Hercule Poirot advises an elderly, wealthy lady called Emily Arundel (played by Ann Morrish) to change her will and disinherit her family after she tells him about her fear that one of them is trying to kill her for her money. She acts upon his advice, leaving everything to her closest friend and companion Wilhemina Lawson (played by Norma West) but it does not prevent her death which is put down to natural causes. However, Poirot is convinced she was murdered. Prior to her changing her will, Emily had suffered an accident where she had fallen down the stairs late at night and everyone blamed her beloved fox terrier, Bob, for leaving his ball on the landing causing her to trip and lose her balance. Yet Poirot had observed a nail in the skirting board that someone could have used to thread a tripwire across the stairway, which was subsequently removed reinforcing his view that it was a murder attempt and not an accident. Could Emily's sponging nephew and niece, Charles and Theresa Arundel (played by Patrick Ryecart and Kate Buffery) be responsible for her death? Meanwhile, Emily's other niece, Bella (played by Julia St John), seems terrified of her quick-tempered husband, the Greek doctor Jacob Tanios (played by Paul Herzberg), who had given Emily a bottle of patent medicine that she took just minutes before her death. Was it poisoned and, if so, by whom? Or are the eccentric Tripp sisters, Julia and Isabel (played by Muriel Pavlow and Pauline Jameson), as harmless as they seem? Poirot solves the mystery in his usual inimitable way with the help of Bob, the fox terrier, but not before Emily's home is broken into in the middle of the night by two unknown would be thieves and another murder is committed.
Without doubt Dumb Witness is a highlight of this marvellous series produced by London Weekend Television. David Suchet offers another of his excellent performances as Poirot and the friendship he develops with the murdered woman's pet dog, Bob (the fox terrier's real name was Snubby), despite his natural dislike of dogs, is a joy to watch. The animal is the only witness to his mistress's murder and since he cannot speak he has to find his own way of telling Poirot how the crime was committed and by whom. At the end Poirot, unable to adopt him himself, finds a new home for Bob with the Tripp sisters in a scene that is both touching and humorous in equal measure. The acting by a well-chosen cast is excellent all round with Kate Buffery, Patrick Ryecart, Paul Herzberg and Julia St John being particularly noteworthy. Pauline Jameson and the veteran British screen actress Muriel Pavlow also deserve praise as the eccentric and self-professed mediums the Tripp sisters. In addition, series regular, Hugh Fraser, provides his usual dependable support as Poirot's closest friend and colleague Captain Hastings. The film is splendidly set in the Lake District, although the original novel was set in the Home Counties town of Market Basing, adding atmosphere to the proceedings. It is also a commendably eerie story and the special effects work is very impressive, especially in the death scene in which green vapour is seen to emerge from the victim's mouth. The Tripps, due to their spiritualist beliefs, thought that they were witnessing the person's spirit leaving the body at the moment of death. But, Poirot isn't convinced and the believes the cause of death to be a cleverly planned murder and that what they saw was something of the making from this world and not the supernatural. The creepy atmosphere and the feeling for place and period is heightened by Simon Kossoff's lighting, Christopher Gunning's mood music and first rate direction by series veteran Edward Bennett. As ever the sets and props, including some delightful vintage motorcars are splendid. All in all, a delight to watch from start to finish.
Without doubt Dumb Witness is a highlight of this marvellous series produced by London Weekend Television. David Suchet offers another of his excellent performances as Poirot and the friendship he develops with the murdered woman's pet dog, Bob (the fox terrier's real name was Snubby), despite his natural dislike of dogs, is a joy to watch. The animal is the only witness to his mistress's murder and since he cannot speak he has to find his own way of telling Poirot how the crime was committed and by whom. At the end Poirot, unable to adopt him himself, finds a new home for Bob with the Tripp sisters in a scene that is both touching and humorous in equal measure. The acting by a well-chosen cast is excellent all round with Kate Buffery, Patrick Ryecart, Paul Herzberg and Julia St John being particularly noteworthy. Pauline Jameson and the veteran British screen actress Muriel Pavlow also deserve praise as the eccentric and self-professed mediums the Tripp sisters. In addition, series regular, Hugh Fraser, provides his usual dependable support as Poirot's closest friend and colleague Captain Hastings. The film is splendidly set in the Lake District, although the original novel was set in the Home Counties town of Market Basing, adding atmosphere to the proceedings. It is also a commendably eerie story and the special effects work is very impressive, especially in the death scene in which green vapour is seen to emerge from the victim's mouth. The Tripps, due to their spiritualist beliefs, thought that they were witnessing the person's spirit leaving the body at the moment of death. But, Poirot isn't convinced and the believes the cause of death to be a cleverly planned murder and that what they saw was something of the making from this world and not the supernatural. The creepy atmosphere and the feeling for place and period is heightened by Simon Kossoff's lighting, Christopher Gunning's mood music and first rate direction by series veteran Edward Bennett. As ever the sets and props, including some delightful vintage motorcars are splendid. All in all, a delight to watch from start to finish.