Customer Reviews

Agatha Christie's Poirot, Vol. 5 [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thanks to Acorn Media, we may very well soon have all the Hercule Poirot episodes available for easy watching, the shorter ones on tape and the longer on DVD. With the arrival of Set 5, we have cases 13-15 from the classic BBC series that was once shown on PBS and currently in shamefully abbreviated forms on a commercial channel.

I have already posted my general comments about this series on the webpages for the first four sets, so let me cut to the chase.

"The Tragedy of Marsdon Manor" begins comically enough with a would-be mystery writer of an inn owner summoning Poirot to solve a baffling case that happens to be fictional. Naturally a real death takes place under what seems to be supernatural circumstances; and the production does indeed create a wonderfully English country manor spooky-ness that makes this worth watching. Never mind that the solution involves all sorts of twists that verge on the incredible; but to invert the aphorism in "Sleuth," this is Inspector Fiction, not Inspector Fact.

"The Double Clue" is exceptional in that it shows Poirot emotionally involved with a suspect, a fascinating (at least to him) Russian countess who might or might not be involved in a series of jewel thefts. Japp is honestly in fear of losing his job unless the thefts are stopped, while Miss Lemon and Hastings do their own sleuthing as Poirot spends time with the countess. "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" has a plot within the plot, so to speak, rather far-fetched. However, the presence of actor John McEnery and the opening surreally filmed dueling sequence more than make up for any storyline inconsistencies.

Again, it is always instructive to compare these dramatizations with the originals; but the former stand up very nicely on their own.

The neat-freak Belgian Hercule Poirot returns, along with the faithful Captain Hastings, blunt Scotland Yard Inspector Japp, and hyper-efficient Miss Lemon.

"The Double Clue" is a bit of a tearjerker--jewels vanish, Japp's job is on the line, and Poirot is beginning to fall for one of the suspects, neglecting his job. Hastings and Miss Lemon attempt to salvage the investigation, but without Poirot they are going to have trouble. The end is sad, and this is the first of the Poirot shows to indicate that Miss Lemon might have more than professional feelings for her employer.

"The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" is a strange story about love, deceit, jealousy, honor, and lots of swords. A man is found stabbed in a "Spanish Chest"--and even Poirot is being checked out. This includes the excellent scene where Poirot, along with a friend, end up dancing the Charleston (with very bad grace)

"The Tragedy of Marsden Manor" is a particular favorite, with an elderly man dying unexpectedly and leaving a beautiful young widow who is being attacked by a ghost. The actress playing Lady Marsden is downright chilling at times, such as when she is staring up at the trees, and this story includes a man asking Poirot to proofread his mystery novel.

I so enjoyed the "Poirot" series when it was shown on PBS during the 1990's. David Suchet is for me the definitive Hercule Poirot, while Hugh Fraser and Philip Jackson are exactly how I always picture the characters of Captain Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp to be. This "Poirot" Box Set #5 contains three outstanding one-hour episodes. "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor" is a haunting tale of the supernatural. Young and beautiful Susan Maltravers, mistress of Marsdon Manor, is being tormented by visions of a girl who killed herself years ago on the Manor grounds. I wouldn't like to reveal any more of the plot than that, but I would like to mention that in the episode the camera work is a remarkable feature and the denouement is terrifying. "The Double Clue" is a clever story about a theft that occurs during an elegant garden party. Even his romantic feelings for a Russian countess cannot distract Poirot from his first duty, to track down the thief. "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" is my personal favorite of the three episodes, an OTHELLO-like tale of jealous lovers. In addition to fine acting from each cast member and delightful period sets and costumes, each episode features a musical score that perfectly evokes the mood of the story. Anyone who loves the "Poirot" series will thoroughly enjoy this box set. Check out the other sets and the many full-length (103 minute) "Poirot" features, as well.

I have all the DVD sets of Poirot - except for #6 which I am fixing to order! I LOVED this DVD the best so far!! Number #5 was so intertaining - and I highly recommend it.

David Suchet is absolutly stunning in his magnificent performance as Agatha Cristies Hercule Poirot. He is a very talented actor and plays the role just like decribed in the novels. If you have read the books then you must see the movies!!!

Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. Well, this has now happened with Agatha Christie's detective, Hercule Poirot! In 1989, veteran actor David Suchet (b.1946) was tapped to play Poirot, and the rest, as they say, is history.

This marvelous DVD contains three(!) of the hour-long episodes of the Adventures of Hercule Poirot:

The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor - Season 3, episode 5 (3 February 1991) - When Poirot is summoned to Marsdon to solve a murder, he is dismayed to learn that it is fictional. However, the supernatural occurrences at Marsdon Manor are not fictional, and they are about to turn deadly!

The Double Clue - Season 3, episode 6 (10 February 1991) - While a string of jewel thefts goes unsolved, the great detective is romancing a Russian countess. Can Captain Hastings and Miss Lemon get to the bottom of what is going on?

The Mystery of the Spanish Chest - Season 3, episode 7 (17 February 1991) - When Poirot is called in to protect a wife from her insanely jealous husband, he is surprised to find the husband murdered. Something strange is going on here, and it is somehow linked to a duel fought ten years ago...

This is a great DVD, one that I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery, or just loves excellent drama. It's great!

Poirot has been so entertaining for me-I just retired & discovered the series & simply had to have all of the DVD's. He is also in a play in London this fall & I am planning to attend & see my favorite actor. I rented his old movies from the past & he is fantastic.

The sets of another era are so romantic & by owning the DVD's I can rerun them & see things I failed to see the first time around. What luxury to have them in my library for easy viewing. Last summer they were on Digital TV and now I can hardly find them so glad I have them when I need a "Poirot Fix"!!

It is always a pleasure to watch the DVD stories about Poirot. I own all of them that Amazon.com has available.

What can i say about poirot, he is deffently the best of agatha christie, I am currently buying all i can get. i have seen them all and now want to own them. wife loves him and so does her sister. u won't be disappointed.

"Poirot Collector's Set 5" contains three 50-minute episodes from Series 3, which originally aired on Britain's ITV in 1991: "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor", "The Double Clue", and "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest". The episodes feature David Suchet as the dapper Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot, Hugh Fraser as his bumbling but loyal friend Capt. Arthur Hastings, Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard, and Pauline Moran as Poirot's fastidious secretary Miss Lemon, though she only appears in "The Double Clue" on this disc. The cast and deco/modernist production design are in fine form in these three episodes, but I award Set 5 only 4 stars, because the plots of the first two episodes are not up to the highest standard of these early seasons of the Poirot series. The episodes are:

Poirot and Capt. Hastings have traveled to a small town, very much out of their way, on false pretences in "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor". Poirot was summoned by an inn-keeper who would like the detective to solve a baffling mystery...in a novel he is writing. Unimpressed, Poirot hastens to leave town but is intercepted when the owner of Marsdon Manor, Mr. Jack Maltravers (Ian McCulloch), is found dead on his estate, apparently of a hemorrhage due to stomach problems. His young wife Susan Maltravers (Geraldine Alexander) is convinced that her husband was frightened to death by the ghost of a young woman believed to haunt the Manor. Inspector Japp is on the case, and Poirot exploits the culprit's superstitions to solve the crime.

Poirot is not very active in "The Double Clue", which he spends infatuated with a lady, the elegant Russian Countess Vera Rossakoff (Vera Markham). Chief Inspector Japp implores Poirot to save his job, which is in jeopardy due to a series of unsolved jewel robberies. The forth robbery occurs at a party thrown by jewel collector Marcus Hardman (David Lyon). A necklace that once belonged to Catherine de' Medici disappears from this safe while the guests attend a concert in the garden. Three of the guests returned to the house during the concert, however, including the Countess. Enchanted with the Russian exile, Poirot seems to abandon his friends and Japp to spend time with her. So Capt. Hastings and Miss Lemon try to solve the mystery themselves.

"The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" features one of the more gruesome murders of Poirot's career. An old acquaintance, Lady Caroline Chatterton (Antonia Pemberton), asks Poirot to investigate Mr. Edward Clayton (Malcolm Sinclair), the husband of her friend Marguerite (Caroline Langrishe). She fears that Edward, whose mood has turned violent recently, may murder his wife. But it is Edward Clayton who is murdered...right under Poirot's nose. His body is found inside a large Spanish chest in the home of Major John Rich (Pip Torrens), a competitor for Marguerite's affections. He was apparently killed during a party which Poirot attended with the intention of observing Edward. Inspector Japp arrests Major Rich, the obvious suspect, but Poirot is skeptical.

The DVD (Acorn 2003): Bonus features are a text interview with David Suchet, a text bio of Agatha Christie, and a list of Poirot books. Those are the same features that are on every Collector's Set disc. There are also filmographies of 9 actors and an essay entitled "Poirot's Art Deco World" which briefly discusses the Art Deco movement and design themes as relates to Poirot episodes. No subtitles.