"Sparkling Cyanide" is a modern updated setting and considerably revised story based on a couple of Agatha Christie original works. Those being a short story, "Yellow Iris," and a later expanded novel from that story, first printed in the U. S. in 1945 as "Sparkling Cyanide." The British publication later that same year was titled "Remembered Death."
"Yellow Iris" was made into a TV movie for the Hercule Poirot series that starred David Suchet; and this film follows the later book plot that involves Colonel Race as the main sleuth and star. Two earlier films were made for TV, in 1983 and 1993. But this version underwent substantial revisions. It's in a 21st century setting, the master sleuth's name is changed to Col. Geoffrey Reece, and he has a wife and partner, Dr. Catherine Kendall.
Perhaps the idea behind such extensive revision of Christie stories, such as this, is to make them appeal more to a modern audience. I don't know, but I prefer works based on novels and stories to be in their original times. Still the ingenuity of Agatha Christie comes through in this plot, so I like it. Not as much as any of the original or earlier versions of the story.
Here's a favorite exchange of lines between Col. Reece and his spouse-partner. Col. Geoffrey Reece, "Oh, Kate, do you remember the old days? Berlin Wall?" Dr. Catherine Kendall, "Russian spies? Cambridge defectors?" Col. Reece, "Political assassinations? Libya? At least there was some dignity in that."
"Yellow Iris" was made into a TV movie for the Hercule Poirot series that starred David Suchet; and this film follows the later book plot that involves Colonel Race as the main sleuth and star. Two earlier films were made for TV, in 1983 and 1993. But this version underwent substantial revisions. It's in a 21st century setting, the master sleuth's name is changed to Col. Geoffrey Reece, and he has a wife and partner, Dr. Catherine Kendall.
Perhaps the idea behind such extensive revision of Christie stories, such as this, is to make them appeal more to a modern audience. I don't know, but I prefer works based on novels and stories to be in their original times. Still the ingenuity of Agatha Christie comes through in this plot, so I like it. Not as much as any of the original or earlier versions of the story.
Here's a favorite exchange of lines between Col. Reece and his spouse-partner. Col. Geoffrey Reece, "Oh, Kate, do you remember the old days? Berlin Wall?" Dr. Catherine Kendall, "Russian spies? Cambridge defectors?" Col. Reece, "Political assassinations? Libya? At least there was some dignity in that."