Eminent archaeologist Sir John Willard (played by Peter Reeves) dies of heart failure soon after opening the tomb of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Men-her-Ra. The world press whip up a story about a curse on the tomb that will bring death to those who disturbed the pharaoh's resting place. Two more members of the expedition team meet their deaths: Felix Bleibner (played by Bill Bailey) from blood poisoning and his nephew, Rupert (played by Paul Birchard), commits suicide in the belief that he had leprosy. Lady Willard (played by Anna Cropper) calls in Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet) to solve the mystery since her son Sir Guy Willard (played by Grant Thatcher) is determined to fly to Egypt and continue his late father's work. As a result she believes that he too will die. Poirot and Captain Hastings (played by Hugh Fraser) join the expedition team and arrive to be told that Henry Schneider (played by Oliver Pierre) has died as a result of tetanus poisoning; a fact confirmed by Dr Ames (played by Rolf Saxon). An Egyptian servant, Hassan, warns of evil being in the air and, that night, a sinister figure with the head of a dog: Anubis, the god of departing souls is spotted prowling around the camp site. After narrowly avoiding an attempt upon his own life, Poirot finally reveals the identity of a multiple murderer...
An excellent adaptation of Agatha Christie's short story from London Weekend Television who, without doubt, were among the best interpreters of her material. It has an authentic air of creepiness and the suggestion that a superstitious curse upon the troubled expedition team might be anything but superstition is well conveyed. This is achieved by Christopher Gunning's mood music, Norman Langley's photography and the use of close ups to highlight the sinister looking ancient Egyptian artefacts removed from the tomb - statues of ancient gods and animals - after each death. Captain Hastings is surprised to find that his old friend Poirot appears to be buying into the curse theory after Lady Willard apologises to him for being "very silly and superstitious". "I also believe in the force of superstition", he replies solemnly, "It is the greatest force the world has ever known". At the conclusion of the case, he presents his secretary Miss Lemon (played by Pauline Moran) with a statuette of a cat which he claims is from the tomb. She is mourning the death of he beloved pet cat, 'Catherine the Great', and he tells her to hold it in her hand when she is in bed at night and the spirit of her old friend will visit her. Hastings cannot believe he has convinced her to believe in all this "guff" and he replies "No, it is not guff my friend. It is the power of superstition which is very great indeed." In other words, it shows how a particularly devious murderer manipulated superstition around a mythical ancient Egyptian curse for his own ends and almost succeeded. The film is well directed by Peter Barber-Fleming and the acting is of a high standard throughout. Anna Cropper and Rolf Saxon are of exceptional note while Suchet remains the definitive Poirot. His regular co-stars Hugh Fraser and Pauline Moran are as impressive as ever.
An excellent adaptation of Agatha Christie's short story from London Weekend Television who, without doubt, were among the best interpreters of her material. It has an authentic air of creepiness and the suggestion that a superstitious curse upon the troubled expedition team might be anything but superstition is well conveyed. This is achieved by Christopher Gunning's mood music, Norman Langley's photography and the use of close ups to highlight the sinister looking ancient Egyptian artefacts removed from the tomb - statues of ancient gods and animals - after each death. Captain Hastings is surprised to find that his old friend Poirot appears to be buying into the curse theory after Lady Willard apologises to him for being "very silly and superstitious". "I also believe in the force of superstition", he replies solemnly, "It is the greatest force the world has ever known". At the conclusion of the case, he presents his secretary Miss Lemon (played by Pauline Moran) with a statuette of a cat which he claims is from the tomb. She is mourning the death of he beloved pet cat, 'Catherine the Great', and he tells her to hold it in her hand when she is in bed at night and the spirit of her old friend will visit her. Hastings cannot believe he has convinced her to believe in all this "guff" and he replies "No, it is not guff my friend. It is the power of superstition which is very great indeed." In other words, it shows how a particularly devious murderer manipulated superstition around a mythical ancient Egyptian curse for his own ends and almost succeeded. The film is well directed by Peter Barber-Fleming and the acting is of a high standard throughout. Anna Cropper and Rolf Saxon are of exceptional note while Suchet remains the definitive Poirot. His regular co-stars Hugh Fraser and Pauline Moran are as impressive as ever.