Author G.M. Malliet blogs about "Agatha's Haunts"

[G_M_Malliet]

Re: >>woman in the dressing gown walking away<<

You're right, I do believe that was missing. Was it a dragon on the back of the gown?

There was something else missing, too, and now it's going to bug me until I remember!

[G_M_Malliet]

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maxcat wrote:

Thank you, G.M., for a blog including pictures. It's a great idea to see where Agatha went and some of the buildings she used in her mysteries.

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Completely my pleasure. It was one of the best holidays ever and this allowed me to relive it.

[G_M_Malliet]

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dulcinea3 wrote:

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

G.M. - what are your personal favorites of Agatha Christie's books? What do you think of the televised/filmed versions of her books?

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I have so many favorites of hers. Nearly everything she wrote. Murder on the Orient Express is some kind of masterpiece. I loved the version with Lauren Bacall playing the mother. That was such a lush production. I also liked the newest production of this book, on tv, but it seemed oddly truncated to me, like they'd left something out. Would be interested to know if anyone else who saw these two versions feels the same and prefers one over the other.

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Hi, G.M.!  Thanks for the blog, and the wonderful photos of important Christie-related sites!

I liked them both.  I think I'd have to see them one after the other to really make a decision.  The older movie has the lavish, star-studded cast (I think that Ingrid Bergman even won an Oscar for her role), but the newer one has David Suchet.  I've never been crazy about Albert Finney, although physically he made a good Poirot, much better then most other than Suchet.

As for what was left out, to me there was one pivotal scene that they dropped in the newer version - when Poirot looks out of his compartment and sees the woman in the dressing gown walking away from him down the corridor; I think it had a butterfly on the back.  This was an essential scene in the first movie (and the novel, I believe, although I haven't read it in a long time), and that scene is one of the first images I get when I think of that film.  I was surprised that they didn't consider it important enough to include it in the newer one.  If you have a vague idea that something was missing, maybe it was that scene!

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p.s. dulcinea3: Suchet IS Poirot! What a superb actor.

[becke_davis]

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

Re: >>woman in the dressing gown walking away<<

You're right, I do believe that was missing. Was it a dragon on the back of the gown?

There was something else missing, too, and now it's going to bug me until I remember!

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Yes, the Chinese-style robe with the dragon on it. (Agatha has used that trick before - bright, distinctive clothing as a red herring.)

Was the sponge bag in the new episode? Can't remember.

[becke_davis]

G.M. - When is your next book due to come out? Can you tell us something about it?

[G_M_Malliet]

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becke_davis wrote:

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

Re: >>woman in the dressing gown walking away<<

You're right, I do believe that was missing. Was it a dragon on the back of the gown?

There was something else missing, too, and now it's going to bug me until I remember!

---

Yes, the Chinese-style robe with the dragon on it. (Agatha has used that trick before - bright, distinctive clothing as a red herring.)

Was the sponge bag in the new episode? Can't remember.

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I think maybe what was missing was the scene where the guy cried out in the night. I don't want to say more in case I spoil it for someone (is it possible there are people in the world who haven't read this book?! yes?)

But if that was the missing scene, I can't imagine why they would leave it out. It's crucial.

[G_M_Malliet]

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becke_davis wrote:

G.M. - When is your next book due to come out? Can you tell us something about it?

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You are very sweet to ask, Becke, but it won't be out until almost a year from now. Can you believe it? It takes a l-o-n-g time for a book to work its way thru a publishing house.

I am calling this book, the first in a series, The Michaelmas Murder. Publishers have been known to change titles for whatever reason, but I think this one will stick. I have named my sleuth Max Tudor. He is a former MI5 agent who thinks he has escaped the violence of his past by becoming a vicar, posted to a small, idyllic little village near the Southwest Coast of England. But of course, life is never that simple, is it? One of his parishioners is killed and he is seconded by the local police to help them catch the murderer.

[becke_davis]

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

G.M. - When is your next book due to come out? Can you tell us something about it?

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You are very sweet to ask, Becke, but it won't be out until almost a year from now. Can you believe it? It takes a l-o-n-g time for a book to work its way thru a publishing house.

I am calling this book, the first in a series, The Michaelmas Murder. Publishers have been known to change titles for whatever reason, but I think this one will stick. I have named my sleuth Max Tudor. He is a former MI5 agent who thinks he has escaped the violence of his past by becoming a vicar, posted to a small, idyllic little village near the Southwest Coast of England. But of course, life is never that simple, is it? One of his parishioners is killed and he is seconded by the local police to help them catch the murderer.

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I love the title - and this is DEFINITELY a book I want to read! Michaelmas always makes me think of Miss Marple. She does like her Michaelmas daisies! (We call them asters ...)

[dulcinea3]

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

Re: >>woman in the dressing gown walking away<<

You're right, I do believe that was missing. Was it a dragon on the back of the gown?

There was something else missing, too, and now it's going to bug me until I remember!

---

Yes, the Chinese-style robe with the dragon on it. (Agatha has used that trick before - bright, distinctive clothing as a red herring.)

Was the sponge bag in the new episode? Can't remember.

---

I think maybe what was missing was the scene where the guy cried out in the night. I don't want to say more in case I spoil it for someone (is it possible there are people in the world who haven't read this book?! yes?)

But if that was the missing scene, I can't imagine why they would leave it out. It's crucial.

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Oops, sorry - of course it was a dragon, not a butterfly!!!

As far as I remember, there was a sponge bag (Barbara Hershey's) and the guy in the compartment next to Poirot did cry out (I think) - the conductor definitely came and knocked and asked if he was ok.

You know, I read about a lot of 'sponge bags' in Christie's stories before I figured out what the heck it was!

[G_M_Malliet]

"Sponge bag." "Order to view." The British have such a way with words, don't they?

I think it wasn't until I saw the movie Agatha starring Vanessa Redgrave that I figured out what a sponge bag was. Agatha/Vanessa refers to it and hauls it about the hotel with her a bit. Probably so all the Americans in the audience wouldn't be going, "Huh?"

[G_M_Malliet]

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I love the title - and this is DEFINITELY a book I want to read! Michaelmas always makes me think of Miss Marple. She does like her Michaelmas daisies! (We call them asters ...)

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Ah, so pretty. Thanks.

[TiggerBear]

Excellent Vacation Ms. Malliet, thank you for sharing it with us!

[TiggerBear]

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

"Sponge bag." "Order to view." The British have such a way with words, don't they?

I think it wasn't until I saw the movie Agatha starring Vanessa Redgrave that I figured out what a sponge bag was. Agatha/Vanessa refers to it and hauls it about the hotel with her a bit. Probably so all the Americans in the audience wouldn't be going, "Huh?"

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Ok now I'll have to see that movie, cause that's exactly what I'm doing.

[becke_davis]

Tigger - I think you'd really enjoy it, in spite of - or because of - the 'British-isms.

[becke_davis]

G.M. - Thanks so much for your great blog and for sharing you holiday photographs with us! I'm so glad you were able to visit with us today, too. I hope you'll come back when your new book comes out - but please don't wait that long!

[TiggerBear]

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becke_davis wrote:

Tigger - I think you'd really enjoy it, in spite of - or because of - the 'British-isms.

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Yeah I get most of them but....

[G_M_Malliet]

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becke_davis wrote:

G.M. - Thanks so much for your great blog and for sharing you holiday photographs with us! I'm so glad you were able to visit with us today, too. I hope you'll come back when your new book comes out - but please don't wait that long!

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Thank you, I would love to come back! I wonder if the cover for my new book might have some Michaelmas daisies as part of the theme. I'll mention it to my editor. Good idea, Becke!

[G_M_Malliet]

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TiggerBear wrote:

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

"Sponge bag." "Order to view." The British have such a way with words, don't they?

I think it wasn't until I saw the movie Agatha starring Vanessa Redgrave that I figured out what a sponge bag was. Agatha/Vanessa refers to it and hauls it about the hotel with her a bit. Probably so all the Americans in the audience wouldn't be going, "Huh?"

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Ok now I'll have to see that movie, cause that's exactly what I'm doing.

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  TiggerBear: By all means watch the movie, it's excellent. I feel I should break the code regarding sponge bag now. It's simply a waterproof bag you travel with to carry your toothbrush and things. We don't really have a "feminine" word for it in America, come to think of it. A man would call his a shaving kit.

[becke_davis]

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G_M_Malliet wrote:

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becke_davis wrote:

G.M. - Thanks so much for your great blog and for sharing you holiday photographs with us! I'm so glad you were able to visit with us today, too. I hope you'll come back when your new book comes out - but please don't wait that long!

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Thank you, I would love to come back! I wonder if the cover for my new book might have some Michaelmas daisies as part of the theme. I'll mention it to my editor. Good idea, Becke!

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You always have cool covers, G.M., but that would be GORGEOUS!