Product Details

• Actors: David Suchet
• Directors: Paul Unwin
• Format: Color, Full Screen
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: A & E Home Video
• Run Time: 100.0 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000A1GYOA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,056 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Made for television drama from A & E.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nicely done, but flawed, December 28, 2009

By 

Kyle Shultz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Agatha Christie's Poirot: Five Little Pigs (DVD)

"Five Little Pigs" has always been among my favorite Poirot adventures, mainly because of its excellent premise. Poirot is attempting to solve a murder which occurred fourteen years before, resulting in the execution of a young woman. There are no cigar ashes, no footprints, no concrete clues of any kind to go by. Instead, Poirot is forced to rely entirely on his methods of probing into the psychology of his suspects; always a treat for the reader/viewer. And this case certainly has plenty of psychology - all his five suspects have some secret that needs ferreting out and which may or may not have any bearing on the murder itself. All very enjoyable.

That being said, I was rather disappointed in this TV adaptation in some respects. The only way in which it falls short of the standard I have come to respect from the makers of the Poirot series is in the differences between the book and the movie. I guess the producers thought there was just too much heterosexual romance going on in the original story. (We can't have that, can we?) Thus, Philip Blake is no longer the smouldering, jilted lover of Caroline Crayle - he is the smouldering, jealous lover of Amius Crayle. And Caroline Crayle, in a move which jarringly contradicts Christie's portrayal of her character, does not reject the advances of a man who tries to take advantage of her at a time when her marriage is threatened, but seeks him out in order to seduce him - in other words, committing the same act of unfaithfulness that she condemns in her husband. Plus, the flashback scenes of the "deep friendship" between Amius and Phillip were frankly quite distasteful. Caroline thus comes across as being far less admirable. And are we supposed to feel sorry for Phillip? No thanks.

This film is still definitely worth watching, but it's not quite the best of the newer Poirot films. Fans will enjoy it, but take my advice and read the book first, if you haven't already - or listen to the audio drama with John Moffatt.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very easy to follow delightful mystery, November 22, 2011

By 

Israel Drazin (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agatha Christie's Poirot: Five Little Pigs (DVD)

Some Poirot films, although very good, are somewhat difficult to follow, but not this one. Poirot moves to solve the case in a lineal, step by step fashion. A young woman asks Poirot to find out if her mother, who was hanged for poisoning her husband, the young woman's father, did so. There are five suspects who may have committed the murder, if the husband did not commit suicide, as her mother claims. Poirot interviews each of the five people, gathers information, and deduces what actually occurred from what he hears. Viewers who pay close attention to the five versions of what occurred will see the clues. Whether they do so or not, they will enjoy the tale.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Love Poirot, but...., March 5, 2011

By 

R Erwin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Agatha Christie's Poirot: Five Little Pigs (DVD)

Suchet is fantastic as Poirot, as usual. Agatha Christie's story is great, as usual.

The screen writers are the problem. While part of the plot involves infidelity, Christie NEVER dwells on "bedroom" scenes. These, however, continue to show up in the new adaptations, which make it uncomfortable at best to watch ourselves, let alone with our children. Christie communicated quite clearly when infidelity and/or immorality were going on without resorting to steamy scenes--the screenwriters need to do the same.

WARNING: SPOILER
I could not believe it when Philip confessed to being Amyas' lover. This seemed way out of character for Christie to have a gay relationship going on. I ran in and pulled my book off the shelf, and--sure enough--there is no such thing. Philip was turned down by Carolyn because she loved her husband, not Philip turning down Carolyn because HE loved her husband. Ridiculous. The screenwriters obviously have an agenda and/or political correctness has gone amuck. Please stick to Christie's writing.