Look at it this way: why have two adaptations of the same novel, one completely butchered and (depending on the Poirot in mind) the other either dreadful or good? Producers wouldn't back it. I was rather bored with all the references to "my nephew Raymond" to explain MM's presence somewhere, without ever seeing Raymond (except in Nemesis, where he was a dreadful womaniser and I hated him).

As for MOTOE: Miss Marple wouldn't fit! Physically, she would be unable to fit in with the passengers along with Dolly. If you remove Dolly, she has no reason to be anywhere NEAR Istanbul! The cabins were simply booked. Hang the director of the company and her friend! The passengers paid money for their compartments well in advance! They can go to a different car! But then, there goes the mystery.

So, once again, MM should stay away from Poirots. I have no problem with seeing her in non-series books, or even with T&T as they always were rather stupid. But a series detective (like HP) should never be replaced by another, unless it is done by the author of the original work. I don't see Agatha Christie's name credited as the screenwriter.

"Mille fois non, non, non!" is French for "A thousand times no, no, no!". That exclamation still stands.

I totally dissagree with you about MOTOE but Mainly about your description of the non series books, yes some I didn't like Passenger to Frankfurt, Sparkling Cyanide, Endless Night and Murder Is Easy but some like The Man In The Brown Suit, Why Didn't They Ask Evans, The Seven Dials Mystery and The Secret of Chimneys were excellent.

Look, Tommy, there's nothing to disagree with. It's physically impossible to cram in MM and Dolly together in the same car as the other passengers while keeping the mystery. You have no argument.

go_leafs, I was going to say that over night I had come to your way of thinking BUT thinking about it more obviously adding MM and Dolly would mean slight changes and there is no reason thaty one change could be that the Train has just 2 spaces left, surely if it was stated that MM and Dolly weee expected that would mean adding them would be fine after all there is no reason that the Guilty party should know that they were boarding the train is there? Another change could be is Bundle and Bill could replace Poirot as a n Aniversary present maybe. 

But there was only one empty compartment, with one bed. MM wouldn't let Dolly give up her cabin for her; they'd probably both just go to another car. Are you suggesting suspects be eliminated? Well, there goes a vital clue (the Molina version butchered this up too)! As for Bundle and Bill-- just no. They don't belong anywhere within a thousand miles of Murder on the Orient Express. They may stay in The Seven Dials Mystery.

go_leafs, I am not proposing eliminating any character I am just proposing a mild change, in a remake the Train wouldn't have to be full, but if eliminating a Character had to happen surely the only one who could be eliminated is Bouc, as he was the link between Poirot and the train Compony that role could be traken by Dolly if she was a Director and if the Train wasn't full there might be just enough room for Bunfle and Bill, Bill cou;d be a representative of the firm keeping an eye on the train which again would mean eliminating Bouc.

But Bouc WASN'T IN THE CAR in the novel. Remember? He gave Poirot his compartment and went to another car, which was only occupied by the Greek doctor. Bundle and Bill wouldn't seperate like that. MM wouldn't let Dolly do that; they'd both agree to go to another car. Besides, Bundle and Bill don't belong anywhere near Murder on the Orient Express. They can stay in their little realm of light-hearted thrillers.

I had forgotten that bit go_leafs but having said that there is no reason at all why the Train couldn't have more space and surely aren't there more than one Car on a Train so the Doctor and Bouc could stay in another, the train would have to stop because of the Snow anyway and Bouc and the Doctor could join the others then, If they are helping Poirot they wouldn't be sleeping anyway would they?

You forget that Poirot's presence in the car was vital, as clues were quite literally paraded in front of him very deliberately.

I had forgotten that but couldn't they be paraded in fromnt of Miss Marple just as well

a) Not if she wasn't in the car (a "with Dolly" scenario

b) Remove Dolly, and it can happen, but MM has no reason to be near Istanbul.

I'm throughly against replacing Poirot. He belongs in his novels; let them stay as is. That's my final word on the matter.

All I am saying is removing Poiurot and Bouc and replaceing them with Miss Marple and Dolly is by Far Much better than putting Miss Marple in some of the Books which have never been Adapted on Television or Film but Ultimately Poirot belongs in the Adaspts he should be in and same for Miss Marple ALTHOUGH;

A) I Enjoyed the MR Films and I think SOME Non-Series Books are not to my taste like; The Crooked House, Endless Night and Sparkling Cyanide and if ITV, Chorion, etc put her in those three they would be much improved.