Author: Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot is hired by a woman whose wealthy uncle has died. She and her uncle had a difference of opinion about the education of women. When he passed away, he left a will that gave her a year to find another document that would leave her his money. If she couldn't find the document within that time, all his money and property would go to various charities. Can Poirot's wits and little grey cells find the hidden will?
A very interesting and creative story! It is definitely more than a bit dated though. The old uncle thinks that women should not be educated, but learn homemaker skills and dairy work....that women are only useful around the house. He is basically estranged from his niece because she wants to go to college. And she does! Despite the fact that the uncle threatens to disown her....and then plays a ridiculous game of find-the-will to prove that her education is worthless and that he can outwit her from the grave. What an ass!
The television show Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted this story into an episode (Season 5, episode 4). For the first time, I have to say that I did not like the episode. It makes such sweeping changes to the plot of Christie's original story that it can't even be seen as the same story. The timeline is moved up to the 1930s, Hitler, Mussolini, Germany overtaking other countries, and going to war are mentioned, and the basic plot is all together different. Ick. David Suchet and the rest of the cast do a great job acting the script they were given.....but, why did they decide to basically trash Christie's original story? No reason for it.
On to the next story: The Submarine Plans!
No comments:
Post a Comment