The Alphabet Murders (1965)

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
David Pursall (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 May 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Comedy

Tagline:

It's really no mystery why this girl is MURDER... it's as simple as ABC if you look hard enough!

Plot:

The Belgian detective Hercule Poirot investigates a series of murders in London in which the victims are killed according to their initials...

Plot Keywords:

Dead Woman On Floor | Agatha Christie | Stockings | Boots | Detective

Cast

Tony Randall	...	Hercule Poirot
Anita Ekberg	...	Amanda Beatrice Cross
Robert Morley	...	Hastings
Maurice Denham	...	Japp
Guy Rolfe	...	Duncan Doncaster
Sheila Allen	...	Lady Diane
James Villiers	...	Franklin
Julian Glover	...	Don Fortune
Grazina Frame	...	Betty Barnard
Clive Morton	...	'K'
Cyril Luckham	...	Sir Carmichael Clarke
Richard Wattis	...	Wolf
David Lodge	...	Sergeant
Patrick Newell	...	Cracknell
Austin Trevor	...	Judson
Alison Seebohm	...	Miss Sparks
Windsor Davies	...	Dragbot
Sheila Reid	...	Mrs. Fortune
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stringer Davis	...	Mr. Stringer (uncredited)
Sally Douglas	...	Glamorous girl in gaming club (uncredited)
Drewe Henley	...	(uncredited)
Margaret Rutherford	...	Miss Jane Marple (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Tashlin

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(novel "The A.B.C. Murders")
David Pursall		(writer) and
Jack Seddon		(writer)

Produced by
Ben Arbeid	....	associate producer
Lawrence P. Bachmann	....	producer

Original Music by
Ron Goodwin

Cinematography by
Desmond Dickinson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Victor-Smith		(as John Victor Smith)

Casting by
Irene Howard		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
William C. Andrews		(as Bill Andrews)

Makeup Department
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Albert Becket	....	production manager
Jake Wright	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Tomblin	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Bill Creed	....	sound editor
Sash Fisher	....	sound recordist
Fred Turtle	....	dubbing mixer
A.W. Watkins	....	recording supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Harry Gillam	....	camera operator
Dennis Fraser	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hardy Amies	....	clothes: Mr. Randall

Editorial Department
Chris Kelly	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ron Goodwin	....	conductor

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1965) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1970) (USA) (TV)

Also Known As:

The ABC Murders

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U (1965) (cut) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Trivia:

At one point in its production history Seth Holt was slated to direct this film, whilst Zero Mostel was to have been Poirot.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening credits, when Poirot in London is being followed on his way to his tailor, the cars are parked facing the same way on both sides of the street, indicating a one-way street - but the moving traffic is going in the opposite direction.

Quotes:

Hastings: Where have you been? What have you been doing?
Hercule Poirot: Arranging a little extra insurance my friend.
Hastings: Oh really? Personally I always feel perfectly safe with British railways. Mind you its very different in France, isn't it?
Hercule Poirot: I wouldn't know. I am not French, I am Belgian.
Hastings: Well it's the same thing, you both eat horsemeat.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Agatha Christie: Poirot: The ABC Murders (#4.1)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Amanda

Poirot in a different light...

Tony Randall is perfectly cast as Poirot if one was doing a comedy take-off on the Christie Hero. Anita Ekberg & Robert Morley do well, but it's the very familiar and delightful Margaret Rutherford (and Stringer Davis) who give this good picture a boost! I went with the comedy and found this rare effort smashingly well done. Recommended highly for those who like comedy with their Christie. A 9 from me.