Publication
Headline (2014), 384 p.
Original publication date
2013-11-07
Collections
Description
In the summer of 2013, David Suchet filmed his final scenes as Hercule Poirot. For 24 years Suchet was the on-screen embodiment of Agatha Christie's iconic Belgian detective and, in 'Poirot and Me', the actor tells the story of how he secured the part, with the blessing of Agatha Christie's daughter, and set himself the task of presenting the most authentic Poirot that had ever been filmed. Peppered with anecdotes about filming, including many tales of the guest stars who have appeared over the years, the book is essential reading for Poirot fans all over the world.
User reviews
LibraryThing member devenish
This is the ideal book for the Agatha Christie aficionado.David Suchet has appeared in every single Poirot story with the sole exception of a short story 'The Lemesurier Inheritance' WHY NOT I ask ?.
He is undoubtably the definitive Poirot as he comes closest to the author's description of the
He is undoubtably the definitive Poirot as he comes closest to the author's description of the
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little detective. In this book Suchet describes his transformation into Poirot and the trials and tribulations that he went through to get him to the screen in the way he wished. The only criticism I can make,is that he seems somewhat obsessive about just how he wants the character to appear. However one can understand this considering that he has been playing the part for some twenty-five years !. Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
David Suchet takes the reader through twenty five years of character acting, when he and Poirot became one: 70 television films, fulfilling his dream of presenting the entire canon of Agatha Christie's Poirot stories. As he says, over half his adult life has focussed on the authentic portrayal of
He describes how he came to be Poirot and then the televised stories in the order in which each series was produced. As we know, they weren't filmed in the order in which they were written, and some, Suchet admits, were rather "thin" because the underlying story was a bit thin, and some were not as true to the original written story as others. But some were splendid and an extraordinary amount of money was invested in their production.
It is a fascinating read. Suchet sees himself as charged with the need to present Poirot as Agatha Christie saw him. He talks about what attracts people to Poirot, why the various films have had such wide appeal.
But don't expect him to show up in any "new" Poirot story. He has vowed to never appear in any Poirot story that Dame Agatha didn't write. As far as he is concerned his portrayal of Poirot has finished.
There will never be another series with me playing Poirot..... a part of me has died with him.
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Poirot.He describes how he came to be Poirot and then the televised stories in the order in which each series was produced. As we know, they weren't filmed in the order in which they were written, and some, Suchet admits, were rather "thin" because the underlying story was a bit thin, and some were not as true to the original written story as others. But some were splendid and an extraordinary amount of money was invested in their production.
It is a fascinating read. Suchet sees himself as charged with the need to present Poirot as Agatha Christie saw him. He talks about what attracts people to Poirot, why the various films have had such wide appeal.
But don't expect him to show up in any "new" Poirot story. He has vowed to never appear in any Poirot story that Dame Agatha didn't write. As far as he is concerned his portrayal of Poirot has finished.
There will never be another series with me playing Poirot..... a part of me has died with him.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Fliss88
I'm a fan of the Hercule Poirot movies. I'm a fan of Poirot the detective, and I don't think there could be a BETTER actor chosen to bring this fictional character to life! David Suchet meticulously studied Hercule Poirot in all of Agatha Christie's writings before taking on the role. A role that
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saw him playing 'The Little Belgian' for the next 25 years of his professional life! He was 42 when he first took on the role and 67 when he filmed the last episode. Throughout those years, he is the first to admit that, the line between where David Suchet ended and Hercule Poirot began was very blurred, he literally 'became' Hercule! To hear him talking about this remarkable partnership, and how his life was changed forever by such a fastidious, moral, little man, as he always calls him, was wonderful. Show Less
LibraryThing member CarltonC
A very readable autobiography of the relationship between the actor David Suchet and his television portrayal of Hercule Poirot from 1988 to 2013, which is very enjoyably filled with anecdotes from the production of the short stories and books by Agatha Christie.
I read this quickly, and so was a
I read this quickly, and so was a
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little irritated by the repetition of some themes and notes of thanks, usually near the end of a chapter. But these are minor quibbles about a book in which Suchet generously regales us with stories about how he created the character on screen and the circumstances around the filming of many of the episodes. Show Less
LibraryThing member JBarringer
Excellent memoir. Suchet's story reminds me of other actors who have embodied fictional roles (Brett's Sherlock Holmes, Hiddleston's Loki, etc.) that could muddy an actor's sense of self.
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780755364220
UPC
000755364228
Physical description
384 p.; 5.13 inches
Pages
384