Product Details

• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: Acorn Media
• VHS Release Date: February 8, 2000
• Run Time: 153 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1569383758
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,791 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Each tape in this attractive boxed set features a one-hour episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot, which originally aired in the U.S. in the early 1990s. Based on stories from Poirot Investigates, all three episodes feature the Belgian sleuth's familiar sidekicks Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran), and Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson). David Suchet stars as Hercule Poirot, the dapper detective defined by his carefully waxed mustache and the genius of his "little gray cells."

Poirot shows his firsthand knowledge of criminal methods in "The Veiled Lady," in which a simple case of blackmail turns into a more sinister affair that briefly lands Poirot in jail. But in "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim," the detective's little gray cells do all the work, as he accepts a wager from Japp to solve the case without leaving his apartment; while waiting for Hastings to bring him clues, Poirot exercises his brain by learning magic tricks that help him uncover the sleight of hand behind the banker's disappearance. Banking is again the theme in "The Lost Mine," underscored by a running game of Monopoly between Poirot and Hastings. The way the series weaves such metaphors into the episodes adds a welcome touch of humor while also giving Suchet the opportunity to flesh out his character. Expertly cast and beautifully filmed, the episodes are worth watching again and again--even when you already know whodunit. --Larisa Lomacky Moore

Product Description

The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim: Inspector Japp is called in when a wealthy banker mysteriously disappears on a walk to the post office. Poirot, who's become fascinated with performing magic tricks, makes a wager with Japp that he can solve the mystery without ever leaving his flat.

The Veiled Lady: After witnessing a jewelry heist, Poirot is musing about the thrills of the criminal life when a mysterious lady requests his help thwarting a blackmailer. Stealthy investigative tactics land Poirot briefly on the wrong side of the law.

The Lost Mine: Poirot is taking a drubbing in a Monopoly match against Hastings when they are interrupted by an aristocratic banker who asks Poirot to investigate the disappearance of a client. The man, who was to sell the bank a map to a valuable silver mine, is found murdered and a young stockbroker is implicated.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

123 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good fun and no gore, February 28, 2000

By 

F. Behrens "Frank Behrens" (Keene, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Agatha Christie's Poirot, Vol. 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

There were many one hour and somewhat less two hour episodes of the Hercule Poirot mysteries shown on PBS; and foresighted fans should have taped them then, because when A&E re-runs them, parts of each have to be removed to make room for all the commercials. Very often, the solution at the end flashbacks to scenes that we never saw because of the abridgments and frankly the value of these episodes are reduced considerably.

But now Acorn Media is reissuing them in complete versions, with the two hour features on DVD and the shorter ones on VHS. Both series are a delight. The acting genius of David Suchet is enhanced by his usual supporting cast (Hugh Fraser as Hastings, Philip Jackson as Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon), the wonderful guest casts, the done-to-perfection ambiance of time and place--the late 20s and early 30s--with all those fabulous art-deco buildings they have managed to find and populate.

The first boxed set of 3 episodes contains "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim," "The Veiled Lady," and "The Lost Mine." In the first, you might spot a bad flaw in the solution.

The second set includes "The Cornish Mystery" (with a genuine "blonde hussy"), "Double Sin" (with a Sweet Young Thing in Distress), and "The Adventure of the Cheap Flat" (with a neat reversal on the plot of Doyle's "The Red Headed League").

And if too many solutions depend on Poirot overhearing by chance some remark early in the story, well that should teach you to be more alert to these things on future viewings. Also if Poirot is not above breaking the law with a little forced entry now and then, well so did Sherlock Holmes.

Very amusing sleuthing for one and all--and a very welcome relief to the grizzly "modern" mysteries now being shown with extreme close-ups, whispered dialogue, and as much gore as possible in each frame.

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Well Done Television!, June 25, 2001

By 

"face-garak" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Agatha Christie's Poirot, Vol. 1 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It's too bad that so few people know of this series, for it is one of the most well put-together television series I've ever seen. The series as a whole gets an easy 5-stars from me, but I plan to rate every episode so this particular box set gets its own score of 4-stars. Here are my thoughts on the individual episodes.

The Disappearence of Mr. Davenheim - Decent, but not great this one seems way to similar to Conan Doyle's "The Man With The Twisted Lip" to me, but not as good. - 3 stars

The Veiled Lady - Better than the first, but somewhat silly all throughout with a strange, but minor, flaw in the solution. Also the chase scene near the end was too drawn out. - 3.5 stars

The Lost Mine - Perhaps a glimpse of the greater future of the Poirot series, this one shines with a more interesting case and a more interesting solution. Also, watching Poirot and Hastings play Monopoly is priceless - 4 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 4 stars

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnifique, n'est-ce pas?, April 7, 2004

By 

ANT "azraelart" (Crofton, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Agatha Christie's Poirot: Collector's Set Volume 1 (DVD)

Agatha Christie's quirky Belgian detective Hercule Poirot has come to life in the form of David Suchet. The most watched series on PBS Mystery! and a huge hit on A&E, Poirot retells the tales, short stories, and novels written in the 1930s and 40s by Dame Agatha Christie, mother of the modern mystery. David Suchet plays the part perfectly, with some outstanding acting and chemistry from the supporting cast: Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings, Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemmon. All play off of each other beautifully and most often with hilarious side effects.

One of the most endearing features about this series as well as the others that follow is the humor value that is omnipresent throughout most of the series. Not only are the mysteries difficult to solve (most of them anyways), but the Christie's writing shines through giving the characters lovely quirks that spark laughter often during the episodes. You might find yourself distracted from the mystery itself by getting caught up in the comedy. The nuances come out perfectly and brilliant acting all around leads to one of the best shows ever produced for television.

I can't find anything at fault with the series. AcornMedia is not known for their superior picture quality, but this first in the series is actually a great transfer. If you enjoy a bit of British comedy, a good mystery, and all around outstanding entertainment, you should start collecting the series. You won't be disappointed!