Hercule Poirot is invited to spend Christmas at Gorston Hall in Shropshire by the elderly and tyrannical diamond mine owner Simeon Lee (played by Vernon Dobtcheff). He asks Poirot to protect him as he believes his life is in danger. It quickly becomes apparent to the detective that Lee is antagonistic towards his family and uses his wealth to control them. That night the household is disturbed by a blood curdling scream followed by an almighty crash coming from Lee's bedroom. His sons, Harry (played by Brian Gwaspari) and Alfred (played by Simon Roberts), break down the door and find him dead with his throat cut and the room trashed. Lee's priceless uncut diamonds have also been stolen from his safe. Poirot calls in his friend Chief Inspector Japp of the Yard who begins a murder inquiry alongside Superintendent Sugdan (played by Mike Tandy). Everyone in the household had a motive for murder: his sons, the wayward Harry, the mild-mannered and loyal Alfred and the Member of Parliament George Lee (played by Eric Carte) who was heavily dependent on his father for money. Did the wives of George and Alfred, Magdalene (played by Andree Bernard) and Lydia (played by Catherine Rabett), murder their father-in-law so their husbands would inherit his money and then they could have been free of him? Could his long lost niece, Pilar Estravados (played by Sasha Behar), have done it for his diamonds? Or, could the motive be revenge for something that Simeon had done decades before?
Another high quality adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel from London Weekend Television. There are fine performances by a well -chosen cast, including Brian Gwaspari, Simon Roberts and Eric Carte as the murdered man's three contrasting sons. Andree Bernard and Catherine Rabett are also good in their roles as the wives of George and Alfred, Magdalene and Lydia. Sasha Behar is excellent as the plain speaking Pilar as is Vernon Dobtcheff as the murdered man. Mike Tandy is noteworthy as Superintendent Sugdan as is Olga Lowe as a mysterious South African lady called Stella who is present in the neighbourhood at the time of the murder. Is she a face from Simeon Lee's past and, if so, is she implicated in his murder? There is also a charming performance from the veteran British character actor John Horsley as the butler Tressilian. David Suchet is his usual impressive self as Poirot and he is ably supported by his regular co-star Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp. The film is atmospherically shot by Simon Kossoff complementing the excellent settings and location work, which combine to create an atmosphere of menace and the mysteriousness helped by Christopher Gunning's mood music. The dramatization by Clive Exton is excellent and the assured direction is by series regular Edward Bennett.
Another high quality adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel from London Weekend Television. There are fine performances by a well -chosen cast, including Brian Gwaspari, Simon Roberts and Eric Carte as the murdered man's three contrasting sons. Andree Bernard and Catherine Rabett are also good in their roles as the wives of George and Alfred, Magdalene and Lydia. Sasha Behar is excellent as the plain speaking Pilar as is Vernon Dobtcheff as the murdered man. Mike Tandy is noteworthy as Superintendent Sugdan as is Olga Lowe as a mysterious South African lady called Stella who is present in the neighbourhood at the time of the murder. Is she a face from Simeon Lee's past and, if so, is she implicated in his murder? There is also a charming performance from the veteran British character actor John Horsley as the butler Tressilian. David Suchet is his usual impressive self as Poirot and he is ably supported by his regular co-star Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp. The film is atmospherically shot by Simon Kossoff complementing the excellent settings and location work, which combine to create an atmosphere of menace and the mysteriousness helped by Christopher Gunning's mood music. The dramatization by Clive Exton is excellent and the assured direction is by series regular Edward Bennett.