[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Meurtre au champagne

Original title: Sparkling Cyanide
  • TV Movie
  • 2003
  • 12
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
674
YOUR RATING
Pauline Collins, Kenneth Cranham, Oliver Ford Davies, Susan Hampshire, Clare Holman, Justin Pierre, and James Wilby in Meurtre au champagne (2003)
CrimeDramaMystery

In this TV movie, a classic mystery is updated and relocated to a glamorous world of London socialites and secret agents, introducing two unique and compelling investigators and taking us th... Read allIn this TV movie, a classic mystery is updated and relocated to a glamorous world of London socialites and secret agents, introducing two unique and compelling investigators and taking us through to the highest corridors of power.In this TV movie, a classic mystery is updated and relocated to a glamorous world of London socialites and secret agents, introducing two unique and compelling investigators and taking us through to the highest corridors of power.

  • Director
    • Tristram Powell
  • Writers
    • Laura Lamson
    • Agatha Christie
  • Stars
    • Kenneth Cranham
    • Rachel Shelley
    • Lia Williams
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    674
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tristram Powell
    • Writers
      • Laura Lamson
      • Agatha Christie
    • Stars
      • Kenneth Cranham
      • Rachel Shelley
      • Lia Williams
    • 21User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos80

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 75
    View Poster

    Top cast19

    Edit
    Kenneth Cranham
    Kenneth Cranham
    • George Barton
    Rachel Shelley
    Rachel Shelley
    • Rosemary Barton
    Lia Williams
    Lia Williams
    • Ruth Lessing
    Justin Pierre
    • Carl 'Fizz' Fitzgerald
    Richard Clifford
    Richard Clifford
    • Maitre D'
    Susan Hampshire
    Susan Hampshire
    • Lucilla Drake
    Chloe Howman
    • Iris Marle
    Clare Holman
    Clare Holman
    • Alexandra Farraday
    James Wilby
    James Wilby
    • Stephen Farraday
    Joseph Scatley
    • Sam Knight
    • (as Joseph Scattley)
    Pauline Collins
    Pauline Collins
    • Dr. Catherine Kendall
    Oliver Ford Davies
    Oliver Ford Davies
    • Col. Geoffrey Reece
    Ruth Platt
    Ruth Platt
    • Rebecca Knight
    Jack Fortune
    • Phillip McCain
    Jonathan Firth
    Jonathan Firth
    • Mark Drake
    Dominic Cooper
    Dominic Cooper
    • Andy Hoffman
    Roger Frost
    Roger Frost
    • Henry Barlow
    Keith Bisset
    Keith Bisset
    • Stephen Fortisque
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Tristram Powell
    • Writers
      • Laura Lamson
      • Agatha Christie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews21

    5.8674
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    5binapiraeus

    Only Pauline and Oliver halfway save this film

    This is no doubt one of the most disastrous Agatha Christie adaptations ever made. Just like the 1980s' US TV movies ("Murder in Three Acts" and "Murder Is Easy" were the worst examples), it simply 'adapts' the action, the characters and everything else to the present, including the most hideous hairstyles and clothes. Not one bit of love or even respect for the First Lady of Crime shows throughout, and there's not even any suspense to speak of - in a murder mystery, if you please! The only ones who make something halfway decent out of this film are the protagonists, Pauline Collins and Oliver Ford Davies - it takes really great actors to deliver such performances in a film like this.
    6Sleepin_Dragon

    It's watchable.

    I love the novel, and I enjoyed this adaptation, the reality is there isn't much similarity, apart from a few names and scenes. The American film adaptation from the 80's was a bit more faithful, this feels more like a complete overhaul. It's a glitzy adaptation, one the Christie purists will hate, those willing to accept changes will enjoy it to some degree.

    Davies and Collins do a good job as The Detectives, I particularly liked Lia Williams as Ruth Lessing. Some good scenes, and great costumes, it looks great. I applaud the writers for trying to make it relevant for a current audience, I personally favour them set in their intended eras. The best version to this day remains Yellow Iris, the adaptation featuring David Suchet as Poirot.

    This is decent, but it's crying out for a quality remake. 6/10
    7blanche-2

    can't remember the book so I'll just review the film

    I read all of the Agatha Christie books so many years ago, that I actually don't know how Sparkling Cyanide was changed. I will say I haven't liked a lot of Christie adaptations.

    I happen to like the actors in this one - Pauline Collins and Oliver Ford Davies, Susan Hampshire, Clare Holman, and Lia Williams, all of whom did a good job.

    Collins and Davies play a Catherine and Geoffrey, a married couple who work secretly for MI5, telling their family they have other professions. When the young and beautiful wife (Rachel Shelley) of a prominent businessman dies after drinking a toast at a restaurant dinner, Catherine and Geoffrey are pressed into service.

    There is a lot at stake, including the political career of one Stephen Farraday (James Wilby) who was present and perhaps was somehow involved. There are, however, plenty of suspects - the victim's sister, her aunt, her cousin, and some others who have to be checked out.

    I thought this was pleasant. I have no understanding of producers and writers changing these Christie stories. This was okay but if you recall the book you'll probably loathe it.
    8louiseculmer

    Updated version of a classic Christie novel.

    Beautiful Rosemary Barton , wife of wealthy George Barton, dies by poison at a dinner party, and as one of the guests is a government minister who was having an affair with Rosemary, Colonel Geoffrey Reece (Oliver Ford Davies) and his wife Dr Catherine Kendall (Pauline Collins) are called on to solve the mystery. Although some of the characters are very different from the ones in the book, the basic plot remains the same, as does the identity of the murderer. The detectives, Reece and Kendall, have replaced the novel's Colonel Race (contrary to what another reviewer seems to think, Sparkling Cyanide is not a Poirot novel) but I didn't mind that as I found their characters very entertaining, rather reminiscent of the elderly Tommy and Tuppence, especially as their children are, like Tommy and Tuppence's offspring, unaware of the exciting activities of their parents. I would have liked to see them in some more adventures. I suppose it's too late now for a spin off series.
    6hayesbook

    It isn't very Christie, but it isn't bad

    I never thought I'd see gratuitous (but pretty tasteful) nudity in a Christie adaptation! This TV movie feels like it was the pilot for a series, with the husband and wife team of Colonel Reece (in the original it was Colonel Race and he is unmarried) and Dr. Kendall leading us through an updated version of this story -- but it doesn't appear to have been one. To my mind, the Christie original story had more than enough fascination not to be messed with, but this movie doesn't do a terrible job of making it "2003-y" and plausible for the current day at its time. I found myself actually really liking the two "spies" who were solving the case, entirely unlike the original sleuth Colonel Race. I did not like, however, the transformation of the very interesting Anthony Brown character into the Fizz character (a footballer, which doesn't at all fit with the original story, although the actor is good). Still, it worked in its TV-movie way and the acting is pretty decent throughout. If you are looking for old-fashioned Christie, this is not it. But if you like TV movies from the 2000s that are murder mysteries, you will probably enjoy this one. Cool London locations and some beautiful wardrobe selections, too.

    More like this

    Le mystère des sept cadrans
    6.6
    Le mystère des sept cadrans
    Un meurtre est-il si facile ?
    5.8
    Un meurtre est-il si facile ?
    Towards Zero
    6.3
    Towards Zero
    Message post mortem
    6.9
    Message post mortem
    Nature morte
    5.8
    Nature morte
    Le meurtre aux deux visages
    7.8
    Le meurtre aux deux visages
    À chacun son heure
    6.3
    À chacun son heure
    L'Art du crime
    6.7
    L'Art du crime
    Columbo: Murder, A Self Portrait
    7.2
    Columbo: Murder, A Self Portrait
    The Coroner
    7.0
    The Coroner
    Couronne mortuaire
    7.4
    Couronne mortuaire
    Votez pour moi
    7.6
    Votez pour moi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Oliver Ford Davies and Roger Frost also starred together in the ITV Poirot adaptation of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
    • Connections
      Version of Meurtre au champagne (1983)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ1

    • Is this film as awful as the reviews and synopsis suggest?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 13, 2004 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sparkling Cyanide
    • Filming locations
      • One Whitehall Place, 1 Whitehall Place, Westminster, Greater London, England, UK(Alexandra Farraday's legal chambers)
    • Production companies
      • Company Pictures
      • Chorion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.