Product Details

• Actors: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran, David Yelland
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: Acorn Media
• VHS Release Date: February 5, 2002
• Run Time: 153 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005RIZ4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,914 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 11 down, 1 to go, January 13, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Poirot - Set 11 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Only one to go! This is Set 11 of the Acorn Media "Poirot" 12 box series that will include all the shorter Poirot episodes we enjoyed so much on PBS way back when and later (in much mutilated form) on A&E. Starring the "definitive" Hercule Poirot, David Suchet, this series includes (I believe) all or most of the Poirot short stories penned by Agatha Christie, three to a VHS box, while the longer tales are available on VHS and DVD with running times of about 110 minutes.

The three episodes in Set 11 are pretty good. "The Third Floor Flat" brings a murder very close to Poirot's very own flat, just below it in fact. The solution is not very satisfactory and comes a little too early; but the setting more than makes up for it all.

"Triangle in Rhodes" (1937) bears a strong resemblance to "Evil Under the Sun" (1941), and the solution to the former is more credible. Hastings is absent from this episode and the scenery is gorgeous. Be sure to see "Evil" with Ustinov as Poirot and Diana Rigg as the victim for comparison purposes.

Hastings (Hugh Fraser) is back in "Problem at Sea," in which some of the characters are more interesting as believable humans than in most of the Poirot tales. You might guess not only the guilty party but even the modus operandi early on; and while Poirot's forcing a confession from the murderer is a little overdone, this is (correct me if I'm wrong) the only Poirot story in which he is strongly criticized for being "cruel."

A very good set, despite small story faults.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The English Abroad, February 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Poirot - Set 11 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The "Poirot" Box Set #11 contains "The Third Floor Flat," "Problem at Sea," and "Triangle at Rhodes." The first episode is set largely within Hercule Poirot's apartment building, Whitehaven Mansions; the other two take place very far from home, in Egypt and in Rhodes, Greece. I didn't care for "The Third Floor Flat"; its ending was far too predictable. "Triangle at Rhodes" is much more intriguing, a story about a "love triangle" that is not quite what it appears to be. The location shots and the décor in this episode are absolutely gorgeous. Like the previous reviewer, I did notice parallels between this story and that of "Evil Under the Sun," an excellent "Poirot" novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed "Triangle at Rhodes." In "Problem at Sea," Poirot and Hastings investigate a murder aboard a cruise ship bound for Alexandria. The episode features interesting characters and an uncanny denouement. Though "The Third Floor Flat" is only average, the two "abroad" episodes are well worth the price of the whole box set.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poirot on holiday, May 28, 2006

By 

Sheila "art lover" (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Agatha Christie's Poirot: Collector's Set Volume 11 (DVD)

According to the IMDB these three episodes of Poirot appeared during the show's first season, in 1989. I knew I had been watching Poirot for some time, but it surprised me to find out just how long. The series doesn't show any signs of becoming dated. Agatha Christie's stories were adapted and filmed with care and the recurring players (David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran) are delightful. Naturally, I prefer some episodes over others. Of these three, my favorite is Problem at Sea. Agatha Christie is often maligned for creating two-dimensional characters but in most of her books I will find one or two characters to be compelling in some way. I had a similar experience watching this adaptation--Miss Henderson (Ann Firbank) is a poignant figure but has so much dignity. It's a lovely performance.

The other two stories, Triangle at Rhodes (a variation on a favorite plot of Christie's) and The Third Floor Flat are solid and entertaining, the latter taking place chiefly in Poirot's apartment building, always fun, and featuring both Miss Lemon and Hastings. In Triangle at Rhodes Poirot has lost Hastings (he's gone off shooting we're told), but is given a sidekick--an appealing 40-ish woman who takes an interest in the goings-on around her.

I don't find the Poirot stories to be gripping entertainment, but they are entertaining. Excellent for unwinding at the end of the day.