Kenneth Branagh makes his return as Hercule Poirot in the highly anticipated film, “A Haunting in Venice,” which will be hitting theaters next week. This time, the beloved Belgian detective is drawn out of retirement to solve a murder that takes place during a Venetian séance. Joining Branagh in the star-studded cast are Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, Camille Cottin, and Tina Fey. This marks Branagh’s third portrayal of Poirot, a character he clearly loves and portrays with great nuance and flair. However, he is not the first actor to take on the role. Throughout the years, Poirot has been played by the likes of Albert Finney and Orson Welles.
However, one cannot ignore David Suchet’s iconic interpretation of Poirot in the long-running Poirot dramas on ITV. His portrayal truly captures the essence of the character, highlighting his quirks and eccentricities, as Agatha Christie intended – her own words describe Poirot as a “detestable, bombastic, tiresome, egocentric little creep.” Nevertheless, both Poirot and his great rival, Sherlock Holmes, make my list of the best screen detectives. Holmes may not be the epitome of politeness, but that only adds to his charm. We enjoy our screen detectives when they possess unique qualities like quirkiness, eccentricity, and even arrogance. After all, charm is not a prerequisite for fighting crime. Our favorite detectives are flawed, but their imperfections make them relatable and help them better comprehend the evils they face on our behalf. I, personally, have a soft spot for both competent and incompetent detectives. Here are my top ten favorites:
10. Jacques Clouseau: Although not a real detective, this bumbling fool created by Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers in the 1960s hilariously parodied the beloved murder mystery conventions and cleverly played on British skepticism towards the French. Forget about the forgettable 1968 film and the dreadful Steve Martin reboots. Instead, focus on the original 1963 film, “The Pink Panther,” and its 1964 sequel, “A Shot in the Dark.” The latter perfectly captures Clouseau’s comedic essence as he wreaks havoc while investigating a suspicious death at a millionaire’s country house. As his frazzled boss Dreyfus quips at one point, “If someone has been murdered here, please let it be Clouseau!”
9. Lisbeth Salander: In a rare interview, Swedish crime writer Stieg Larsson described Salander as the grown-up version of Pippi Longstocking. Throughout Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, Lisbeth endures a series of hardships before triumphing over her enemies and fading into the night, where she truly belongs. Portrayed effectively by Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, and others in Hollywood adaptations, it was Noomi Rapace who truly embodied Salander’s damaged and relentless spirit in the original Swedish film, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2009). In that movie and its sequels, Rapace’s portrayal is raw and unforgettable.
8. Jules Maigret: Belgian author Georges Simenon wrote an astounding 75 novels featuring the quiet yet fundamentally decent Parisian police inspector, Maigret. These beautifully written stories were perfect candidates for screen adaptations. Jean Renoir was the first to cast his brother Pierre as Maigret in “Night at the Crossroads” (1932). Other notable actors who took on the role include Charles Laughton in “The Man on the Eiffel Tower” (1950) and Jean Richard in a long-running French TV series. But it was Jean Gabin who truly shone as Maigret in three feature films of the 1950s and ’60s, with “Maigret Sets a Trap” (1958) being the standout.
7. Clarice Starling: Jonathan Demme’s “The Silence of the Lambs” would have been a grueling watch without Clarice Starling. Jodie Foster’s portrayal of the determined and vulnerable FBI trainee humanized the film, despite its abundance of monsters. Starling is tasked with entering the lion’s den and engaging in a gripping battle of wits with the caged maniac, Hannibal Lecter. The scenes between Clarice and Lecter are enthralling, with Clarice cunningly manipulating Lecter’s intellectual vanity. Julianne Moore and Rebecca Breeds also stepped into the role, but it is Jodie Foster’s Clarice that will always be remembered.
6. Sherlock Holmes: Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective may have made his first appearance in a 1900 short film, “Sherlock Holmes Baffled,” but he has since become a fixture of over 80 feature films, along with countless TV and radio adaptations. Basil Rathbone is widely recognized as the most famous on-screen Sherlock, having played him in 14 films between 1939 and 1946. However, Hollywood standards at the time led to a sanitized version of Holmes, removing his arrogance and addiction issues, resulting in a rather lackluster portrayal. Recent adaptations have embraced Holmes’ flaws, with Robert Downey Jr. delivering a solid performance in Guy Ritchie’s steampunk films. Benedict Cumberbatch also gained a large following with his portrayal in the clever BBC dramas, although their longevity remains uncertain.
5. Hercule Poirot: Monsieur Poirot made his big-screen debut way back in 1931, played by Austin Trevor, who humorously claimed he was cast because of his ability to do a French accent. Many of Poirot’s successors also exaggerated the character’s Gallic mannerisms. When Agatha Christie’s daughter, Rosalind Hicks, saw Peter Ustinov rehearsing for “Death on the Nile” (1978), she famously claimed, “That’s not Poirot – he isn’t like that at all!” In response, Ustinov reportedly replied, “He is now.” Ustinov’s six Poirot films became television staples. Albert Finney received an Oscar nomination for his performance in “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974), and Kenneth Branagh has grown into the role with his recent portrayal. However, David Suchet’s interpretation remains the definitive one.
4. Marlowe: Raymond Chandler’s Marlowe stories are the epitome of crime novels in the literary world and have been adapted for the big screen multiple times. Actors like Dick Powell and Robert Montgomery portrayed Marlowe in ’40s adaptations of Chandler’s novels, such as “Murder, My Sweet” and “Lady in the Lake.” However, it’s Howard Hawks’s film adaptation of “The Big Sleep” that remains etched in our memories. Humphrey Bogart perfectly captured Marlowe’s world-weary cynicism in this complex noir film. James Garner and Elliott Gould also presented their versions of Marlowe in subsequent films, but Robert Mitchum’s aging portrayal in the ’70s is regarded as the best by connoisseurs.
3. Marge Gunderson: Marge Gunderson only appeared in a single film, but oh, what a film it was. The Coen brothers’ “Fargo” captured the zeitgeist of the mid-’90s and left an enduring impact. Frances McDormand’s Marge, the resilient police chief of Brainerd, Minnesota, stood out in a story filled with villains. When Fargo’s criminal activities go awry, it is Marge who catches the culprits but struggles to comprehend their motivations. Her small-town goodness is a stark contrast to all the depravity. As Marge would say, “Ya — you betcha!”
2. Benoit Blanc: Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” is a loving homage to the works of Agatha Christie and other crime writers. This fresh take on the genre emerged as a breath of fresh air in late 2019, just before the pandemic hit. Daniel Craig, enjoying a break from Bond’s physical demands, played the enigmatic detective Benoit Blanc. With his unexpected accent and playful demeanor, Blanc added a delightful twist to the traditional detective character.
And finally, my number one favorite screen detective:
1. Columbo: Peter Falk’s portrayal of Lieutenant Columbo is unmatched. This rumpled detective with his seemingly absent-minded behavior and persistent questioning was a staple of ’70s television. Columbo’s brilliance lay in underestimating suspects with his unassuming appearance, allowing him to slowly unravel complex murder mysteries with his unique blend of charm and keen observation. Peter Falk’s effortlessly captivating performance solidified Columbo as the epitome of a beloved, and slightly disheveled, crime solver.
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