Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980 TV Movie) User Reviews

Ah those fascinating Agatha Christie clockwork mechanisms....

[theowinthrop · 8/10 · 17 May 2007]

I saw this television version of a Christie mystery story when it was shown back on Channel 5 in New York City in 1980. At the time I was surprised it was not shown on Channel 13, the Public Television Station that showed most of the Masterpiece Theater programs, but (aside from some Dorothy Sayers "Lord Peter Wimsey" stores, and THE MOONSTONE) the BBC productions rarely dealt with British detective stories. Another series, THE RIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES had dealt with stories set in the Victorian and Edwardian period, so a period charm was involved in getting those stories onto Channel 13.

The plot of WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? dealt with a young couple stumbling upon a dying man who's only last words are the question of the title of the story (the novel was originally called WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS?, but subsequently was retitled THE BOOMERANG CLUE). The young couple start investigating the murder, and trace the crime to a set of people who surround a questionable doctor (Eric Porter). Despite the warnings of the father of the hero (John Gielgud), the hero (James Warwick) and the heroine (Francesca Annis) pursue their investigation - even as it gets murkier and more dangerous. The death of another suspect by suicide increases the apparent dangers as the killer starts looking into silencing the two amateur detectives.

It's not a bad film, although I agree it was a bit too long for a single night's entertainment (if it had been done like later Miss Marple episodes with Joan Hickson, or the Hercule Poirot episodes, in two parts it would have been better). But it has it's strengths. One is the proper use of Porter as chief suspect, and a clever scene later in the film where he appears to be spying on the young couple who are investigating the mystery. If you stick to the film, you will be in for a fair surprise later on.

But it has one failing. When dealing with a Christie novel the figures in the story have to be in a rigid schedule of movements so that the reader might be able to figure out what the secret of the plot is. I will only add that if you hear the dialog at one point, and how a little boy was almost killed (but wasn't), then you will find all the parts of the story coming together, and what the villain's motivations were.

Except for that and the lengthy time the telefilm takes to tell it's story, it is quite a good film, and worthy as one of the best programs based on a Christie story in the period when their was a sudden renaissance in films based on her novels.

Decent, but drags

[boomcoach · 7/10 · 20 May 2008]

This BBC version of an Agatha Christie book shows the pitfalls of following a book too closely. Christie's books tend to move at a gentle, sometimes even sedate pace, and "Evans" is one that certainly does. It also has a solid school of red herrings to confuse the plot. This version is extremely faithful to the book, which results in a very slow, involved story. As a Christie fan, I gave it 7 stars, but it takes 3 hours to make its way through a relatively action-free story. I appreciate some of the tightening of plots that the BBC did for its later Christie productions much more.

In the end, this movie is a leisurely pleasure, highlighted by the breathy waif Francesca Annis who brings considerable charisma to her role and plays off James Warwick very well.

Enjoyable But Long

[vintagegeek-97465 · 7/10 · 31 October 2021]

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.

Involving and Accurate Depiction of Novel

[jgorton · 14 April 2004]

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.

Oh, DO have some tea!

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 25 February 2016]

Nifty production of Agatha Christie story. A man is found dying among some rocks on a beach in Wales, evidently having fallen from the cliff above. Bernard Miles and (someone else) find him. He utters only a few last words -- "Why didn't they ask Evans?" -- before giving up the ghost. Francesca Annis, a young lady with a title visiting Wales, inserts herself into the mystery. She finds out the man's identity and his local hosts, a patron, a young blond lady, and a young man. The host family is a suspicious lot, especially the father who is a nervous wreck and makes several allusions to opioid drugs. All of this is sharply but discretely observed by Francesca Annis who has managed a longish visit at the family's stately home, Merriway Court. She manages to enlist her boy friend in the case and has his pose as her chauffeur, and both of them begin prying.

Much of the conversation takes place at the dinner table. Everyone dabs decorously at his plate and seems disinterested except that they are listening with keen ears. This is an English pattern. I know I shouldn't make such Olympian judgements but I'm beyond that. The QE2 dining room was filled with British passengers and was silent except for the tinkling of silverware on china. As my wife and I were preparing to leave, I said audibly, "I never believed one bullet could make such a mess. There was blood everywhere." The tinkling paused only for about two seconds before resuming its silvery fairy-tale melody.

This is rather a typical Agatha Christie tale in that the plot -- extending as it does over three longish installments -- is labyrinthine. I lost track of who was suspected of what, and why, from time to time, despite the recurring themes of greed and narcotics. Bonus points for exquisite photography and location shooting. Everything seems so CLEAN and SUNNY.

We must count Francesca Annis among the many things that are clean and sunny. Her chipper persona enlivens every scene she's in. And though she's not one of those stunning English blonds one often finds in these tales, she's a splendid actress, a delight to watch. Her friend, the faux chauffeur, is something of a dull bulb compared to her sharp wit.

In fact, if there's anything resembling a message in this story, it's that men are either a little slow witted or are particeps criminis. It's the young, good-looking, energetic women in their white frocks and 1930s hair styles that ferret out the truth.

Long, but it'll keep you from reading the book

[aramis-112-804880 · 7/10 · 16 May 2022]

"Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" is one of Dame Agatha Christie's best titles, though the book sags a bit in the middle. So does the TV show.

Young and frightful golfer Bobby Jones, chasing a wayward ball, finds a dying man at the bottom of a cliff. He groans "Why didn't they ask Evans?" and dies. Jones and his pal Lady Francis Derwent try to track down what those words mean and why a picture in the dead man's pocket was switched for another. And, this being a Christie story, they find themselves embroiled in a possible murder mystery wirh their own lives in constant danger.

This was made in the days when they dramatized literature right. But also when the best tv could do was videotaped, staged interiors, with long chunks of dialogue like stage plays; and grainy, filmed exteriors. These dramatizations look like they came off the Ark but these 1960s and 1970s and early 1980s productions had the saving grace of featuring rising great actors, overact how they may when they were young (study the cast-list of another production, "The Pallisers," which features everyone from Derek Jacobi and Jeremy Irons to the voice of Wallace of "Wallace and Grommit" fame.)

Like Christie's book, this version starts out brilliantly, then gets a bit bogged down. It picks up again toward the end, around the time the amatuer-detective heroes find out what the cryptic title means. But this dramatization is so comparatively accurate its faults are Christie's.

Good cast, led by James Warwick and Francisca Annis ("Partners in Crime"; and Annis was in "Dune"). Connie Booth ("Fawlty Towers"). Joan Hickson, who later played the perfect "Miss Marple." James Cossins, Eric Porter and in a brief part, John Gielgud. Annis is lovely as usual for the period, but one of the prettiest actresses ever, Madeline Smith (the Italian agent at the beginning of "Live and Let Die") also makes a welcome, and key, appearance.

The way it's packaged these days makes it one, long slog. It's better viewed in installments with a bit of a walkabout in between.

BTW, I love the way Annis' coiffure begins to disintegrate at about the two-thirds point. This show is full of such nice touches, but the are far between. I like it but it's too long to enjoy often.

A very special, unusual film

[qasdfghj · 10/10 · 15 April 2012]

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!

Not quite as good as Seven Dials Mystery but still diverting and well made

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 10 February 2013]

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? is not one of Agatha Christie's best books but when Christie wasn't quite at her best she knew how to make a mystery entertaining and engrossing and that is true of Why Didn't They Ask Evans? This 1980 TV version I can see, in the future and right now, is not going to please everybody. Some people will find it well made, diverting and classic Agatha Christie, others will find it contrived, long-winded and perhaps confused. Depends on your perspective, and perhaps if you're familiar with the story. This version of Why Didn't They Ask is not what I call perfect, there is one information strand that does feel thrown in, all too easy and underdeveloped. But the adaptation is leagues ahead of the 2009 version(as part of the ITV Marple series), which was all of the things that I have seen people criticise this version of being, even though that adaptation had great production values and a splendid Julia McKenzie, it wastes most of the supporting cast, is meandering pacing-wise and the ending was a mess.

Back to this, it is very well-made, actually looking authentic without being too late-70s/early-80s with nice photography and costumes and sets that are both sumptuous and atmospheric. The dialogue is very faithful to Agatha Christie and helps to make the mystery interesting throughout, and the story, while paced slowly but appropriately, is both suspenseful and intricate, if seemingly implausible on first viewing. On this point, I do think this is an adaptation that is best to see more than once, then again I might be alone in this notion. I personally liked the cast, James Warwick and Francesca Annis are very likable and reminds one fondly of their Tommy and Tuppence, while John Gielgud- while not stealing scenes as seamlessly as in Seven Dials Mystery- is his usual commanding self. Joan Hickson also has a glorious and deliciously over-the-top cameo, but it is Eric Porter's alert and sometimes alarming Doctor that indeed steals the show.

Overall, not perfect and not the most accessible of Agatha Christie adaptations(I also think Seven Dials Mystery, which had most of the cast from here in that, is better), but well-made and interesting with a good cast and far better than the later adaptation. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Slow and unengaging

[Rosabel · 5/10 · 13 September 2000]

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.

Well worth watching.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 1 February 2020]

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

A little hokey but true to Christie

[Ospidillo · 5/10 · 28 January 2008]

The acting was a bit stilted in this one but, all in all, not a bad rendition of a Christie favorite (I'm a HUGE Christie fan). The filming comes off as sort of soap-opera-ie for the indoor shots but the outdoor scenes are A-O-K.

I confess (as a Christie apologist) that this is one of Christie's more implausible mysteries but the director pulled it off darn good, without making his actors look ridiculous, (always a potential problem with Christie films). I was especially impressed with the length of this film, quite long, and a good partial afternoon of DVD or TV entertainment as far as I am concerned.

To summarize, if you're an absolute Agatha Christie NUT, go ahead and consider this one an 8-star rating... however, if you are randomly looking around for ANY film to watch, regardless of genre, and have never seen a Christie mystery, you might find this to be a TWO.... (or a ONE!). I liked it a great deal and very much recommend it to appropriate fans.

Very accurate!

[ab_fab2000 · 29 January 2001]

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!

Excellent Production

[joyinlagunahills · 10/10 · 17 October 2019]

I saw this on Acorn TV, and thought the scenes with Sir John Gielgud and James Warwick, as well as the scenes with (Lord!) Bernard Miles and James Warwick were sensational. And, Warwick should be applauded for his wonderful performances with the venerable old masters. Of course, Francesca Annis was perfect as Frankie. The character of Badger Beadon (played by Robert Longden) was great fun. The screenwriters (none are credited) used the near final scene in which Roger tells Frankie about all of his villainous deeds, in place of the novel's letter from Roger (while not knowing how else the screenwriters could have conveyed all this information, the latter was the one scene that I disliked). The movie is long, beautifully photographed, the scenery is picturesque. Yes, there are some slow moments, but overall, this was an excellent presentation of Christie's book, well acted and a worthy production.

Is there an Evans?

[Bernie4444 · 10/10 · 19 April 2021]

Bobby Jones (James Warwick) is pitifully attempting to play golf on the ground above the cliff to the sea. He would most assuredly hit someone if the ball just gets that far. He hears a cry but just plays on. That is until the search for the ball takes him to the edge of the cliff where it appears that a hiker fell on the rocks below. Bobby rushes to the aid of the fallen man. The fallen man becomes conscious just long enough to say "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" then expires.

From here characters pour in from all sides and you need to keep a scorecard and there are several doctors and mysteriously guilty-looking people. You may guess some of the stories but not all as they hold back most of the clues until the last moment.

Once again Britton has excelled in bringing a great Agatha Christie story to life. They did not try to overstate or rush through the story. Also true to Christie's writing, they left in the characters instead of trying to homogenize them into fewer numbers for TV's sake.

We recognize the actors for other such stories:

James Warwick who trained at the Central School in London also played Tommy in Agatha Christie's "Partners in Crime" series.

Francesca Annis was Tuppence in the "Partners in Crime" series. But where I remember her most as Lady Jessica in "Dune" (1984).

Sir John Gielgud, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London played Hamlet on the stage.

The big surprise is the late Joan Hickson who made her stage debut in prudential theater in 1927 and played the best Miss Marple in the Agatha Christie series of movies. You may not recognize her but she was also the landlady in "The Man Who Never Was" (1956)

The dangers of faithfulness

[gridoon2024 · 4/10 · 31 December 2013]

This is what can happen when a film or TV adaptation of a book is so determined to remain slavishly faithful to the original source that it refuses to exercise any judgement on what to cut and what to leave in; no mystery film should run over 3 hours! "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" stars with a gripping premise, but it becomes insufferably plodding. Frankie herself says at one point (at around the middle of the picture): "Well, why didn't they ask Evans? It would have saved us an awful lot of bother!", and I share her feelings. Francesca Annis is wonderful as Frankie, and the production is lovingly crafted, but the more liberal adaptation of the same Agatha Christie story for the "Marple" series in 2009 is a more exciting film. "The Seven Dials Mystery", another Christie adaptation made in 1981 with some of the same cast and crew, is also considerably better. *1/2 out of 4.

Agatha CHRISTIE Television Classic with Francesca ANNIS and James WARWICK

[ZeddaZogenau · 8/10 · 25 March 2024]

Agatha Christie television two-parter with Francesca ANNIS and James WARWICK

Agatha CHRISTIE (1890-1976) was not particularly enthusiastic about the television adaptations of her crime novels. So it happened that most of her books were shown in the cinema during her lifetime. After the death of the "Queen Of Crime" that changed. That's why the production company London Weekend Television was able to broadcast this very faithful film adaptation of the author's 15th crime novel, which was published in the UK in 1934, on March 30, 1980. The film was directed by John DAVIES and Tony WHARMBY and the excellent screenplay was written by Pat SANDYS.

He's certainly not a passable golfer, this really likeable Bobby Jones (James WARWICK), who is once again practicing his shots with a friend on the cliffs. The two find a man who has fallen off the cliff, and as he is dying he can only ask: "Why didn't they ask Evans?" This is a question that can no longer be left in the mind of Bobby, the lovable good-for-nothing, and soon afterwards also of his childhood friend, the lovely Lady Frances Derwent (Francesca ANNIS). Especially since other strange things happen. Bobby, who is now really difficult to place, is offered a dream job in Argentina. Shortly afterwards, a poison attack was carried out on him, which luckily failed. Is there perhaps more to the whole matter? The two young people take heart and investigate on their own. They come across the strange Bassington-French family...

What a pleasure! This brilliant film adaptation of a lesser-known crime novel by the world-famous author marked the starting signal for a true Agatha Christie revival on television. Further film adaptations such as THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY (1981, again with James WARWICK) and a whole series such as PARTNERS IN CRIME (1983-1984, with Francesca ANNIS and James WARWICK as the detective couple Tommy and Tuppence) were to follow. Not to forget the long-running series about CHRISTIE's star detective "Miss Marple" (1984-1992) and "Hercule Poirot" (1989-2013)!

But back to "Evans"! Great locations in Buckinghamshire, a narrative very close to CHRISTIE's original and fantastic actors bring the right atmosphere across. This is certainly rather slow and leisurely for today's viewing habits, but that's what Agatha CHRISTIE's novels are like. Watching the two slightly overwhelmed amateur detectives looking for murderers is just great fun. Naivety suddenly meets unrestrained malevolence. And evil has an attractive and fascinating effect on both investigators. A rogue who doesn't draw political parallels to the British appeasement policy of the 1930s. Agatha CHRISTIE may not have thought quite like that, but the work is always smarter than the author.

Francesca ANNIS (*1944), who had already appeared in VIER FRAUEN UND EIN MORD (1963), was the better-known TV actress at the time and was certainly cast as the star of this production. The real discovery of this film, however, is James WARWICK, born in 1947. With a dachshund look and naive charm, he not only plays his way into the heart of the sophisticated Lady Frances, but also wins the audience's sympathy. The chemistry between the two is so good that a few years later they were able to become the dream cast for Tommy and Tuppence.

Other roles include: John GIELGUD (Reverend Jones, Bobby's father), Bernard MILES, Eric PORTER, Leigh LAWSON (alongside the German GOLDEN GLOBE winner Nastassja KINSKI in TESS), Madeline SMITH, Connie BOOTH, Robert LONGDEN. Joan HICKSON (1906-1998), the later Miss Marple (1984-1992), delivers a small masterpiece in the role of a gossip-addicted socialite.

Oh yes, in German the novel on which it is based is also known as "Ein Schritt ins Leere / A Step into the Empty".

Highly recommended, both book and film adaptation!

slow and boring

[pilot1009 · 3/10 · 2 April 2019]

Good actors but effectively runs like a Jeeves & wooster style comedy with a long winded and not very engaging story. Shame as the scenery et cetera is good.

The Boomerang Clue

[tedg · 7 November 2003]

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.

Convoluted and wordy

[ChrisScreenwriter · 5/10 · 29 October 2021]

Kind of cute, but definitely out of date, filmmaking-wise. The explanation at the end went on and on. Looking forward to the 2022 remake with Hugh Laurie!

Three hours for this...really?

[l_keith_donovan · 3/10 · 2 June 2021]

What a plodding and dull realization of a too-long novel to begin with. Agatha Christie can often be a fun time; she can also be circuitous and long-winded. There was no need for a chapter-by-chapter recreation of the book for this adaptation.

Very British - and unobtainable in the UK!

[scribe-27 · 5/10 · 20 July 2008]

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.

Three Hour Stage Play - No Intermission

[russellfriend · 3/10 · 18 April 2022]

This television production felt more like a stage play. The acting was strangely stilted by today's standards. John Gielgud was the only portrayal that was natural. Thankfully, one can press the pause button or just walk away and come back without missing much.

I would recommend the modern production which is broken up into a limited series.