Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Mystery

Rating:
Summary: A pity
Review: An interesting story, but very poorly acted. A happy mystery, very light and colorful, but feels like a bad play.

Rating:
Summary: Another great Christie DVD Whodunit
Review: This 133-minute London Weekend Television production, based on Agatha Christie's novel, is in the best classical mystery tradition, starring a cast of lesser known but fine British actors. Principal performances are Cheryl Campbell as the enthusiastic protagonist Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent; James Warwick as Jimmy Thesiger, the "man about town"; Christopher Scoular as Bill Eversleigh; and Harry Andrews as Superintendent Battle (whose personality dominates every scene he's in). Other principals include Terence Alexander as George "Cotter" Lomax with his comically sincere but whory pursuits of Bundle's affections; Leslie Sands as the strangely suspect Sir Oswald Coote; James Griffiths as Rupert "Ponger" Bateman, Oswald's administrative assistant; Joyce Redman as fading flower Lady Coote; Rula Lenska as the mysterious Countess Radzsky; John Vine as an earnest Ronny Devereux; and Lucy Gutteridge as Loraine Wade. John Gielgud, in a minor supporting role, makes an atmospheric contribution as Lady Eileen's father. Lesser suspects abound.

Acorn Media states that due to age deterioration of the original 1981 TV materials, image and audio flaws were beyond their ability to correct. Indeed, pronounced image grain exists, especially in low-light and frequent night-time scenes; full-light scenes are somewhat better. Occasional color fidelity flaws and slight audio-volume fall-out also occur. While this reviewer considered these flaws a nuisance, their endurance is the price of having this otherwise great production available.

Christie afficianodos may notice plot devices she used elsewhere. Adapted by Pat Sandys, the script has only trivial variations from the original novel. The large cast makes the opening scenes a little confusing as to the characters' relative importance, the several locations involved, and the convoluted plot elements. But it's all there from the book. Those encountering this mystery for the first time must either pay very close attention, especially initially before things sort out or, as this reviewer did, enjoy a repeat performance of this imminently re-watchable production. Attractively, in the denouement critical scenes are re-played in flashback; events being shown as they "really happened", including critical details necessarily omitted previously.

The extravagant multitude of ticking and chiming clocks (even a giant clock tower); the lush room set interiors and period dress; the building exteriors, ivy, grounds and countryside; and the perfect-condition period cars generate a classic and satisfying atmosphere. For American audiences: diction is clear, accents presenting no problem. Great fun and highly recommended, essential for classic mystery lovers and collectors. Also included are cast filmographies and a Christie biography. Acorn Media strikes again in their commitment to great British material on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Another great Christie DVD Whodunit
Review: This 133-minute London Weekend Television production, based on Agatha Christie's novel, is in the best classical mystery tradition, starring a cast of lesser known but fine British actors. Principal performances are Cheryl Campbell as the enthusiastic protagonist Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent; James Warwick as Jimmy Thesiger, the "man about town"; Christopher Scoular as Bill Eversleigh; and Harry Andrews as Superintendent Battle (whose personality dominates every scene he's in). Other principals include Terence Alexander as George "Cotter" Lomax with his comically sincere but whory pursuits of Bundle's affections; Leslie Sands as the strangely suspect Sir Oswald Coote; James Griffiths as Rupert "Ponger" Bateman, Oswald's administrative assistant; Joyce Redman as fading flower Lady Coote; Rula Lenska as the mysterious Countess Radzsky; John Vine as an earnest Ronny Devereux; and Lucy Gutteridge as Loraine Wade. John Gielgud, in a minor supporting role, makes an atmospheric contribution as Lady Eileen's father. Lesser suspects abound.

Acorn Media states that due to age deterioration of the original 1981 TV materials, image and audio flaws were beyond their ability to correct. Indeed, pronounced image grain exists, especially in low-light and frequent night-time scenes; full-light scenes are somewhat better. Occasional color fidelity flaws and slight audio-volume fall-out also occur. While this reviewer considered these flaws a nuisance, their endurance is the price of having this otherwise great production available.

Christie afficianodos may notice plot devices she used elsewhere. Adapted by Pat Sandys, the script has only trivial variations from the original novel. The large cast makes the opening scenes a little confusing as to the characters' relative importance, the several locations involved, and the convoluted plot elements. But it's all there from the book. Those encountering this mystery for the first time must either pay very close attention, especially initially before things sort out or, as this reviewer did, enjoy a repeat performance of this imminently re-watchable production. Attractively, in the denouement critical scenes are re-played in flashback; events being shown as they "really happened", including critical details necessarily omitted previously.

The extravagant multitude of ticking and chiming clocks (even a giant clock tower); the lush room set interiors and period dress; the building exteriors, ivy, grounds and countryside; and the perfect-condition period cars generate a classic and satisfying atmosphere. For American audiences: diction is clear, accents presenting no problem. Great fun and highly recommended, essential for classic mystery lovers and collectors. Also included are cast filmographies and a Christie biography. Acorn Media strikes again in their commitment to great British material on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: classical period mystery
Review: This is a mystery set in the 1930s and involves upper class people. The plot is very complex an convoluted with plenty of red herrings. The style of directing and the music remind me of the Petherbridge dramatizations of Lord Peter Wimsey. In the first half of the two hours the players ham it up and over play their parts. It had the aura of Monty Python. I could imagine the players snickering under their breath as they made their characters look like silly asses. In the second half they are more dead serious as the dead bodies become more thickly strewn about. In general, I prefer this one to the Periot and Miss Marple dramatizations.