Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

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!

Talk about faithful to the book, this excellent adaptation has virtually been lifted from Agatha Christie's book, it's a fine drama. Perhaps a little long to watch in one sitting, coming in at three hours. It is a rewarding watch, the story is clever, the mystery intriguing and the characters are glorious.

It's an involved story, fair to say it does take some time to develop, but the characters are given depth, back stories and motives.

Still the best version, to this point the only other being where ITV butchered it for The Marple series.

Annis and Warwick are both excellent, even if the casting team at LWT were guilty of reusing the same actors too many times in their Christie adaptations, however the pair are believable from the characters in the book, they have the right tone. Sir John Gielgud is excellent, but my favourite performance is from Joan Hickson, Mrs Rivington is only in it a short while, but the gossip loving socialite is a far cry from Hickson's glorious Miss Marple.

It's a lavish production, surely one day worthy of a Blu ray release. Loved it. 9/10

This movie adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel is similar in feel to "The Seven Dials", and has a number of the same actors in it, but I found it inferior. The movie is quite long, but it still manages to leave several things unexplained by the end. The traditional "explanation" scene at the end, where the devious plans of the criminal(s) are laid bare, is oddly uninvolving, despite the fact that the heroine is alone in a big house, at the mercy of the killer. It seems to go on forever, and seems to be answering questions that no one really bothered to ask. Besides, there is one outrageous piece of information provided at this moment that the viewer could not possibly have known, and which is thrown in just to make things easier for the villains. I suspect this is the fault of the original book (Christie was not above tossing in a sort of deus ex machina, especially in her early books) but it leaves the viewer feeling cheated.

Francesca Annis is a touch too smug and smooth in her portrayal of Frankie, and I found her "bright young thing" character grating after a while. Eric Porter, as the suspicious Dr. Nicholson, gives the best performance of the movie, both affable and alarming.

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? is a scene for scene adaptation of the very good Agatha Christie novel of the same name which runs to 3 hours. It is not paced in the way that most modern movies or television adaptations would be for that reason. Accordingly, it is best watched in one or two sittings. When given half a chance it is great fun.

I've seen this film twice and it improved on the second viewing. The period character of the film, vaguely early '30's, is very good, and the film is chock full of veteran British character actors who give wonderful performances, among the most fun is Sir John Gielgud who plays Bobby, the male lead's father. Even more fun is a completely over the top cameo by Joan Hickson as a Mrs. Rivington. Hickson is of course the epitomal Miss Marple in the '80's and '90's television adaptations, but here she plays a hilarious and empty-headed society hostess to stunningly comic efect.

All in all, a very engaging and faithful dramatization.

A good Sunday morning watch as you'll need to take some breaks. It's 2 hours 30 minutes. Actors enjoyable even though they repeat same types of mistakes constantly. Convoluted tale but they summarize where they stand every so often to help you keep track. Francesca Annis is wonderful.