Agatha Christie : Dix brèves rencontres

Terrible acting, awful dialogue, zero chemistry between actors - this series has it all.

And it isn't just bad in the traditional sense of "not good enough". It's bad as in so terrible that it becomes entertaining to watch.

You either have to be a die-hard Agatha Christie fan to get through these episodes, or somebody with a great sense of humour.

I've been in an Agatha Christie phase for a bit and remembered having seen this series on TV. It was great because it wasn't the traditional Marple/Poirot/Tommy & Tuppence story, but some of Dame Agatha's lesser known characters. I *really really* wish that this set would come out on DVD because I'd snap it up in an instant.

For those wondering which stories were included in this series, here's the list:

1 The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife

2 In a Glass Darkly

3 The Girl in the Train

4 The Fourth Man

5 The Case Of The Discontented Soldier

6 Magnolia Blossom

7 The Mystery of the Blue Jar

8 The Red Signal

9 Jane in Search of a Job

10 The Manhood Of Edward Robinson

If this ever comes on TV again, enjoy! It's worth watching.

The only thing that holds this compilation of Agatha Christie's short stories back is the direction. This is very much of its time. There's nothing wrong with it, as such, but it gives most of the stories an aged feel... more so than the period costumes and motor vehicles. A few of the tales would have been stronger had the direction been tighter; others, if the atmosphere had been eerier; and the others, if the tension had been ramped up and the action faster.

On the whole, though, these are enjoyable tales of murder, mystery, the supernatural, and spycraft. They are well worth a watch, especially on a lazy Sunday with a nice cup of tea and a few cucumber sandwiches.

People who complain about the video quality of this series are ignoring the fact that it was made in 1982 for smaller screen television. These are based on hard to find Agatha Christie short stories. They are beautifully scripted and acted, and very much worth watching. People who think they know Agatha Christie's work are in for a pleasant surprise.

These series were filmed on cheap 35mm film. The image quality is so bad on an ultra definition screen. I wonder if the takes are from the late '40s. The movies were made for a 19" screen TVs