qasdfghj
I really like this hidden gem. I have no complaint about the length, which I've seen others here complain about. The length really gives the viewer time to get acquainted with the characters and all the intricacies in the plot. I love whodunits, and fills that exact craving well. Also, there is a tinge of British comedy strung throughout. James Warwick and Francesca Annis are just perfect for this role. I find this movie to be better than their "Partners in Crime" shows. All in all, I find it really enjoyable to watch, and hard to guess the plot if you haven't read the book. I highly recommend it!
scribe-27
I was hooked by Francesca Annis and James Warwick when they played Tommy and Tuppence in Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime, and as an avid Christie fan have always wanted to see them again in Why Didn't They Ask Evans? Although its plot is very picaresque, and suffers from some of the careless crafting found in Agatha Christie's earlier work, it is, in fact, an enjoyable book, and has no doubt been adapted adequately for television. Infuriatingly, the DVD is not available in the UK, or in the entire Region 2! I don't suppose it ever will be. Odd, isn't it? I believe that American viewers have similar difficulties obtaining English films and television programmes in Region 1 format, Perhaps, one day, there will be a single standard for all of us.
tedg
Spoilers herein.I make a habit out of examining film adaptations of classic mystery novels for clues. I'm looking for clues about why the narrative works. There is a reason Christie is the best selling writer in history, even now as print runs are huge.I think I understand the primary mechanisms, how she engages the reader in a contest of wills. Usually, these don't translate well to film and we are given instead some puzzles with a surprise answer at the end.One approach is what was attempted here, just work through the book more or less as it is written. But that doesn't work either because the infrastructure of the imagination differs so between reading and viewing.Here the stretch of the mystery is too long for the reward. We'll know who the villain is soon enough just because of the theatrical mannerisms of the actors, and the rest comes across as `Hardy Boys' stuff. Add in some unbelievable coincidences (even for Christie), a Miss Moriarty Morphia and a little too pert Frankie and you'll see why this series wasn't continued.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
ab_fab2000
Although the scenery and acting (apart from Joan Hicksons Mrs. Rivington- who is super!) might not stand up to a lot, this adaptation of Christies novel, is perhaps one of the most accurate I have seen. The running time does go on a bit, but nothing is missed out and it is kept faithful to the book. A very interesting piece indeed. I'd give it full marks for ingenuity and plot!