Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)

While golfing on the Welsh coast, Bobby Jones apparently hits a stranger who falls off the the sea cliff. His enigmatic last words are "Why didn't they ask Evans?"

Directors:

John Davies, Tony Wharmby

Writer:

Agatha Christie (novel)

Stars:

Francesca Annis, John Gielgud, Bernard Miles

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Francesca Annis	...	Lady Frances Derwent
John Gielgud	...	Reverend Jones
Bernard Miles	...	Dr. Thomas
Eric Porter	...	Dr. Nicholson
Leigh Lawson	...	Roger Bassington-ffrench
James Warwick	...	Bobby Jones
Madeline Smith	...	Moira Nicholson
Connie Booth	...	Sylvia Bassington-ffrench
Robert Longden	...	Badger Beadon
Doris Hare	...	Rose Pratt
Joan Hickson	...	Mrs. Rivington
Rowland Davies	...	Dr. George Arbuthnot
James Cossins	...	Henry Bassington-ffrench
Mitzi Rogers	...	Mrs. Cayman
John Pennington	...	Mr. Cayman

Storyline

While out playing golf with his friend Dr. Thomas, Bobby Jones finds a man who has apparently fallen over the side of a cliff onto the seaside rocks below. His dying words are "Why didn't they ask Evans?". The dead man is identified by his sister Mrs. Cayman as Alex Pritchard, who had recently returned to the UK from abroad and was on a walking tour. Bobby and his friend Lady Frances Derwent soon conclude that illicit drugs are at the core of the mystery and suspicion falls on a certain Dr. Nicholson who runs a country clinic for drug addicts. The mystery revolves around a will and numerous false or stolen identities. But just who is Evans and what should he/she have been asked?

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Plot Keywords:

drug addict | last words | golf | dying words | whodunit | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Askel tyhjyyteen

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT), ITV - Independent Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Joan Hickson's third appearance in 43 years in a screen adaptation of an Agatha Christie story or novel, following A Night of Terror (1937) and Murder She Said (1961). Hickson subsequently played Christie's character Jane Marple 12 times in 8 years in a series of TV-movies, including the remake of the 1961 film as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: 4:50 from Paddington (1987).

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Quotes

Moira Nicholson: I'm Moira Nicholson. Dr. Nicholson's my husband. He wants to murder me.

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Connections

Version of Agatha Christie's Marple: Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (2009)

User Reviews

Involving and Accurate Depiction of Novel

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.