Read Online Poirot and Me David Suchet 0000755364228 Books
Read Online Poirot and Me David Suchet 0000755364228 Books
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In the summer of 2013 David Suchet will film his final scenes as Hercule Poirot. After 24 years in the role, he will have played the character in every story that Agatha Christie wrote about him (bar one, deemed unfilmable) and he will bid adieu to a role and a character that have changed his life.
In Poirot and Me, David Suchet 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.
David Suchet is uniquely placed to write the ultimate companion to one of the world's longest running television series. 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.
Read Online Poirot and Me David Suchet 0000755364228 Books
"Normally, I buy a book fully expecting to enjoy it and (since I know my own tastes pretty well by now) I usually do. Once in a while I take a flyer on a book that looks like it MIGHT be interesting. Usually it's on sale, since I'm a great bargain-hunter. Sometimes I'm disappointed, but this one was a delightful surprise.
I never watched one episode of the long-running BBC "Poirot" series. And I'm not interested in acting or in actors. I've read all of Agatha Christie's books, but I'm a Miss Marple girl myself. So what is there for me in this book?
To begin with, I discovered that I'm more interested in acting and actors than I thought. Mr. Suchet is quick to emphasize to his readers that he's NOT a celebrity and never wanted to be one. The son of a doctor, he most certainly didn't have "greasepaint in his blood" as the British say of acting families. He just loved acting in school plays and never lost that love.
But he never saw himself as a wealthy, famous leading man. I imagine that many "character" actors fall into that category when they lack the looks, talent, or genius for self-promotion to become "stars." Suchet always wanted to be a character actor. He was never interested in projecting his own personality, but in immersing himself in the personality of the character he was playing. Accustomed to modern America where most actors are more famous for their personal lives than for their roles, I found Suchet's attitude wonderfully refreshing.
Even in the "Swinging 60's" he was a serious young man who devoted himself to learning his craft. By the early 70's, he was working regularly in television and on stage and was able to give up the string of side jobs that had allowed him to survive the lean spells that are part of almost all acting careers. By that time he had a wife and two small children, so steady work was a necessity.
In 1987 he was asked to play the part of Hercule Poirot in a BBC dramatization of several of Christie's books. The idea was to do 3 or 4 for the first season and (if they were successful) continue on. Suchet had over 20 years of acting experience under his belt at that time, but he hesitated to accept a role that had been played in movies by such luminaries as Peter Ustinov and Albert Finney. He was afraid that the public would be disappointed in HIS interpretation of Poirot. He finally accepted the opportunity, not for the money, but because he felt that the character of Poirot could be played more convincingly and more AUTHENTICALLY than it ever had before. Turns out he was right.
The "Poirot" series became a beloved institution on BBC and Suchet filmed 63 Poirot movies in the next 25 years. Each one was based on a Poirot book or story and they followed Christie's plots as closely as possible. Typically, Suchet prepared by reading all of the books and stories. He wanted to portray Poirot exactly as Agatha Christie envisioned him.
And he succeeded. But I think the series was such a huge success because Suchet had the confidence and the persistence to bring out facets of Poirot's character that are present but not stressed in Christie's books. Everything he did as Poirot was firmly founded in the Christie books, but some of them I only recognized after Suchet pointed them out to me.
An example was Poirot's piety and his devotion to the Roman Catholic Church. I was a bit surprised that Suchet puts such emphasis on that, but I just reread one of the very first of the Poirot short stories. In that story, Poirot makes it plain that he believes the murder of a French politician is a blessing because the man "persecuted" the Catholic church. He tries to discover the murderer, of course, but once he finds her, he's completely on her side. Suchet was absolutely correct. Hercule Poirot's Catholic up-bringing and life-long piety was a much stronger force in driving his beliefs and actions than I had ever realized.
Suchet is frank that his long association with Poirot not only made him famous, but also changed him as a man. It was that devotion to the character that made the series so compelling to viewers.
But while playing Poirot was a big part of his career as an actor, it wasn't all-consuming. Suchet's story explains to a layperson the realities of the life of a working actor. There were significant breaks in the filming of the "Poirot" series and there never any guarantee that the series would be funded for additional seasons. Meanwhile the Suchet family had no money coming in.
More than anything I've ever read, this book brought home to me that an actor is a free-lancer and suffers from all the insecurities of that way of life. People who enjoyed watching Suchet "star" in a popular series would have been astonished to learn his fear of being unemployed at other times. He had to keep looking for work, both to support his family and to maintain his skills as an actor.
He's an intelligent, open, and likable man. I enjoyed this book tremendously."
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Tags : Poirot and Me [David Suchet] on . In the summer of 2013 David Suchet will film his final scenes as Hercule Poirot. After 24 years in the role,David Suchet,Poirot and Me,Headline,0755364228,Entertainment Performing Arts,Television - History Criticism,Autobiography arts entertainment,Biography,Biography Autobiography / Entertainment Performing Arts,Biography Autobiography/Entertainment Performing Arts,Entertainment Performing Arts - General,GENERAL,General Adult,Great Britain/British Isles,INDIVIDUAL ACTORS AND ACTRESSES,Non-Fiction,PERFORMING ARTS / Television / General,PERFORMING ARTS / Television / History Criticism,Performing Arts,Performing Arts/Dance,Pop Arts / Pop Culture,TELEVISION PLAYS AND PROGRAMS,Television - General
Poirot and Me David Suchet 0000755364228 Books Reviews :
Poirot and Me David Suchet 0000755364228 Books Reviews
- David Suchet's story reads like a biography of a close friend. He describes how he got the role of Poirot and how he developed the character from Agatha Christie's books over the 25 years and 13 seasons the PBS mystery show aired. Especially poignant is the story of filming Curtain, which ends with Poirot's death, as well as the the final episode of Dead Man's Folly filmed on location at Greenwood, Agatha Christie's summer home in Devon, England. Dame Agatha and David Suchet made the character of Hercule Poirot come to life. Fans will truly enjoy this final story of the merging of a great story teller, fantastic actor, and memorable character.
- This is a fantastic book and like the Poirot series is enjoyable from beginning to end. I intend to refer to it often as I continue to view my treasured DVDs. I have all of the David Suchet's Poirot series, except #13 that I have ordered and am waiting for it to be released.
I had read some if Agatha Christie's books and saw one or two of the Poirot movies but did not become such an avid fan until Mr. Suchet added such charm to Poirot's character. Now I shall never say "Good Bye" to my dear Belgian friend. When I leave for work with a slightly mismatched pair of gloves, I hear Poirot's voice "One must never let one's self go Hastings" and I go back inside the house for the matching glove. Hopefully, Mr. Suchet has added a little of Poirot in most of us.
My first time eating a mango was after Poirot's demonstration and now I have the directions and delightful story on page 117.
ITV people complain of expense to make the Poirot series - Please keep in mind the money brought it. I have purchased so many things connected with Poirot since the series began. The Christopher Gunning Cds, books, tote bags, Poirot and Agatha Christie charm bracelets, "Death on the Orient Express" earrings to name a few. I dislike reality TV and wouldn't own a TV if it wasn't for quality programs such as these. I hope the brilliant screenwriters, producers and directors mentioned in this book will bring Poirot back to life and continue with Miss Marple and other Agatha Christie stories. - Normally, I buy a book fully expecting to enjoy it and (since I know my own tastes pretty well by now) I usually do. Once in a while I take a flyer on a book that looks like it MIGHT be interesting. Usually it's on sale, since I'm a great bargain-hunter. Sometimes I'm disappointed, but this one was a delightful surprise.
I never watched one episode of the long-running BBC "Poirot" series. And I'm not interested in acting or in actors. I've read all of Agatha Christie's books, but I'm a Miss Marple girl myself. So what is there for me in this book?
To begin with, I discovered that I'm more interested in acting and actors than I thought. Mr. Suchet is quick to emphasize to his readers that he's NOT a celebrity and never wanted to be one. The son of a doctor, he most certainly didn't have "greasepaint in his blood" as the British say of acting families. He just loved acting in school plays and never lost that love.
But he never saw himself as a wealthy, famous leading man. I imagine that many "character" actors fall into that category when they lack the looks, talent, or genius for self-promotion to become "stars." Suchet always wanted to be a character actor. He was never interested in projecting his own personality, but in immersing himself in the personality of the character he was playing. Accustomed to modern America where most actors are more famous for their personal lives than for their roles, I found Suchet's attitude wonderfully refreshing.
Even in the "Swinging 60's" he was a serious young man who devoted himself to learning his craft. By the early 70's, he was working regularly in television and on stage and was able to give up the string of side jobs that had allowed him to survive the lean spells that are part of almost all acting careers. By that time he had a wife and two small children, so steady work was a necessity.
In 1987 he was asked to play the part of Hercule Poirot in a BBC dramatization of several of Christie's books. The idea was to do 3 or 4 for the first season and (if they were successful) continue on. Suchet had over 20 years of acting experience under his belt at that time, but he hesitated to accept a role that had been played in movies by such luminaries as Peter Ustinov and Albert Finney. He was afraid that the public would be disappointed in HIS interpretation of Poirot. He finally accepted the opportunity, not for the money, but because he felt that the character of Poirot could be played more convincingly and more AUTHENTICALLY than it ever had before. Turns out he was right.
The "Poirot" series became a beloved institution on BBC and Suchet filmed 63 Poirot movies in the next 25 years. Each one was based on a Poirot book or story and they followed Christie's plots as closely as possible. Typically, Suchet prepared by reading all of the books and stories. He wanted to portray Poirot exactly as Agatha Christie envisioned him.
And he succeeded. But I think the series was such a huge success because Suchet had the confidence and the persistence to bring out facets of Poirot's character that are present but not stressed in Christie's books. Everything he did as Poirot was firmly founded in the Christie books, but some of them I only recognized after Suchet pointed them out to me.
An example was Poirot's piety and his devotion to the Roman Catholic Church. I was a bit surprised that Suchet puts such emphasis on that, but I just reread one of the very first of the Poirot short stories. In that story, Poirot makes it plain that he believes the murder of a French politician is a blessing because the man "persecuted" the Catholic church. He tries to discover the murderer, of course, but once he finds her, he's completely on her side. Suchet was absolutely correct. Hercule Poirot's Catholic up-bringing and life-long piety was a much stronger force in driving his beliefs and actions than I had ever realized.
Suchet is frank that his long association with Poirot not only made him famous, but also changed him as a man. It was that devotion to the character that made the series so compelling to viewers.
But while playing Poirot was a big part of his career as an actor, it wasn't all-consuming. Suchet's story explains to a layperson the realities of the life of a working actor. There were significant breaks in the filming of the "Poirot" series and there never any guarantee that the series would be funded for additional seasons. Meanwhile the Suchet family had no money coming in.
More than anything I've ever read, this book brought home to me that an actor is a free-lancer and suffers from all the insecurities of that way of life. People who enjoyed watching Suchet "star" in a popular series would have been astonished to learn his fear of being unemployed at other times. He had to keep looking for work, both to support his family and to maintain his skills as an actor.
He's an intelligent, open, and likable man. I enjoyed this book tremendously.
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