REVIEW: Sparkling Cyanide (2003)

ITV

Based on Agatha Christie's 1945 novel, Sparkling Cyanide was adapted by Laura Lamson as a one off TV film, which was directed by Tristam Powell. It was first broadcast in the UK on 5th October 2003.

Story 

Colonel Geoffrey Reese and his wife Dr Kate Kendall investigate when a young woman is poisoned with potassium cyanide in a classy London nightclub among a group of her friends.

The one major change brought about by Lamson is to modernise the film by removing it from the original 1950's time period and 'dumping' it in the 21st century. So, this means that there are computers, mobile phones and forensic crimes scenes in Agatha Christie. She also turns George Barton into a football manager and Mr Fitzgerald or 'Fizz' in this film, into a football player, which gives this film a trashy feel. But when you get this out of the way the film is not bad.

The original detective of the novel, Colonel Race is renamed Reese and given a partner in crime, his wife: Dr Kate Kendall. They are both retired from the original professions and are now employed by the government as freelance detectives, this time solving a murder. The plot remains relatively close the the original a part from the time setting, but there are still changes. For example, the action is all contained within the space of about a week rather than two years.

Direction, location, soundtrack 

Tristam Powell's direction suits the modern film, with flashy lighting techniques used in the nightclub sequences. But for the rest of the film, it's nothing really to write home about, it just serves it's purpose and doesn't use any flashy or elaborate camera techniques that we have perhaps grown used to in the Poirot and Marple series.

Cast and characters

The characters of Colonel Reese and Dr Kendall remind me somewhat of an older Tommy and Tuppence as they both solves crimes together and are married. The relationship between Oliver Ford Davies and Pauline Collins is great, they have a good chemistry.