Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? (1980)

Directed by: John Davies, Tony Wharmby | 180 minutes | drama, thriller, romance, crime | Actors: Francesca Annis, John Gielgud, Bernard Miles, Eric Porter, Leigh Lawson, James Warwick, Madeline Smith, Connie Booth, Robert Longden, Doris Hare, Joan Hickson, Rowland Davies, James Cossins, Mitzi Rogers, John Pennington, Lynda La Plante , Deddie Davies, Frank Tregear, John Horsley, Chris Mansfield, Leon Sinden, Elaine Wells, Annette Robertson, Eirik Barclay, Raymond Francis, Sally Grace, Chris Cregan, Michael Stainton, Hugh Morton, Debbie Armstrong, Arnold Peters, Norman Mitchell, Artro Morris, Terence Soall, Kate David, Penny Ryder, Roy Boyd, Mischa De La Motte, Colin Cunningham, Derek Hollis, Charles Morgan

An above-average and faithful adaptation of a detective novel by Agatha Christie, which, however, takes a bit too long to keep your attention for the full three hours. The original 1934 novel (released in the US under the alternate title: “The Boomerang Clue”) is known for its slow plot unfolding and slow pace. Although that need not be a problem for a book, this television film is a textbook example of wanting to be too slavish a rendering of the novel. Except for a few minor cosmetic changes, the film follows the entire plot of the book. That leads to long drawn-out scenes and, likewise, a slow tempo. It takes some concentration to sit out all the plot lines, tracks, clues and not always interesting dialogues. Mainly because it’s a murder mystery – and for those unfamiliar with the story – you’re afraid to miss a crucial lead. Although it must be said that, as is often the case with works by Christie, it is not always possible to think along and solve the crime yourself.

James Warwick as Bobby Jones and Francesca Annis as Lady Frances “Frankie” Derwent star in the film and they make a fun, fresh and unconventional couple. Here and there there are some less good acting performances in the supporting roles, but the show is stolen (and not even consciously) by Sir John Gielgud (1904-2000). As Reverend Jones, Bobby’s father, he is a shining beacon for the rest of the cast. His acting may be unfair competition, but the good man was still captivating when he read the London telephone directory – and of course he couldn’t help himself. What was very funny for Christie to the readership was the name reference of the main character to the well-known golfer Bobby Jones. That name is now largely forgotten, but with that knowledge in mind it is amusing when the movie Bobby Jones doesn’t care about golf and because of a wrong hit – the body of the dying Alex Pritchard and thus the intrigue gets started. helps.

As mentioned, the film is rather wordy and co-directors Davies and Wharmby allow the story to blow too much. The plot development is rather unbelievable and far-fetched in a number of areas. For example, there are the necessary confusions, disguises and coincidences that raise eyebrows. But none of this should spoil the fun, especially when all sorts of bizarre characters appear, such as the fantastically named Bassington-ffrench family (including Connie “Fawlty Towers” ​​Booth). In a relatively small role, Joan Hickson especially falls as the eccentric Mrs. Rivington up. During her lifetime, Christie was definitely not a fan of television adaptations of her novels and short stories. After her death in 1976, her heirs, including her daughter, decided that further film adaptations should be possible. Screenwriter Pat Sandys went to work and ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?’ was the first major Christie production for television that saw life in 1980. With a budget of one million pounds, certainly for the time, an enormous amount, it was possible to cast famous actors in important roles and a (long) shoot of more than three months.

There are many connections to other Agatha Christie film adaptations. Warwick and Annis would later team up again as the detective duo Tommy and Tuppence in ‘The Secret Adversary’ (1982) and the subsequent 10-part series. Incidentally, that film was also directed by Tony Wharmby and written by Pat Sandys, just like ‘The Seven Dials Mystery’ (1982). Joan Hickson played Miss Marple in television movies for many years in the 1980s and 1990s. Finally, in 2009 a new version of ‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?’ was made, but for this the plot was reversed to make it a Miss Marple mystery, not featured in the original novel. The reactions to this were not entirely positive, to put it mildly.