Bravo, Mr. Laurie - Bravo! A brilliantly written adaptation of Agatha's 1934 thriller, with just the right balance of humour to menace and an expertly directed cast. We thought he would have directed episodes of House (for which he was being paid the paltry sum of $400,000 per episode) but no - only two (and a couple of TV series).
Will Poulter and Lucy Boynton are just right as the adventurous couple who are drawn in to murder. Jim Broadbent, Emma Thompson and Laurie himself essentially cameo. With Maeve Dermody (troubled doctor's wife), Jonathan Jules (car dealer mate), Daniel Ings, Miles Jupp, Amy Nuttall, Alistair Petrie (vicar), Joshua James (The Ipcress File, Life), only Conleth Hill again (Holding, Magpie Murders) as the doctor, Paul Whitehouse. Whitehouse and Charlie Higson decorated Fry and Laurie's flat and were persuaded by the comedy duo to go into it themselves.
Laurie referenced The Thin Man, "another couple I adore spending time with".
Looking forward to watching it non-jerky on DVD.
Good use of music as well, I wonder if the specific reference to the tune that closes The Shining (Al Bowlly, 'Midnight, the Stars and You') was intentional.
Music Harry Escott, DPs John de Borman and Mika Orasmaa, editors Belinda Cottrell and Ian Farr. For Britbox.
The terrible organist is one of many good touches - the (nice) characters display a real warmth for one another.
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