Simeon Lee is not a nice man. Having killed his prospecting partner as a young man in South Africa, then run off from the woman who saved his life, he's now become an old, miserable, almost reclusive tyrant to his family, most of whom can't stand him, but need to keep up the pretence because he's the one controlling the purse strings.
When the whole family gathers for Christmas, including the 'black sheep' of the family and a young woman, the daughter of one of Simeon's own daughters who died years ago, you might think it would be a time for reconciliations. But no, Simeon is determined to stir up old wounds, reduce allowances and generally put the cat among the pigeons.
Poirot is invited to this delightful occasion and revenge is on the menu from someone. Soon Simeon is killed in a horrendous fashion after what looks like a tremendous fight in his room. But his door was locked from the inside, the key is still there, there's no way anyone could have got in, and how did frail old Simeon put up such a fight anyway?
Poirot to the rescue, as usual.
It's an interesting episode. The bleakness of the house and family is well captured by the use of mute colours. It all feels as cold as Simeon's heart. Production values their usual high standard. Acting is mostly good, though I can't stand Catherine Rabett. I just don't think she's a very good actress. It's also a bit disconcerting to see Sasha Behar being quite convincingly Spanish (her most famous role to date in Britain being as Mad Maya in Coronation Street!)
The revelation of the how- and whodunnits is good, if far fetched. As usual, though, Christie keeps everyone guessing, and as usual, not everyone's who they're cracked up to be.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
Poirot's Christmas is interrupted by Simeon Lee, who believes his life is threatened. Simeon is soon killed and his diamonds stolen, and there is no shortage of down-trodden Lees on hand who might have done the deed.
-
GUEST STAR
Vernon DobtcheffSimeon Lee
-
GUEST STAR
Simon RobertsAlfred
-
GUEST STAR
Catherine RabettLydia
-
Philip Jackson
Japp
-
David Suchet
Hercule Poirot
Watch Online
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
See All-
TRIVIA (0)
ADD TRIVIA- ADD TRIVIA from this episode.
-
QUOTES (0)
ADD QUOTES- ADD QUOTES from this episode.
-
NOTES (2)
ADD NOTES-
This episode is based on Agatha Christie's book Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1939).
-
Hercule Poirot's Christmas is also known as A Holiday for Murder and Murder for Christmas.
-
-
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.
-
Seasons on DVD?
10/06/114
-
Final Season 13 in pre-producion!
05/13/112
-
Curtain discussion (Spoilers for those who have not yet read the novel)
03/19/111
-
4 new episodes of Poirot filmed in 2009
06/19/105
-
Remaining stories to be filmed
06/15/1022
-
Murder on the Orient Express
S 12 : Ep 3
Aired 12/25/10 (1:29:00)
-
Appointment with Death
S 11 : Ep 4
Aired 12/25/09 (1:34:00)
-
Third Girl
S 11 : Ep 3
Aired 9/28/08 (1:34:00)
-
Cat among the Pigeons
S 11 : Ep 2
Aired 9/21/08
Related Shows
-
tv
Ironside -
tv
Perry Mason -
-
tv
Matlock -
tv
Columbo
Season 6 Episodes
See AllEp 4
Dumb Witness
Ep 3
Murder on the Links
Ep 2
Hickory Dickory Dock
Ep 1
Hercule Poirot's Christmas
-
TheOldBill EDITOR
User Score: 475
-
Ethandune
User Score: 2367
-
mysteryfan427
User Score: 273
-
LucianTy
User Score: 202
-
thearkbuilder
User Score: 59
-
odino_
User Score: 41
-
GeorgeFergus
User Score: 34
-
mancunian81
User Score: 24
-
tvwatcher21
User Score: 19
-
cook567
User Score: 18
More
Less
