Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet) accompanies his close friend Captain Hastings (played by Hugh Fraser) to a grouse shoot on a Yorkshire moor owned by tycoon Harrington Pace (played by Bernard Horsfall). When Pace is murdered at his hunting lodge by a mysterious bearded stranger, Poirot gets Hastings to the leg work on the case for him since he has gone down with a bad case of the flu and is confined to his bed. Hastings discovers that Pace was a ruthless and unpleasant man who had cheated his business partner in County Mayo, Ireland, several years before and ruined him. He now uses his wealth to control his family, including employing his unacknowledged half-brother Jack Stoddard (played by Roy Boyd) as his gamekeeper, but would not give him the money he required to purchase his house and get married. His nephews, Roger Havering (played by Jim Norton), who has heavy gambling debts, was kept dangling on a string by assurances of wealth to come whilst Archie Havering (played by Shaughan Seymour) was employed as his estate manager without pay but with promises of a legacy. Meanwhile, the housekeeper, a rather mysterious Irish lady called Mrs Middleton has disappeared. Along with Roger's wife, Zoe (played by Diana Kent), she is the only person to have seen Pace's killer. This prompts Chief Inspector Japp (played by Philip Jackson) to put finding her as a top priority. However, Poirot, who by now has recovered enough to relieve Hastings of his duties, believes that it would be far more beneficial to find the bicycle of local railway Stationmaster Mr. Anstruther (played by Arthur Whybrow), which was stolen on the night of the murder by a man answering the description of the killer after alighting from a train. On the night in question, Roger had caught that same train from the previous station to London where he had spent the night and, seemingly, has a watertight alibi. But, when he refuses to reveal his whereabouts there on that night, Poirot and Japp are forced to suspect that he could have alighted from the train in disguise, stole the bike and rode to the lodge where he then killed his uncle. Is this indeed what happened? And just who and where is the elusive Mrs Middleton? Is there a connection between her and Pace's former business partner in Ireland? Did they plan to exact revenge on the man who ruined him before disappearing from the face of the Earth?
Another first-rate addition to ITV's celebrated series with David Suchet once again demonstrating that he is the screen's definitive Poirot. Although he is confined to his bed as a result of having flu, he still manages to keep one step ahead of Hastings even though he is the one who has had the opportunity to interview all the suspects this time around whereas he has not. There is some charming wit in TR Bowen's screenplay too. Poirot agreed to accompany his friend to the shoot because he wanted him to acquire the necessary gamebirds for a gourmet dish he was looking forward to trying out. But, after he went down with the flu, he was left disappointed since he lost his appetite and it had to be fed to the hotel's cat. Bowen did a good job in expanding Agatha Christie's short story from Poirot Investigates, which was necessary because it was too slight to stand on its own. There are numerous characters and situations added, but never does it give the impression of feeling padded and everything is in the spirit of a period Christie whodunit. As ever the acting is truly superb. Aside from Suchet, Fraser and Jackson who all offer their usual excellent performances, the entire supporting cast does fine work. Jim Norton is excellent as the murdered man's nephew and chief suspect in the case, Roger Havering, and Diana Kent scores as his loyal wife Zoe. Arthur Whybrow is also noteworthy in a comedy relief role as the Stationmaster, Mr. Anstruther, who shows little gratitude after Poirot recovers his treasured bicycle for him. The film benefits from a rich period atmosphere and the snow-covered Yorkshire moorland locations add a sense of mystery and menace to the proceedings complemented by Christopher Gunning's mood music. The very able direction is by Renny Rye who directed several episodes for this series.
Another first-rate addition to ITV's celebrated series with David Suchet once again demonstrating that he is the screen's definitive Poirot. Although he is confined to his bed as a result of having flu, he still manages to keep one step ahead of Hastings even though he is the one who has had the opportunity to interview all the suspects this time around whereas he has not. There is some charming wit in TR Bowen's screenplay too. Poirot agreed to accompany his friend to the shoot because he wanted him to acquire the necessary gamebirds for a gourmet dish he was looking forward to trying out. But, after he went down with the flu, he was left disappointed since he lost his appetite and it had to be fed to the hotel's cat. Bowen did a good job in expanding Agatha Christie's short story from Poirot Investigates, which was necessary because it was too slight to stand on its own. There are numerous characters and situations added, but never does it give the impression of feeling padded and everything is in the spirit of a period Christie whodunit. As ever the acting is truly superb. Aside from Suchet, Fraser and Jackson who all offer their usual excellent performances, the entire supporting cast does fine work. Jim Norton is excellent as the murdered man's nephew and chief suspect in the case, Roger Havering, and Diana Kent scores as his loyal wife Zoe. Arthur Whybrow is also noteworthy in a comedy relief role as the Stationmaster, Mr. Anstruther, who shows little gratitude after Poirot recovers his treasured bicycle for him. The film benefits from a rich period atmosphere and the snow-covered Yorkshire moorland locations add a sense of mystery and menace to the proceedings complemented by Christopher Gunning's mood music. The very able direction is by Renny Rye who directed several episodes for this series.