Agatha Christie's Poirot

As does the novel on which it is based, this episode begins with Eleanor Carlisle in the dock being convicted of murder and sentenced to death, the main body of the story being told in flashback. This involves a rich aunt with a will, a niece and her fiancee, two deaths and the classic Christie device of someone who is not exactly who he or she appears to be. Yes, all these elements are stock characters and cliches; Christie’s ’unique selling point’ is that she has at least some ability to breathe at least a semblence of life to cliches, and these adaptations usually manage to bring the characters to life convincingly for at least the length of time it takes to watch them. This episode is no exception.



David Suchet is the perfect Poirot, and in this story he shines as always, from patent leather shoes to slicked back hair. There’s also good work from David Pirie and the rest of the cast.