The release of ‘A Haunting In Venice’ on September 15 has murder mystery fans worldwide excited, as their favourite detective Hercule Poirot returns to the silver screen with another mind-boggling story. The film features a brilliant acting ensemble portraying a cast of unforgettable characters, including Kyle Allen, Kenneth Branagh, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, Michelle Yeoh.
However, there have been innumerable films adapted from the famous novelist Agatha Christie’s books that have been memorable as well as remarkable over the years.
Let’s have a look at the films that make the list:
‘And Then There Were None’ (1945)
‘And Then There Were None’ is perhaps the most well-known of Christie’s works that do not include the characters of Poirot or Marple. Despite the absence of these iconic figures, the story still manages to provoke great suspense and captivate the reader with its thrilling narrative. This particular adaptation is especially impressive and is often regarded as the finest Christie adaptation to have been brought to the screen.
‘Murder On The Orient Express’ (1974)
One of Christie’s most famous stories is ‘Murder On The Orient Express’. It has been adapted several times, with Sidney Lumet’s 1974 version being the most notable. Albert Finney’s portrayal of Hercule Poirot earned him an Oscar nomination, while Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar for her performance in the movie.
‘Death On The Nile’ (1978)
In the 1970s, there was a screen adaptation of ‘Death On The Nile’, but it starred Peter Ustinov instead of Finney. The movie was once again filled with famous actors and actresses.
‘Evil Under The Sun’ (1982)
Several years after ‘Death On The Nile’, Ustinov returned to play Poirot yet again. There was plenty of sun to be found along the Nile River, but in this film, he’s actually not in a place known for its sun, namely the Moors of Yorkshire. Ustinov makes a fine Poirot.
‘Appointment With Death’ (1988)
For his final performance as Poirot, Ustinov dons a moustache and attempts to endure the heat. It marks the end of an era for the character, and the film also features notable appearances by Carrie Fisher, Lauren Bacall, and John Gielgud.
‘Murder On The Orient Express’ (2017)
We have decided to opt for a different adaptation of the same story now. However, this particular version is not as successful as the previous one, despite having a cast full of stars including Johnny Depp, Judy Dench, and Daisy Ridley, amongst others. One particularly memorable aspect of this version is Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of Poirot.
‘Death On The Nile’ (2022)
Kenneth Branagh returned to play Poirot for the second time with ‘Death On The Nile’. The film was once again filled with numerous star celebrities including Ali Fazal. The film got delayed quite a lot because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but when it released, it got some favourable reviews especially for Branagh’s performance.
With Kenneth Branagh returning as Hercule Poirot for the 3rd time in ‘A Haunting In Venice’, let’s wait and watch whether the film will be able to match up to the expectations set by his previous two performances as the famous detective.
