funding drive) David Suchet will be taking us on a tour of the Orient Express. And, of course, all of you know that David Suchet is the man behind the man with the little gray cells: the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.
So, check out your local PBS station so that you are sure to see this one-hour special Masterpiece presentation. And if you miss it tonight, it just might be re-shown in your area. Our PBS station will be re-airing it on Friday, July 9 at 12:30 AM and on Tuesday, July 13 at 2:30 and 3:30 AM.
(I think I saw a show that seemed quite similar to this a few years ago, and truly enjoyed it. I hope that this one is as good!)
Laura says
Danna: When is PBS not doing a special funding drive? The next three new Poirot shows will be included in the Vol. 5 DVD to be released on July 27. The Orient Express special will, also, be included as a special extra.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Laura, for the heads up about the new DVD. I cannot wait to see David Suchet again! (Or should I say Hercule Poirot? Suchet makes all other Poirots seem… not quite Poirot!)
PS>>> I don’t mind that PBS does their special drives… EXCEPT when they interfere with the Masterpiece schedule. I absolutely hate it when the whole country is watching a NEW Masterpiece episode, while our local PBS shows a gavel-auction. I always wonder why our local PBS station would preempt shows that regular viewers might be irritated to have preempted. It doesn’t seem like it would help their funding drive by irritating their regular viewers. (I know, I know… I sound very selfish!!!)
Larraine says
I just checked our local PBS station. Sunday they will be showing “Murder On The Orient Express” with David Suchet as Poirot. I remember loving the movie with Albert Finney, thinking he made a really good Poirot. Suchet is fantastic. This version should be even better. Even when you know the ending, it’s still wonderful!
Tori Lennox says
I’ve wanted to ride the Orient Express ever since seeing the movie version of Murder on the Orient Express with Albert Finney. I’ll be recording tonight’s special with David Suchet. 🙂
Catherine says
PBS never pre-empts its “questionable” programming for its drives, only the decent ones.
The local PBS stations in the Marion County, Florida, area are not carrying it tonight. 🙁
I will have to wait for the weekend.
Clarissa at MMT says
I watched it and I really enjoyed it. It was funny hearing Suchet with his usual speaking voice, and not his Poirot accent. He seemed such a genuine person, not “put on” or “acting” for the camera. At times he was genuinely humbled, and it was a real pleasure to see that in a celebrity.
I let my kids watch it with me, they love trains and my older one likes Poirot, and have read the book. There were three passing references to things which made me cringe just a bit, as a Mom (all to do with sex in some way). They both liked it, though. And now they both want to stay up late and watch “Murder on the Orient Express” on Sunday!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Larraine, I just watched the 1974 Murder on the Orient Express movie with Albert Finney… again! I wanted to see it before this Sunday’s installment with David Suchet. I mean, since I already knew the plot, it wasn’t going to ruin the David Suchet version on Sunday.
I SOOOO enjoyed the Albert Finney version. But, I have to admit that after seeing David Suchet play the role, I wasn’t totally enchanted with Finney’s version of the little Belgian detective… His French accent just didn’t “do it” for me… although his acting was great!
BUT this version was a beautiful feast for the eyes… the train was absolutely opulent>>> the deep brown hues of wood paneling, the chandeliers, mother of pearl inlays >>> WOW!
And, watching the movie was like revisiting all of the actors who I had enjoyed many years ago: Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Wendy Hiller, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Jacqueline Bisset, Michael York… the list absolutely goes on and on…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tori, I cannot wait to watch the Murder on the Orient Express special. Since we NEVER watch television live, I have had to wait to watch it with my husband and son. Good grief! It seems like I am the only one who absolutely cannot wait to watch the show… Maybe I can peg them down today!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Catherine, I know exactly what you are saying about the PBS stations. Years ago, when my children watched Sesame Street, I wondered why all of the proceeds didn’t go directly to help support PBS. (Actually, maybe 100% of the earnings did, I don’t know…)
With all of the money that Dora, Barney, Tickle-Me-Elmo, ETC make, I’m surprised that PBS can’t support itself.
Unfortunately, stations like A & E stopped carrying the Masterpiece shows, so PBS is our only viable solution.
I hope they re-schedule the show in Marion County, Catherine.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Clarissa, I “accidentally” started watching the show, and was a little taken aback to hear David Suchet introduce himself. Unfortunately, my husband walked in the room and asked why I was watching the show without him… so I didn’t get any farther than a minute or two.
No, we are NOT joined at the hip! He just doesn’t like it when I watch a show alone and then watch it (again) with him. Apparently (in his opinion only!!!) I interrupt the show with too many comments if I have watched it beforehand.
Getting back to your comment >>> I remember when our children got to the stage when they could watch shows with us… like Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. What a milestone! Old shows like Andy Griffith paved our way to Star Trek: Next Generation, Poirot,etc.
Randy says
Can anyone tell me the name of a Hercule Poirot movie I saw on PBS several years ago ? I’m guessing it was show between 2002 and 2005. In the first several minutes of this movie it showed Poirot in the audience at a nightclub with a female comic I think in Paris. And this comic did an impression of Poirot. The comic was murdered later on in the movie. I thought this was one of the best Poirot movies I had seen.
Molly says
I think the movie Randy is referring to is “Lord Edgeware Dies”.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Molly, you are correct… I forgot about Randy’s question, and we just watched that Poirot episode (Lord Edgeware Dies) three weeks ago…
Eveline says
I am so glad that they did the David Suchet Tour of the Orient Express. I absolutely loved it! I’ve been fascinated by that train ever since I saw the Albert Finney version. I wondered about its history and what the cabins looked like. PBS really did a great job putting this together.
It was such a delight to see David Suchet not as an actor, but just the way he is. He does seem like a genuine person and does not appear to have any airs at all.
I, too, enjoyed Albert Finney, but I agree that David Suchet is really the only one – in my opinion – who is the real Monsieur Poirot.
Eveline says
Does anybody know what happened to Monsieur Poirot’s assistant, Captain Hastings? He has not been in any of the recent specials, and I wonder if the actor is still alive. His name is at the tip of my tongue, but I can’t remember it right now because I have always called him Captain Hastings.
It would be great if he could join the great Belgian detective again, at least once, the next time they do another special. I do miss him – and, Miss Lemon.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hugh Fraser is the name of the actor who played Captain Hastings. I am always delighted when I see him in shows – as Hastings or someone else. I also enjoy it when he is the narrator of the Poirot mysteries…
It would be great if both Hastings and Miss Lemon could be convinced to join Poirot in one of the new productions!
Eveline says
Danna, thank you for reminding me of the name of the actor. Indeed, like you I am happy to see him in other shows. I really hope that they will do a special with Captain Hastings and Monsieur Poirot. And, it would be a treat to actually see Miss Lemon with them again. I do miss them both.
I wonder how to go about actually doing this. Do we suggest it to David Suchet, the writer or the director? And how do we even get in touch with these people?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sorry, Eveline, but I have no idea how to pursue that sort of endeavor. I think that we’re lucky just to get new episodes… but it would be great to see Capt. Hastings, Inspector Japp, and Miss Lemon included.
The producers of some of these Agatha Christie mysteries have taken so many liberties (like attributing a book to Miss Marple when Christie didn’t!) that it seems a shame that they can’t make this sort of very welcome change…