General Knowledge Quiz

[Gloster]

Both worked as hospital pharmacists.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Both worked as hospital pharmacists.

Afraid not - sorry.

 

[Calthrop]

Getting frantic -- they were both born in the 1890s?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Getting frantic -- they were both born in the 1890s?

Again, they might have been, but it's not what I'm looking for.

I'll give you two clues: the answer is not something that they did themselves, but something which other people have given them credit for. The "something" is very similar, but they did it (or were supposed to have done it) separately and at different times.

 

[Intercity110]

Again, they might have been, but it's not what I'm looking for.

I'll give you two clues: the answer is not something that they did themselves, but something which other people have given them credit for. The "something" is very similar, but they did it (or were supposed to have done it) separately and at different times.

Both had oscars?

 

[xotGD]

Solved a murder?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Both had oscars?

I'm afraid not, sorry.

Solved a murder?

This is as near as anyone has got so far, so I've decided to give it to you.

The full answer is that both Agatha Christie and Josephine Tey have been the subject of fictional books written by other authors in which (amongst other things) they do solve murders. The Agatha Christie series is written by Andrew Wilson and those featuring Josephine Tey by Nicola Upson.

The deerstalker is yours to wear, sir!

 

[xotGD]

A very generous decision!

Which fictional character has been portrayed by Richard Cooper, Robert Morley, Jonathan Cecil, Dmitry Krylov and Hugh Fraser on TV or in films?

 

[Gloster]

Captain Hastings?

 

[xotGD]

Captain Hastings?

Correct!

Your floor...

 

[Gloster]

Continuing on the theme. Agatha Christie disliked most of the film versions of her books: the only exceptions were Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and Murder on The Orient Express (1974). However, there was one aspect of the latter film that she was unhappy about. What was it?

 

[DaleCooper]

Continuing on the theme. Agatha Christie disliked most of the film versions of her books: the only exceptions were Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and Murder on The Orient Express (1974). However, there was one aspect of the latter film that she was unhappy about. What was it?

Not enough sex and violence.

 

[Calthrop]

Alternative not-totally-serious suggestion -- when the rescue train, with snowplough, shows up: its motive power is a SNCF class 141R Mikado. Maybe Agatha was bothered about that, because she regarded it as an ugly machine; and it was anachronistic -- film's action takes place in 1935, whereas the 141R class didn't come into being for another ten years (and if I recall rightly, per the plot this action is taking place in Yugoslavia, not France) ...

 

[Gloster]

Not enough sex and violence.

No. (Aren’t five deaths enough?)

Alternative not-totally-serious suggestion -- when the rescue train, with snowplough, shows up: its motive power is a SNCF class !4!R Mikado. Maybe Agatha was bothered about that, because she regarded it as an ugly machine; and it was anachronistic -- film's action takes place in 1935, whereas the 141R class didn't come into being for another ten years (and if I recall rightly, per the plot this action is taking place in Yugoslavia, not France) ...

Indeed, it was a 141R. The train loco was a Paris-Orleans type, which only worked south-west of Paris at that time and it carried an SNCF number. I really don’t know how the film’s producers could hold their heads up after producing such appalling inaccuracies. But no, not correct.

 

[MotCO]

Continuing on the theme. Agatha Christie disliked most of the film versions of her books: the only exceptions were Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and Murder on The Orient Express (1974). However, there was one aspect of the latter film that she was unhappy about. What was it?

Wasn't the conclusion - Spolier Alert - that no-one could be identified as the actual murderer so they were all let off, whereas did Agatha want the murderer to be identified?

 

[Gloster]

Wasn't the conclusion - Spolier Alert - that no-one could be identified as the actual murderer so they were all let off, whereas did Agatha want the murderer to be identified?

No.

You should use your little grey cells to find the answer.

 

[xotGD]

Was the book not set in winter, so the whole 'line blocked by snow' malarkey was not true to the original?

 

[Gloster]

Was the book not set in winter, so the whole 'line blocked by snow' malarkey was not true to the original?

No, the train was stuck in the snow in the original book.

 

[MotCO]

She did not like Albert Finney as Poirot?

 

[Gloster]

She did not like Albert Finney as Poirot?

Now that is getting near: it was a particular element of the portrayal of Poirot.

 

[xotGD]

Now that is getting near: it was a particular element of the portrayal of Poirot.

Too tall?

 

[DaleCooper]

Now that is getting near: it was a particular element of the portrayal of Poirot.

French rather than Belgian

 

[Gloster]

Too tall?

French rather than Belgian

Neither. Think what Poirot was proud of (and also Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of him).

 

[Peterthegreat]

His lack of a moustache.

 

[Gloster]

His lack of a moustache.

I will give you that. In the books Poirot is proud of his large and magnificent moustache, but in the film, while they are beautifully looked after, Finney’s moustache is quite modest in size. Christie seems to have been somewhat annoyed by this.

To you to shout ’Action’.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Let us stay with the film!
Although several of the stars were nominated for Oscars for their parts who was the only person to win one?

 

[xotGD]

I'll try the obvious answer: Albert Finney

 

[Mcr Warrior]

How about Kenneth Branagh?

 

[Peterthegreat]

I'll try the obvious answer: Albert Finney

Nope not him!

 

[Peterthegreat]

How about Kenneth Branagh?

He wasnt in the 1974 version.