Last Call

Great news! The final season (13) of Poirot has been ordered for 2011! According to UK Express, the resurgence of interest in period fare has ignited after the huge success of ITV 1's Downton Abbey.

The final six stories? Off the top of my head: Elephants Can Remember, Dead Man's Folly, The Big Four (a very early story), Black Coffee, Curtain... and ??? Hopefully we will see the old gang back, his ever faithful Captain Arthur Hastings (Hugh Frasier), Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran), Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson), George (David Yelland), and Ariadne Oliver (Zoe Wanamaker) in Dead Man's Folly.

Look for the air dates later this fall.

Miss Marple's Face lift

According to Deadline Hollywood, Agatha Christie's crotchety old spinster will be getting a Hollywood makeover. Mark Frost is scripting a Miss Marple version where she's in her prime mid 30s or 40s. St. Mary's Mead will likely be sex-ed up, with a great deal more scandal and perhaps a love interest or two? The deal has been signed with Disney (isn't that a bit odd?)... can you imagine a "Miss Marple ride" or her face plastered on some weird English Tea set?

Maggie Smith Special

I love Maggie Smith, and obviously she didn't mind taking roles in a number of Agatha Christie dramas. Nowadays most kids see her as Professor McGonagall from the mediocre Harry Potter series and nothing else. Similar to Alec Guiness being remembered for Obi Wan in Star Wars, their true talent and range as thespians are demonstrated by their extensive body of work through the years.

In "Death on the Nile", Dame Maggie Smith was joined by Mia Farrow, Bette Davis, David Niven, and Angela Lansbury, starring Peter Ustinov (who would also later be typecast for his marvellous performance as Poirot).

Broken up into parts below, click on numbers.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm an advocate of owning the legit dvds (since I own all of these)... However I also like sharing classics, so if you love them, they're all pretty cheap to purchase and of far better quality.

Evil Under the Sun Part 1 , 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ,11

Death on the Nile Part 1 (I don't know why but part 1 isn't the proper link and there is no trace of the correct link) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (2 -12 are fine)

Need more? Other films...

The Millionairess (1972) Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Murder by Death (1976) Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Part 1, 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7

Gosford Park? You'll have to rent this one :) trailer here

In three acts

For a while I thought I'd be subjected to waiting for well past a year for the release of the newest Poirot installments. Three Act Tragedy, also known as "Murder in 3 Acts" along with The clocks have been streamed on youtube by some very nice individuals! I usually add to my dvd collection at a later date if I find them.

For Canucks, Americans and other foreigners who can't wait for your local network to catch up, you can link to the episode below on youtube starting with 1 of 10.

Poirot: Murder in 3 Acts (unfortunately it has been removed)

There is also the release of the Clocks on youtube...

here's the link to 1 of 9

Poirot: The Clocks

Top Audiobooks and Radio plays

I've been a fan of audiobooks since my school days, even during my childhood I would receive Arabian Nights or the original Hans Christian Anderson books on records (that's right... not even on tape... a record with my own little record player). When you often work over the twelve hour point you will quickly discover the difficulty of finding music that will occupy your time. I'd often swap between BBC, CBC radio, music and silence... until a friend re-introduced me to the world of books on tape.

There is a decline of quality of audiobooks however, it's often best to find a copy of BBC radio plays that promise a full cast of voice actors, sound fx and music tailored to specific stories and dramatic points. I have found that Brian Sibley and Michael Bakewell have produced some of the best radioplays to date. There are many worth finding, here a few to hunt for...

THE FOOL'S PICKS

1. BBC Orson Welles directed and narrated H.G. Wells' novel War of the Worlds

2. 1981 BBC Radio 4, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. A twelve part series is an abridged version starring Ian Holm as Frodo along with many other great voices.

3. 1978 BBC Radio 4 version of Douglas Adams' novel, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

4. 1985 Titus Groan and Gormenghast

5. 1968 The Hobbit by BBC 4

6. Orson Welles 1939 radio adaptation of Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

7. The Chronicles of Narnia (10 x 25 min episodes) Among the cast of talent, Tom Wilkinson... recognize the name?

The very best of Agatha Christie audiobooks tend to pale in comparison to their BBC radio play counterparts. I have noticed that John Moffatt was the David Suchet for radio, playing the voice of Poirot more than once. Many of the Christie's novels are read respectably well by Hugh Frasier or David Suchet but nothing beats a well produced play.

Poirot BBC 4 (John Moffatt voiced Poirot 1987 onward with great success)

1985-86 The Mystery on the Blue Train (Maurice Denham)

1986 Hercule Poirot's Christmas (Peter Sallis)

Murder on the Orient Express

Death on the Nile

Murder on the Links

Murder in Mespotomia

Cards on the Table

Appointment with Death

Dumb Witness

Hallowe'en Party

Sad Cypress (This was truly one of their best. Emma Fielding and David McCallister as the two main roles.)

Marple BBC 4 (June Whitfield plays Miss Marple)

At Bertram's Hotel

A Caribbean Mystery

4:50 From Paddington

Other Christie plays

1953 Partners in Crime (Richard Attenborough and Shelia Sims play Tommy and Tuppence), a thirteen part version.

1990 The Sittaford Mystery

1940 And Then There Were None

1993 The Pale Horse (One of my favourites)

Mystery updates

Happy news! Zoë Wanamaker will be reprising her role for the upcoming Agatha Christie Poirot novel, Hallowe'en Party as the novelist Ariadne Oliver. Murder on the Orient Express, Three Act Tragedy and The Clocks are also already mid-way through production, Three Act Tragedy the first to air on New Year's Eve according to imdb.

I'm guessing "Clocks" will be aired shortly after, with "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Hallowe'en Party" released during the new year, January/February 2010.

As for Miss Marple, two more productions are expected this year, with Julia McKenzie reprising her role as the charismatic Miss Marple. The Secret of Chimneys and The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side.

Still need more? Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, Prince of Persia) is set to direct a remake of CLUE, based on the murder mystery board game for Hasbro and Universal. Get ready for larger than life characters and hopefully a fun cast of actors who don't take themselves too seriously. If you can't wait that long, try out the 1985 original starring Tim Curry.

10 best train trips worth taking

I personally love train travel. I've even stayed in one of those "inns" that are more of a collection of abandoned train cars than converted private cabins. I have heard a lot of horror stories about American train travel but I found my trips to be quite satisfying.

Here are two economical trips that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The San Diego to Los Angeles ride looks out toward the ocean along the western coast line. It can be a much needed break from the hustle of a convention or business meeting and a first class ticket guarantees you a seat.

The overnight journey along eastern Canada from Montreal to Halifax during the autumn months is another superb sight. If you're lucky you can book a private double berth at the occasionally offered discounted price (1/2 price) that's comparable to a plane ticket cost. The ride boasts a gradual turning of the leaves from a rich ochre into a vivid shade of crimson, a comfortable and not-overly expensive dining car, and night sky views from the observatory car.

My only train warning is the trip from Paris to Italy. I'm a non-smoker, and although all compartments are non-smoking it really is a smokers paradise. You could easily avoid this by getting a private berth, but this was years ago when I didn't have the $$ to spare.

I've hunted for recommended lists of train trips worth taking... The Orient Express among them. I've made my own list however, based more from a North American perspective... namely excluding what I've seen and what I find familiar. Please pardon my omission of the Canadian Rockies, Alaskan and Californian routes.

The fool's 10 most wished for journeys by train in the world

#1 Eastern & Orient Express, Southeast Asia

Venice Simplon Orient Express Signature Journey 6 days/5 nights.

Paris - Budapest - Bucharest - Istanbul. Price $9190 (2009) Ouch!

Although it's one of the most expensive routes, and not the original company in Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express', (the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits) the very name and destination is synonymous with intrigue and luxury travel. Hey... it's a wish list so why think of $$$?

#2 Rovos Rail, South Africa

These trips are annually planned. The luxurious 'Pride of Africa' takes you on a 14 day incredible expedition through some of Africa's most stunning locales. Cape Town - Dar Es Salaam - Kimberley - Pretoria - Kruger National Park - Beit Bridge - Bulawayo - Victoria Falls - Lusaka and through Tanzania.

#3 Hiram Bingham Train, Peru

Although this is a rather short trip, I chose this above others because Machu Picchu is a place that I'm dying to see. Considered one the unofficial new seven wonders of the world, the Hiram Bingham train journey is a spectacular passage through the Andes toward the ancient location. Wow. You could do it a lot cheaper, but this trek includes meals and live entertainment and it's one of the most affordable.. around $300 (one way).

#4 The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, Russia

Winter Wonderland westbound. Vladivostok - Mongolia - Lake Baikai - Irkutsk - Novosibirsk - Yekaterinburg - Vladmir and Suzdal - Moscow. There is also an even more extensive 19 day trip to St. Petersberg. Okay..okay.. it's all snow and ice, but you have to factor in the historical lure of this location.

#5 The Royal Scotman, United Kingdom

The Grand West Highland 6 day journey stops in Spean Bridge, Arisaig, Bridge of Orchy, Wemyss Bay (for Isle of Bute), Edinburgh where you can sight see. Then you rejoin the train for the route to Dalwhinnie, Boat of Garten, Rothiemurchus, Nairn and Dundee.

#6 Palace on Wheels, India

A few people have complained about the smell, heat, cockroaches in this country, but I couldn't care less. What do expect, a Starbucks or Macdonalds?

A mystical 8 days /7 nights from New Delhi through Jaisalmer "Desert Fort", Jaipur the "Pink City" and of course the Taj Mahal in Agra. I especially love the name. Ha.

#7 Eastern Orient Express, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore

A very different sort of Thai experience. 4 days/3 nights from Thailand, toward the infamous River Kwai (For David Lean lovers!) and onwards to Malaysia, Georgetown before crossing the causeway over the Straits of Johor to finally arrive in the metropolis of Singapore.

#8 The Ghan, Australia

A 3 days/2 nights trip across endless sun baked terrain, beginning in Adelaide - Alice Springs - Darwin, travels twice a week.

#9 The Bergen Line, Norway

The Oslo - Bergen ride is a seven hour trip normally listed high on the lists. For me it looks a bit like Canada, but the cultural depth of Norway and gorgeous architecture in the local towns and cities are remarkable to say the least.

10. Tokaido Shikansen, Japan

Osaka - Kyoto - Nagoya - Tokyo. Bullet Train. Enough said.

For the world's best trains http://www.denverpost.com/travel/ci_8004082