Who is the better Poirot? Peter Ustinov or Albert Finney? I say Ustinov.
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Ustinov was more fun, and more believable. Finney was a big ham, and the best thing about his performance was the work of his makeup artist and costumer.
David Suchet is better than either.
" Jack, you have debauched my sloth! "
I like both but I think I prefer Ustinov.
(And let's not forget James Coco in Murder by Death.)
Janet! Donkeys!
Ustinov.
Which is not to criticize Finney's Poirot in any way. A tour de force of a performance.
I don't really care for Suchet's Poirot much.
Ustinov by far. Although Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favorites, Finney was the worst part of it to me! He was creepy and loud. Also, Ustinov gave a performance that was elegant, ingenious and humorous. Finney, ingenious as he was in solving the case, was very loud (all the yelling he does), and a bit freaky at times with the way he'd look at the others. Even if Ustinov's Poirot spoke in a more French accent, he still had the spirit of Poirot.
"We all go a little mad sometimes..." - Norman Bates
Although Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favorites, Finney was the worst part of it to me!
Yeah I hadn't noticed that before now!
"We all go a little mad sometimes..." - Norman Bates
And the napkin. Poirot would have folded it neatly, not just fling it on the table.
shareFinney for me. He was more Believable.
shareFinney was closer to the character, but was a little too loud and over-the-top.
Ustinov gave a subtler performance, but wasn't convincing as the character. As someone else remarked, he just seemed to be playing Peter Ustinov with a bit of a Frenchified accent.
Ultimately David Suchet's portrayal of Hercule Poirot eclipses both of theirs.
Ultimately David Suchet's portrayal of Hercule Poirot eclipses both of theirs.
Yes. A pity that the 2010 TV adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express was so disappointingly handled, wouldn't you agree? Because now that Kenneth Branagh is about to direct a new version (and as a director he often likes casting himself in the lead role!) the possibility that the best Hercule Poirot will have been in the weakest movie is a sad thing to imagine. Unless the movie turns out to be another folly like Frankenstein(1994).
shareThe thought of Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot fills me with the kind of mind-numbing dread that I usually reserve for IRS audits. I suppose it's too much to hope for that he'll be wise and cast himself as Ratchett?
shareDavid Suchet. Finney ruins this for me. The rest of the cast are fantastic. He is just awful.
shareI like Finney for his comic portrayal. I loved the sleeping mask for his moustache. Presumably to save the wax from greasing the pillow. Great stuff.
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