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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

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    Top cast19

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    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
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    Featured reviews

    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
    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.
    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.
    5MattyGibbs

    Disappointingly dull adaptation

    Sparkling Cyanide is an Agatha Christie tale brought into the modern world. Unfortunately this take doesn't quite work. A football chairman's wife is murdered and there are several potential suspects.

    Unlike many Agatha Christie adaptations this one has a curious lack of suspense. The characters are mainly lifeless which is surprising given the quality of the cast. This can only be put down to a poor script.

    Like another reviewer mentioned, this film could have been done within the hour but is instead dragged out too long. The reveal is no real surprise and all in all I was quite pleased when it ended.

    Although not terrible this is a disappointingly dull adaptation. Not recommended unless as a time filler.
    5melee3

    Ignore the "Agatha Christie" part in the title

    Just know that this is "based on" an Agatha Christie story, but without the "sparkle" of a real Christie story. Colonel Race is such an interesting character in her books and I can see him being like he was portrayed in this movie, I just wish it hadn't been quite so silly and poorly executed. And why in the world a nude scene had to be thrown in for absolutely no reason is beyond me. What was the purpose of showing Iris throwing off her robe to get into the shower? Just for some titillation? Definitely took a star off for that.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • 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)

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    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

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