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Quiz about The Many Faces of Hercule Poirot

The Many Faces of Hercule Poirot Quiz

Many actors have played Hercule Poirot over the years, both on large or small screen and on stage. We all have our favourites! How many can you identify?

A multiple-choice quiz by balaton. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
balaton

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
363,315

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
340

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the first actor to exercise the "little grey cells" of Hercule Poirot in any medium? Hint

Basil Rathbone

Charles Laughton

Laurence Olivier

Albert Finney

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Question 2 of 10

2. Born in Belfast in 1897, which actor became the first to play Poirot on screen in three films, made at Twickenham studios, in the 1930 decade? Hint

Austin Trevor

John Cavendish

Peter Ustinov

Rudolph Valentino

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Question 3 of 10

3. Agatha Christie's daughter, Rosalind Hicks, watching a performance by this actor, said, "That's not Poirot. He isn't at all like that." To whom was she referring? Hint

Sean Connery

John Suchet

David Suchet

Peter Ustinov

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which actor was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Poirot? Hint

Richard Cooper

Albert Finney

Ralph Richardson

Austin Trevor

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the film adaptation of "Lord Edgware Dies" ("Thirteen at Dinner"), in 1985 which two actors appear as Hercule Poirot and Inspector Japp? Hint

Alfred Molina and Arthur Hastings

Peter Ustinov and David Suchet

Basil Rathbone and Richard Cooper

David Suchet and Ian Holm

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which actor appeared as Poirot in "Death on the Nile" (1978), "Evil Under the Sun" (1982) and "Appointment with Death" (1988)? Hint

Peter Davies

Albert Finney

Peter Ustinov

Alfred Molina

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1960, MGM acquired television rights to all unadapted Christie mysteries. The series never materialized. Who was to have played Poirot? Hint

Tony Curtis

Jose Ferrer

Jeremy Brett

William Shatner

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Question 8 of 10

8. 1966 saw the release of "The Alphabet Murders" based on "The ABC Murders".
Who played the role of Poirot in this film? Hint

Hugh Fraser

Richard Cooper.

David Suchet

Tony Randall

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Question 9 of 10

9. British TV drama premiered in 1989 a series of Poirot dramas featuring David Suchet as the detective. What is the final book in the series? Hint

"Hercule Poirot's Christmas"

"Curtain"

"Last of the Summer Wine"

"The End of the Affair"

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Question 10 of 10

10. In the television series version of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", which actor portrays Poirot's exasperation with growing vegetable marrows? Hint

Bill Sowerbutts

Alfred Molina

Alan Titchmarsh

David Suchet

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the first actor to exercise the "little grey cells" of Hercule Poirot in any medium?

Answer: Charles Laughton

The play, "Alibi", based on the Christie book, "The murder of Roger Ackroyd", appeared in the West End of London in 1928, with Laughton playing the detective. It was adapted for the stage by Michael Morton

The characters were changed slightly and a couple of sub-plots removed. Hercule Poirot also repeatedly referred to the fact that he was French - something which, in fact, in all the Christie works makes him indignant!

Laughton also produced and starred in an unsuccessful Broadway production in 1932.

2. Born in Belfast in 1897, which actor became the first to play Poirot on screen in three films, made at Twickenham studios, in the 1930 decade?

Answer: Austin Trevor

Austin Trevor appeared in "Alibi" in 1931, based on "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd"; "Black Coffee" in 1931, based on a Christie play of the same name; "Lord Edgware Dies" in 1934.

Rudolph Valentino was a silent screen romantic actor. John Cavendish is a character in "The Mysterious Affair at Styles".

3. Agatha Christie's daughter, Rosalind Hicks, watching a performance by this actor, said, "That's not Poirot. He isn't at all like that." To whom was she referring?

Answer: Peter Ustinov

Ustinov's reply is said to have been - "Well, he is now."

Many regard David Suchet as the definitive Poirot. John is his brother and is not an actor. His face is known on British TV as a news presenter. Connery has never played Poirot. Hercule could never stand the pace!
Connery did however have a supporting role in "Murder on the Orient Express"
(1974)

Rosalind Hicks was Christie's daughter by her first husband, ex- pilot Archie Christie.

4. Which actor was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Poirot?

Answer: Albert Finney

Finney claimed that this role typecast him for years. ("Murder on the Orient Express" 1974)

Agatha Christie did not approve of him in the role.
She said that she had declared that Poirot had the finest moustache in England and that this was not borne out by Finney's appearance in the film.
He did not win the award.
The plot was inspired by the real life abduction of the Lindbergh baby.

5. In the film adaptation of "Lord Edgware Dies" ("Thirteen at Dinner"), in 1985 which two actors appear as Hercule Poirot and Inspector Japp?

Answer: Peter Ustinov and David Suchet

David Suchet played the part of Japp in this film, just before he began his long series in the role of Poirot.

He is said to have commented that he regarded this as the nadir of his acting career and the worst performance he ever turned in!

6. Which actor appeared as Poirot in "Death on the Nile" (1978), "Evil Under the Sun" (1982) and "Appointment with Death" (1988)?

Answer: Peter Ustinov

Peter Ustinov was born Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinov in Swiss Cottage, London in 1921 and is one of the most recognized Poirots.
Peter Davies has never played Poirot.

7. In 1960, MGM acquired television rights to all unadapted Christie mysteries. The series never materialized. Who was to have played Poirot?

Answer: Jose Ferrer

Instead of the intended series MGM began a Miss Marple series of films, starring Margaret Rutherford.

Jeremy Brett is known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes

William Shatner of course is better known as Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.

8. 1966 saw the release of "The Alphabet Murders" based on "The ABC Murders". Who played the role of Poirot in this film?

Answer: Tony Randall

This film (1966) is better regarded as a comedy! Liberties are taken with the plot and Robert Morley is totally miscast as a bumbling, overweight Hastings! Critics have not been kind to it.

9. British TV drama premiered in 1989 a series of Poirot dramas featuring David Suchet as the detective. What is the final book in the series?

Answer: "Curtain"

"Curtain" is the final book and in it Poirot himself dies. There is a surprise twist at the end which a revelation would spoil for those who have not read the book.

Hugh Frazer and Philip Jackson appear as Hastings and Japp respectively.

10. In the television series version of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", which actor portrays Poirot's exasperation with growing vegetable marrows?

Answer: David Suchet

Bill Sowerbutts and Alan Titchmarsh are UK TV gardeners!

Poirot's first encounter with the murderer is when he almost hits him on the head with a vegetable marrow!

Source: Author balaton

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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