Crooked House (2017)

In Agatha Christie's most twisted tale, a spy-turned-private-detective is lured by his former lover to catch her grandfather's murderer before Scotland Yard exposes dark family secrets.

Director:

Gilles Paquet-Brenner

Writers:

Julian Fellowes (screenplay), Agatha Christie (novel)

Stars:

Max Irons, Stefanie Martini, Glenn Close

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Max Irons	...	Charles Hayward
Stefanie Martini	...	Sophia de Haviland
Glenn Close	...	Lady Edith de Haviland
Honor Kneafsey	...	Josephine Leonides
Christina Hendricks	...	Brenda Leonides
Terence Stamp	...	Chief Inspector Taverner
Julian Sands	...	Philip Leonides
Gillian Anderson	...	Magda Leonides
Christian McKay	...	Roger Leonides
Amanda Abbington	...	Clemency Leonides
Preston Nyman	...	Eustace Leonides
John Heffernan	...	Laurence Brown
Jenny Galloway	...	Nanny
David Kirkbride	...	Glover
Tina Gray	...	Miss Ackroyd

Storyline

In this classic Agatha Christie detective story, former diplomat Charles Hayward has returned from Cairo to London to become a private detective. When Aristide Leonides, a wealthy and ruthless tycoon, is poisoned in his own bed, Detective Hayward is invited to solve the crime. As the investigation deepens he must confront the shocking realization that one of the key suspects is Aristede's beautiful granddaughter, his employer and former lover; and must keep a clear head to navigate the sultry Sophia and the rest of her hostile family.

---

Plot Keywords:

whodunit | murder | private detective | dysfunctional family | patriarch | 

---

Taglines:

From the bestselling author of all time, comes one of her personal favourite thrillers.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Agatha Christie's favorite of all the novels that she'd written.

---

Goofs

Although the movie takes place in late 1957, Charles Hayward (Max Irons) goes to the local cinema, sits down and is seen watching a newsreel. Incorrectly all of the cinema's house lights are switched on at 100% light output. During the projection of all of the advertising slides, the cinema's house lights are always switched on at 100% light output. However when projecting motion picture films i.e. whilst screening the newsreel and the feature film(s), the cinema's house lights are always switched completely off.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Newsreel Announcer: Death of a legend. It is with sorrow that the country learned this week of the death of Aristide Leonides. Born in 1871, he arrived from Greece, aged 23, without a penny in his pocket, and opened his first restaurant that same year. The first hotel was ready for business not long after. His first wife, Lady Marcia de Haviland, died young. But Mr. Leonides wasn't alone at the end. He is survived by his young and lovely American widow, Brenda. Here is Mr. Leonides with his eldest ...

---

Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

---

Soundtracks

You've Been Talkin' About Me Baby
Performed by Donald Byrd
By kind permission of Verve Records

User Reviews

Dreadful

This probably isn't a fair review as I only lasted 35 minutes in to this film.

It was just awful. Arch, self-conscious performances (sorry, even Glenn Close) - dark interiors, a precocious child actress, stiff dialogue...

This story has so much potential but everything about this film was dark, depressing, self-absorbed and dull, dull, dull. Most of the acting was awful.

This story needs a much lighter and more skilful touch to make it work. Deeply disappointing.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Crooked House

Filming Locations:

Dyrham Park, Dyrham, Gloucestershire, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,682,156

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stage 6 Films, Metro International Entertainment, Brilliant Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Color:

Color