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Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

  • TV Movie
  • 1980
  • Not Rated
  • 3h
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
941
YOUR RATING
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)
CrimeMysteryRomance

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?"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?"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
  • Writers
    • Agatha Christie
    • Pat Sandys
  • Stars
    • Francesca Annis
    • John Gielgud
    • Bernard Miles
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    941
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • John Davies
      • Tony Wharmby
    • Writers
      • Agatha Christie
      • Pat Sandys
    • Stars
      • Francesca Annis
      • John Gielgud
      • Bernard Miles
    • 22User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

    Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)
    Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)
    Francesca Annis, Connie Booth, Leigh Lawson, Eric Porter, Madeline Smith, and James Warwick in Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)
    Robert Longden in Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)
    Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)
    Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)
    Francesca Annis in Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Francesca Annis
    Francesca Annis
    • Lady Frances Derwent
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Reverend Jones
    Bernard Miles
    Bernard Miles
    • Dr. Thomas
    Eric Porter
    Eric Porter
    • Dr. Nicholson
    Leigh Lawson
    Leigh Lawson
    • Roger Bassington-ffrench
    James Warwick
    James Warwick
    • Bobby Jones
    Madeline Smith
    Madeline Smith
    • Moira Nicholson
    Connie Booth
    Connie Booth
    • Sylvia Bassington-ffrench
    Robert Longden
    • Badger Beadon
    Doris Hare
    Doris Hare
    • Rose Pratt
    Joan Hickson
    Joan Hickson
    • Mrs. Rivington
    Rowland Davies
    • Dr. George Arbuthnot
    James Cossins
    James Cossins
    • Henry Bassington-ffrench
    Mitzi Rogers
    Mitzi Rogers
    • Mrs. Cayman
    John Pennington
    • Mr. Cayman
    Lynda La Plante
    Lynda La Plante
    • Mrs. Roberts
    • (as Lynda Marchal)
    Deddie Davies
    Deddie Davies
    • Postmistress
    Frank Tregear
    • Mr. Roberts
    • Directors
      • John Davies
      • Tony Wharmby
    • Writers
      • Agatha Christie
      • Pat Sandys
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      This was Joan Hickson's third appearance in forty-three years in a screen adaptation of a Dame Agatha Christie story or novel, following A Night of Terror (1937) and Murder She Said (1961). Hickson subsequently played Christie's character Miss Jane Marple twelve times in eight years in a series of television movies, including Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: 4:50 from Paddington (1987).
    • Quotes

      Dr. Nicholson: Drugs always end in tragedy... always!

    • Connections
      Version of Marple: Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (2009)

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    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.
    helpful•44
    2
    • jgorton
    • Apr 14, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 21, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Warum haben sie nicht Evans gefragt?
    • Filming locations
      • Madoes, 55 High Street, Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(the Swan Hotel)
    • Production companies
      • London Weekend Television (LWT)
      • ITV - Independent Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      3 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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