World War One: Lieutenant Arthur Hastings (played by Hugh Fraser) is injured in action and goes to recuperate at the country estate Styles Court at the invitation of his old friend John Cavendish (played by David Rintoul). It immediately becomes clear that there is tension in the household. John's mother, Emily (played by Gillian Barge), has married a man twenty years her junior, Alfred Inglethorpe (played by Michael Cronin), whom he dislikes intensely since he believes that he is only after her money. That view is shared by many, not least by Mrs Inglethorpe's companion Evie Howard (played by Joanna McCallam) who leaves following a row in which she told her in no uncertain terms that Inglethorpe is a fortune hunter who would murder her as soon as look at her. Later that day an argument is overheard by the family members and the staff between Mrs Inglethorpe and, supposedly, Alfred over money and his seeing another woman. She is also clearly heard to say that she plans to disinherit him. However, Mrs Inglethorpe is taken seriously ill during the night and dies. The doctor says that the cause of her death was Strychnine poisoning and therefore she has been murdered. Hastings calls in his old friend, the eccentric but highly intelligent Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet) who happens to be staying in the village as a result of his being in England as a wartime refugee. Initially, Inglethorpe is the chief suspect but Poirot succeeds in persuading Chief Inspector Japp (played by Philip Jackson) of the Yard not to arrest him since he has an unshakable alibi after he refuses to account for his whereabouts himself. When John Cavendish is arrested and put on trial for his mother's murder at the Old Bailey following the discovery of poison in his room, Poirot, aided by Hastings, sets out to exonerate him and in so doing unmasks a particularly clever murderer.
This feature length special from the second season of ITV's acclaimed series was transmitted to mark the centenary of Agatha Christie's birth in 1990. This is front rank British TV drama that remains a fitting tribute to one of the twentieth century's most celebrated crime writers even after more than thirty years since it was first broadcast. David Suchet is quite simply the definitive Poirot who neatly captures all the mannerisms and eccentricities of the character such as his sense of order and method. Here, he admits that he cannot take to British pubs due to the bottles and glasses all being of different sizes. There is also a memorable scene at the village stores where he suggests to a somewhat puzzled and amused shopkeeper that she arrange all of the goods in her shop in order of their country of origin so she could find them more easily. She replies that she can find everything easily enough already and that as far as she is concerned everything comes from the local wholesaler. The acting, as a whole, is superb with Michael Cronin shining as the smooth talking but somewhat shifty Alfred Inglethorpe. Joanna McCallam is excellent as the loyal (or is she?) companion as is David Rintoul as the son framed for his mother's murder. Hugh Fraser and Philip Jackson offer their usual excellent support as Poirot's closest friends and associates, Lieutenant Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp, who complement Suchet's superb portrayal in that they have a tremendous affection for him and admire his tremendous talents even though they don't always understand his ways. The film has a strong feeling for place and period, which heightens the mystery aspects of the plot. The attention to detail is incredible, including the vintage cars and the hand cranked silent movie projector used to show a newsreel to injured troops at an army nursing home. The excellent direction is by Ross Devenish and all other technical aspects are of a high standard too.
This feature length special from the second season of ITV's acclaimed series was transmitted to mark the centenary of Agatha Christie's birth in 1990. This is front rank British TV drama that remains a fitting tribute to one of the twentieth century's most celebrated crime writers even after more than thirty years since it was first broadcast. David Suchet is quite simply the definitive Poirot who neatly captures all the mannerisms and eccentricities of the character such as his sense of order and method. Here, he admits that he cannot take to British pubs due to the bottles and glasses all being of different sizes. There is also a memorable scene at the village stores where he suggests to a somewhat puzzled and amused shopkeeper that she arrange all of the goods in her shop in order of their country of origin so she could find them more easily. She replies that she can find everything easily enough already and that as far as she is concerned everything comes from the local wholesaler. The acting, as a whole, is superb with Michael Cronin shining as the smooth talking but somewhat shifty Alfred Inglethorpe. Joanna McCallam is excellent as the loyal (or is she?) companion as is David Rintoul as the son framed for his mother's murder. Hugh Fraser and Philip Jackson offer their usual excellent support as Poirot's closest friends and associates, Lieutenant Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp, who complement Suchet's superb portrayal in that they have a tremendous affection for him and admire his tremendous talents even though they don't always understand his ways. The film has a strong feeling for place and period, which heightens the mystery aspects of the plot. The attention to detail is incredible, including the vintage cars and the hand cranked silent movie projector used to show a newsreel to injured troops at an army nursing home. The excellent direction is by Ross Devenish and all other technical aspects are of a high standard too.