Lord Edgware Dies

"Lord Edgware Dies" is part of the Poirot starring David Suchet series, but it was also a TV movie with Peter Ustinov and Faye Dunaway called "Thirteen at Dinner." I love both of them; Ustinov created his own character, which was hilarious, while Suchet IS the Christie Poirot. Kind of like Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple and the Marple Christie created. Very different but both good.

This adaptation has a couple of flaws, though the story is enjoyable and well done. I'll be honest and say that after seeing Carlotta Adams' (Fiona Allen) act in the club, I don't know that I'd think she was good at impersonations.

The second flaw is the one that has been mentioned previously; I won't belabor it.

One thing that makes this episode fun is the presence of Miss Lemon, Japp, and Hastings.

Helen Grace is gorgeous as Jane Wilkinson and those clothes -- no expense spared in any of these episodes.

Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) and Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) investigate the murder of hated aristocrat Lord Edgware (John Castle), who was found stabbed in the neck with a letter opener in his study. Edgware was married to eminent stage actress Jane Wilkinson (Helen Grace) who was asking him for a divorce at the time, but he refused it. Jane Wilkinson becomes Chief Inspector Japp's chief suspect in view of this and also because she was admitted into Edgware's house by his manservant at around the time of the murder. However, Japp (Philip Jackson) soon realises that this will not be an open and shut case because Jane Wilkinson was at a dinner party in Holborn and the other guests can vouch for her being there. Meanwhile, Poirot and Hastings have another question to consider. Could the mysterious death of Carlotta Adams (Fiona Allen), an actress who specialised in comedy impersonations, be connected to Lord Edgware's murder?

Lord Edgware Dies is an impeccable entry into ITV's distinguished Poirot franchise. The dramatization of Agatha Christie's novel by Anthony Horowitz, who has contributed many fine scripts for ITV's other money spinner, Midsomer Murders, is outstanding and every single plot twist runs smoothly into the other. In addition, it follows Agatha Christie's novel very closely. Interestingly, the novel first published in 1933 was filmed in 1934 with Austin Trevor playing Poirot then later as Thirteen At Dinner with Peter Ustinov. Brian Farnham's direction is workmanlike and shows off his considerable skill as a storyteller and the proceedings are much enhanced by Chris O' Dell's elegant cinematography, which complements the impeccable set design and attention to period detail. Performances as always are first class and there isn't one single miscast part. Suchet, Fraser, Jackson and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon can now play their roles with consummate ease and they are ably supported by John Castle (who played Inspector Craddock in the BBC's Miss Marple series with Joan Hickson) as Edgware and Helen Grace is simply outstanding as Jane Wilkinson.

In summary, it is very difficult to review these films as they are usually of such a high standard that one runs out of new words to use in order to praise them. All in all, Lord Edgware Dies, is a must see for all fans of great murder mysteries and for those who appreciate quality film making that deserves a theatrical release as well as being televised.

They are well written stories that carry you along with it. It is great to see the main characters back together again and all actors and actresses do a fine job. The only thing I found, I'll say different, is the American accents. The English have trouble with it just like the Americans have trouble with an English accent. This is a good story and a good representation.

Quicksilver 2

Unlike "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", as far as I remember it stays EXACTLY the same as the book. As usual, the ending is quite a suprise. David Suchet (who played Japp himself, without a script, and admires Philip Jackson) shines as usual, but I thought Hugh Fraser looked somewhat plumper. A re-make of a stupid TV movie called "Agatha Christie's Thirteen at Dinner", which had an aging Peter Ustinov as Poirot and, as I before mentioned, Suchet as Japp. Enjoyable whodunit.

Lord Edgeware dies: he gets stabbed in the neck, and there are plenty of suspects around. Poirot gets involved in the case, along with his friend Captain Hastings who has just returned from Argentina after a misguided investment.

The reunion of the 4 series regulars (Suchet, Fraser, Jackson and Moran) after a couple of years gives a warm feeling to this episode, but its chief virtue remains Agatha Christie's plot. Her technique here involves a daring double-deception: she takes the obvious truth and camouflages it to the point where you never think of it! But even the little details of the story ("Paris...") are brilliant, and everything gets perfectly explained at the end. Helen Grace gives an astonishing, scene-stealing performance. This is easily in the Top 5 episodes of the series up to this point. (***1/2)