Maigret Sets a Trap, starring Rowan Atkinson as the legendary French cop, aired on ITV this evening. Many eyebrows were raised by the casting of Atkinson as Georges Simenon's Chief Inspector Maigret, but John Simenon expressed his delight with the performance when we discussed Golden Age fiction on stage at the Essex Book Festival a fortnight ago, and having seen the show, I can see why. Atkinson, I felt, did a pretty good job. There's more to him as an actor than Blackadder and Mr Bean.
I never saw the famous Maigret series starring Rupert Davies, for which I was too young, but I did enjoy one of John's anecdotes about it - apparently his father taught Rupert Davies how to use a pipe. Wisely, the pipe was retained for the new show: Maigret without his pipe would be rather like Morse without opera or Marple without her knitting - somehow incomplete. Maigret doesn't drive, and Atkinson - a car obsessive - wanted to change that, but wisely, the temptation was again resisted.
I did see the series in which Michael Gambon played Maigret,and I quite liked it, but felt that it lacked excitement. Some aspects of the Maigret stories are low-key (and when I first read them as a teenager, I was slightly underwhelmed, although with hindsight I feel that this was perhaps due to the nature of the translations) but a crime story that doesn't grip and, in some way, excite doesn't have much of a future. The Maigret books are short and snappy, and I worried that a two-hour version might drag.
Stewart Harcourt's script set out to solve that problem with sparse dialogue, and a concentration on mood rather than plot twists. Watching Maigret Sets a Trap was a very different experience from watching Morse, Lewis or Endeavour, but a capable supporting cast, including Fiona Shaw, Aidan McCardle, and Lucy Cohu - very good as Madame Maigret - helped to make it enjoyable viewing. (And did I spot John Simenon making a cameo appearance at the end of the story? I think so.)
Coincidentally, I embarked on a Simenon reading binge a little while ago, and the republication of his work by Penguin, with excellent fresh translations, has re-ignited my enthusiasm for this remarkable author. So has hearing John speak about his father, with insight and affection. I'm hoping to review a number of Simenon books in the coming months - not just Maigrets, but also some of his non-series work. In the meantime, I look forward to the next TV adaptation.
8 comments:
This should be interesting: one of my favorite comedic actors and one of my favorite fictional detectives. Waiting for them to be available stateside.
I don't know if you've read some of Simenon's non-Maigret novels. There's some very good ones.
I am in the midst of reading a half dozen or so of the non-Maigrets. They are dark and remorseless--but I can't stop reading them!
Very interesting. I'm glad Rowan Atkinson gets a chance to expand, as there is always more to a talented actor than the roles they have previously played. I agree that Michael Gambon is a great actor who was a bit quiet in the previous Maigret adaptation.
Yes, Martin, I too enjoyed it. Atkinson brought that same stillness to the role that Michael Kitchen managed with Foyle. You can almost see Maigret's mind working!
Glad you thought it was worthwhile - I have yet to catch up with it and The Guardian's review was so negative that I was seriously thinking of not bothering! It's a classic book int he series and a good one to start with. I thought the Gambon series was seriously underpowered though, despite the excellent casting of the lead.
I'm going to catch up with this tonight...am looking forward to this.
Just finished watching and loved it! RA was excellent. I like him quiet and thoughtful like this. And the detail was perfect. I loved seeing the streets and the clothes and the fans, etc. Perfect.
I enjoyed it in a low-key way - perfect Bank Holiday watching, and great clothes! And, like the Night Manager, it was good to watch it in real time, able to enjoy comments, discussions and reviews afterwards. Our time-shifted life is very convenient, but it makes me appreciate more those days when we can sit down with family and watch something, knowing that many friends are doing the same.
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