Teresa reviews “The Witness for the Prosecution” (1982) and her verdict is “not proven.” Fidelity to text: 4 blunt objects This remake is sometimes closer to the stage play than Billy Wilder’s 1957 opus. Other times, it adds extraneous, unneeded material, while cutting more important stuff. Quality of movie on its own: 3 blunt objects […]

Teresa reviews “Murder Is Easy” (1982) and finds it a flat adaptation but a joy to watch great stars at work. Fidelity to text: 4 murder weapons There’s some story compression, including vanishing the entire witchcraft subplot, character rewrites, and modernizing to the present, but otherwise, you’ll recognize the story. Quality of movie on its […]

Teresa Reviews “The Case of the Missing Will” (1993) and discovers adaptation doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder. Fidelity to text: 1 poison bottle The names match, educated women are regarded as unnatural, and there’s a missing will. Everything else disappeared down the river. Quality of movie on its own: 2 poison bottles The […]

Teresa reviews “The Red Signal” (1982) and wonders if the medium could have foretold the disappointing ending. Fidelity to text: 4 guns It’s virtually word for word remake of the short story, other than a few expanded scenes and that “improved” ending, which was terrible. Quality of movie on its own: 2 guns Like the […]

Teresa reviews “Mystery of the Blue Jar” (1982) from “The Agatha Christie Hour” and finds it amusing but forgettable Fidelity to text: 2 1/2 thieves Uncle George became far more prominent, the village suddenly gains residents, but most of all, the ending … shifted. Quality of movie on its own: 3 1/2 thieves Light and […]

Teresa reviews “The Yellow Iris” (1993) and says it’s so good you should watch it twice. Fidelity to text: 2 poison bottles While the core of the story remains, the screenwriter made up the other two-thirds of what you see onscreen. Quality of film on its own: 4 1/2 poison bottles This episode has everything: […]

Teresa reviews “Magnolia Blossom” (1982) from The Agatha Christie Hour and says this early story from Christie’s career too thin to be enjoyed. Fidelity to text: 2 thieves The plot remains. Other than the three leads, everyone else onscreen was added. Quality of film on its own: 1 1/2 thieves When the other characters were […]

Teresa reviews “The Underdog” (1993) and thought it relied on Poirot’s grey cells too much. Fidelity to text: 3 blunt objects The basic plot remains, but characters and setting changed from a little to a lot. Quality of movie on its own: 3 blunt objects It’s flawed, but I accepted it until the ending when […]

Teresa reviews “The Case of the Discontented Soldier” (1982) from “The Agatha Christie Hour” and found it a charming romp, although she wished the couple had exhibited better chemistry. Fidelity to text: 3 treasure maps The film is greatly expanded over the short story by adding street urchins and giving Ariadne Oliver far more screen […]