"The Mysterious Affair at Styles" was the first novel written by Agatha Christie. As such, it was her first mystery of 80 that she would write in her lifetime. And, it introduces her most famous and appreciated detective, Hercule Poirot. Along, with Poirot, it introduces Inspector (later, chief inspector) Japp of Scotland Yard, and Hastings (first lieutenant, and later, captain) who would become a sleuthing companion of Poirot in many of his adventures.
Christie was just 26 years old when she penned her first story in 1916. It was serialized in The Times of London, and first published in book form in 1920 in America and 1921 in England. This movie is based on that novel. The films of this television series were not produced in the sequence that the stories appeared. But in this series, which began in the late 1980s, David Suchet would set the standard for Poirot's character. Several actors had played Poirot in movies that were made intermittently over the previous five decades plus. Now, Christie's public and fans would finally have a character who was every bit Poirot as created by the author.
The setting for this film is England in 1920, in the midst of the First World War. Poirot has fled his native Belgium that, he rues, has been overrun by the "Boche." But it is the beginning of an illustrious career in England in which Poirot will delight readers and audiences of all ages for ages, as the best super sleuth of all time.
The various British producers and writers who worked on this series over three decades did superb work. And the cast, from the exceptional regular leads and support, to the many different story characters (almost all are "suspects") make the entire series outstanding entertainment. This introduction of Poirot, Hastings and Japp has all the beguiling intrigue that audiences have come to expect and look forward to from Christie and Poirot.
Here are some favorite lines from this film. For more dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb web page of the movie.
Hercule Poirot, "You have a good grip on this affair, Hastings." Lieutenant Hastings, "Grasp." Poirot, "Yes?"
Hercule Poirot, "We must be so intelligent that he does not suspect us of being intelligent at all." Lieutenant Hastings, "Absolutely..." Poirot, "And there you will be invaluable, mon ami."
Madam Evie Howard, "May I ask what's going on?" Inspector Japp, "You may ask, madam. If you get any reply, you might let me know."
Lieutenant Hastings, "I shall never understand women." Hercule Poirot, "... Perhaps one day, when this terrible war is ended, we shall work again together, huh? And Poirot will explain all to you."
Christie was just 26 years old when she penned her first story in 1916. It was serialized in The Times of London, and first published in book form in 1920 in America and 1921 in England. This movie is based on that novel. The films of this television series were not produced in the sequence that the stories appeared. But in this series, which began in the late 1980s, David Suchet would set the standard for Poirot's character. Several actors had played Poirot in movies that were made intermittently over the previous five decades plus. Now, Christie's public and fans would finally have a character who was every bit Poirot as created by the author.
The setting for this film is England in 1920, in the midst of the First World War. Poirot has fled his native Belgium that, he rues, has been overrun by the "Boche." But it is the beginning of an illustrious career in England in which Poirot will delight readers and audiences of all ages for ages, as the best super sleuth of all time.
The various British producers and writers who worked on this series over three decades did superb work. And the cast, from the exceptional regular leads and support, to the many different story characters (almost all are "suspects") make the entire series outstanding entertainment. This introduction of Poirot, Hastings and Japp has all the beguiling intrigue that audiences have come to expect and look forward to from Christie and Poirot.
Here are some favorite lines from this film. For more dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb web page of the movie.
Hercule Poirot, "You have a good grip on this affair, Hastings." Lieutenant Hastings, "Grasp." Poirot, "Yes?"
Hercule Poirot, "We must be so intelligent that he does not suspect us of being intelligent at all." Lieutenant Hastings, "Absolutely..." Poirot, "And there you will be invaluable, mon ami."
Madam Evie Howard, "May I ask what's going on?" Inspector Japp, "You may ask, madam. If you get any reply, you might let me know."
Lieutenant Hastings, "I shall never understand women." Hercule Poirot, "... Perhaps one day, when this terrible war is ended, we shall work again together, huh? And Poirot will explain all to you."
