The ABC Murders (TV series)

Last updated

The ABC Murders
The ABC Murders title card.JPG
Genre
Based on The A.B.C. Murders
by Agatha Christie
Written by Sarah Phelps
Directed byAlex Gabassi
Starring
Composer Isobel Waller-Bridge
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producers
  • Basi Akpabio
  • James Prichard
  • Elizabeth Kilgarriff
  • Damien Timmer
  • Sarah Phelps
  • Helen Ziegler
ProducerFarah Abushwesha
CinematographyJoel Devlin
Editors
  • Simon Brasse
  • Rob Hall
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release26 December (2018-12-26) 
28 December 2018 (2018-12-28)

The ABC Murders is a 2018 BBC One mystery thriller television serial loosely based on Agatha Christie's 1936 novel of the same name. It was broadcast over three consecutive nights beginning on 26 December 2018. It was adapted by Sarah Phelps and directed by Alex Gabassi. It stars John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot, with Rupert Grint, Andrew Buchan, Tara Fitzgerald and Shirley Henderson in supporting roles. [1] [2]

Contents

The series was released on DVD through Universal Pictures UK on 11 March 2019. [3]

Cast

Main

Supporting

Production

Locations

Various cities, towns and villages in the historic county of Yorkshire in the north of England—including Grosmont, Leeds, Pickering, Ripon, Saltaire, Skelton-on-Ure and Wakefield—played key roles as settings for this adaptation. Newby Hall in North Yorkshire is the mansion at Churston. The De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex is also featured. [6]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Alex GabassiSarah Phelps26 December 2018 (2018-12-26) [7] 8.65 [8]
Poirot has been receiving letters signed A.B.C., taunting him and predicting murders. According to the letters, the first killing is slated to occur in Andover on 31 March. Poirot gives this information to the police, but Inspector Crome, who has replaced the retired Inspector Japp, dismisses the letters' contents as an April Fools Day prank. Poirot seeks out Japp, but he suddenly dies in his presence. When Alice Asher is found murdered in Andover, and she is quickly followed by Betty Barnard in Bexhill, Crome takes the letters more seriously. However, he refuses all offers of help from Poirot and confiscates his papers, believing that Poirot knows the killer. Unbeknownst to Poirot and the police, a down-on-his-luck travelling stocking salesman named Alexander Bonaparte Cust encountered both victims prior to their deaths. A new letter arrives, stating that the next location and victim will begin with the letter C, but Crome still refuses Poirot's help. He believes that Poirot lied about his credentials and therefore cannot be trusted.
2"Episode 2"Alex GabassiSarah Phelps27 December 2018 (2018-12-27) [5] 7.03 [8]
Poirot is given another letter from A.B.C. by a neighbour who received it in error. It states that the next murder will be in the town of Churston. He telephones the home of Sir Carmichael Clarke to warn him, only to learn he has already been murdered. Poirot confirms that A.B.C. is killing in locations where Poirot has previously been, when he discovers a newspaper clipping describing how he helped to deliver a baby on a train stopped in Andover. Another letter indicates that Doncaster is the next location; A.B.C. signs "Giddy-Up." Crome and Poirot travel there. Crome believes that the next murder will take place at the race track. In fact, the intended victim is a ventriloquist named Dexter Dooley. However, A.B.C. mistakenly kills the wrong man.
3"Episode 3"Alex GabassiSarah Phelps28 December 2018 (2018-12-28) [9] 6.93 [8]
Alexander Bonaparte Cust awakens in the men's toilet in the train station at Embsay. He finds the body of another victim, Ernie Edwards, and that he is holding the murder weapon. Cust flees the crime scene, throwing the knife away, along with his hat and coat. Poirot finds a pack of stockings in the victim's case and, after visiting the sales company, identifies the murderer as Cust, who is soon arrested. After talking with Cust, who has a brain tumour and suffers from constant headaches, seizures and blackouts, Poirot doubts his guilt. Sir Carmichael's brother, Franklin, thanks Poirot for apprehending the murderer and has a brandy with him. Crome subsequently arrests Franklin because his fingerprint, taken from the brandy glass, matches that on the typewriter in Cust's room. Poirot realises that Franklin set Cust up with the stocking salesman job and that the first two murders were covers for the murder of Sir Carmichael. Franklin would inherit his brother's money, after Lady Hermione died of cancer. Franklin is hanged for the murders and, in a flashback to Belgium during the war, it is established that Poirot was actually a priest, whose congregation was murdered in his church as part of the Rape of Belgium.

Reception

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the series an approval rating of 70% based on 30 reviews, The website's critical consensus reads, "The ABC Murders liberally adapts the famed Agatha Christie mystery while retaining its thrilling spirit, thanks in part to the sly performance of John Malkovich, who inhabits Hercule Poirot with enough wizened panache to win over those who were skeptical of his casting. " [10] On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [11]

The Guardian gave the first episode four stars and praised Malkovich's performance. [12] The Times gave it four stars and found it enjoyable, also praising Malkovich. [13] Reviewing the finale, Metro praised Poirot's new backstory and declared it "mystery television at its finest". [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agatha Christie</span> English mystery and detective writer (1890–1976)

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime"—a moniker which is now trademarked by her estate—or the "Queen of Mystery". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hercule Poirot</span> Fictional detective character created by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot is a fictional Belgian detective created by British writer Agatha Christie. Poirot is one of Christie's most famous and long-running characters, appearing in 33 novels, two plays, and 51 short stories published between 1920 and 1975.

<i>Agatha Christies Poirot</i> British television detective series (1989–2013)

Agatha Christie's Poirot, or simply Poirot, is a British mystery drama television programme that aired on ITV from 8 January 1989 to 13 November 2013. The ITV show is based on many of Agatha Christie’s famous crime fiction series, which revolves around the fictional private investigator, Hercule Poirot. David Suchet starred as the fictional detective. Initially produced by LWT, the series was later produced by ITV Studios. The series also aired on VisionTV in Canada and on PBS and A&E in the US.

<i>Cards on the Table</i> 1936 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

Cards on the Table is a detective fiction novel by the English author Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 2 November 1936 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company the following year. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) and the US edition at $2.00.

<i>The Mysterious Affair at Styles</i> 1920 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first detective novel by British writer Agatha Christie, introducing her fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was written in the middle of the First World War, in 1916, and first published by John Lane in the United States in October 1920 and in the United Kingdom by The Bodley Head on 21 January 1921.

<i>The Murder of Roger Ackroyd</i> 1926 detective novel by Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a detective novel by the British writer Agatha Christie, her third to feature Hercule Poirot as the lead detective. The novel was published in the UK in June 1926 by William Collins, Sons, having previously been serialised as Who Killed Ackroyd? between July and September 1925 in the London Evening News. An American edition by Dodd, Mead and Company followed in 1926.

<i>The A.B.C. Murders</i> 1936 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

The A.B.C. Murders is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, featuring her characters Hercule Poirot, Arthur Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp, as they contend with a series of killings by a mysterious murderer known only as "A.B.C.". The book was first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 6 January 1936, sold for seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) while a US edition, published by Dodd, Mead and Company on 14 February of the same year, was priced $2.00.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inspector Japp</span> Fictional character

Inspector James Japp is a fictional character who appears in several of Agatha Christie's novels featuring Hercule Poirot.

<i>The Murder on the Links</i> 1923 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

The Murder on the Links is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead & Co in March 1923, and in the UK by The Bodley Head in May of the same year. It is the second novel featuring Hercule Poirot and Arthur Hastings. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6), and the US edition at $1.75.

<i>Halloween Party</i> 1969 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

Hallowe'en Party is a work of detective fiction by English writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club in November 1969 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. This book was dedicated to writer P. G. Wodehouse. It has been adapted for television, radio, and most recently for the film A Haunting in Venice (2023).

Ariadne Oliver is a fictional character in the novels of Agatha Christie. She is a crime fiction novelist, the creator of the fictional Finnish detective Sven Hjerson, and a friend of Hercule Poirot.

<i>Peril at End House</i> 1932 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

Peril at End House is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the US by the Dodd, Mead and Company in February 1932 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in March of the same year. The US edition retailed at $2.00 and the UK edition at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6).

<i>Five Little Pigs</i> 1942 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

Five Little Pigs is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in May 1942 under the title Murder in Retrospect and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in January 1943. The UK first edition carries a copyright date of 1942 and retailed at eight shillings while the US edition was priced at $2.00.

<i>Three Act Tragedy</i> 1934 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

Three Act Tragedy is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company in 1934 under the title Murder in Three Acts and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in January 1935 under Christie's original title. The US edition retailed at $2.00 and the UK edition at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6).

<i>Murder in Mesopotamia</i> 1936 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

Murder in Mesopotamia is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 6 July 1936 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. The UK edition retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6) and the US edition at $2.00. The cover was designed by Robin McCartney.

<i>Hercule Poirots Christmas</i> 1938 Poirot novel by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot's Christmas is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 19 December 1938. It retailed at seven shillings and sixpence (7/6).

Sarah Phelps is a British television screenwriter, radio writer, playwright and television producer. She is best known for her work on EastEnders, a number of BBC serial adaptations including Agatha Christie's The Witness For the Prosecution, And Then There Were None, Ordeal by Innocence, The ABC Murders and The Pale Horse; Charles Dickens's Great Expectations and Oliver Twist; and J. K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, and work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

<i>The Alphabet Murders</i> 1965 British film

The Alphabet Murders is a 1965 British detective film directed by Frank Tashlin and starring Tony Randall as Hercule Poirot. It is based on the 1936 novel The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie.

Lists of adaptations of the works of Agatha Christie:

Hercule Poirot is a series of full cast BBC Radio drama adaptations of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot novels and short stories adapted by Michael Bakewell, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 1985 and 2007. With the exception of the first two adaptations, the series stars John Moffatt as Poirot.

References

  1. "All-star cast announced for new BBC One Agatha Christie thriller The ABC Murders". BBC Media Centre. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "First-look image of John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot in BBC One's The ABC Murders". BBC Media Centre. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  3. "Agatha Christie: ABC Murders [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "The ABC Murders Begins on BBC One on Boxing Day at 9pm". BBC Media Centre. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  5. 1 2 "The ABC Murders episode 2". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  6. "The ABC Murders: An A to Z". AgathaChristie.com. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  7. "The ABC Murders episode 1". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 "Four-screen dashboard". BARB . Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  9. "The ABC Murders episode 3". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  10. The ABC Murders
  11. The ABC Murders
  12. Mangan, Lucy (26 December 2018). "The ABC Murders review – John Malkovich's suffering Poirot is magnificent". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  13. Midgley, Carol (27 December 2018). "TV review: The ABC Murders; The Midnight Gang". The Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  14. Pearce, Tilly (28 December 2018). "The ABC Murders finale: Poirot's heartbreaking backstory revealed as killer is finally unmasked". Metro. Retrieved 5 January 2019.