Peril at End House

Usually you get a few noticeable clues in each Poirot episode which enables you to solve some (if not most or all) of the puzzle before Poirot reveals all.

Not so in this exciting tale (the clues are extremely subtle) but "Peril At End House" is still great fun. There are several twists which will leave you guessing till the end.

It is also worth mentioning the scenery in this episode, which is simply marvellous! Fans of Hastings, Japp and Miss Lemon certainly won't be disappointed as they all have significant roles in "End House".

I really liked this adaptation of Peril At End House, actually it's one of my favourites. In fact, my only complaints are some slow moments, and they seemed to have left out the character of Frederica Rice's husband. Although the latter is forgivable, seeming as in the book Frederica's husband is only treated as a suspect, and you don't meet him properly until the denouncement. That said, this is one of the more faithful adaptations of the Queen of Crime's brilliant books. Visually it is a marvel to look at, the Cornish coast was like looking at a work of art, and the music is absolutely beautiful. The script and plot are both solid and complex in construction, and so is the acting, with David Suchet impeccable as Poirot and Hugh Fraser and Phillip Jackson sterling as Hastings and Japp. Everyone else was fine as well, but I have to mention the debut of Polly Walker. What a debut it was! Polly looked stunning beyond words, and was a revelation as Mademoiselle Nick Buckley. The part when Nick "comes back from the dead" was one of the most dramatic scenes in the entire adaptation, perhaps even the most dramatic, and it was such an effective scene. Here, there are plenty of poignant moments and some laugh out loud ones too, making this along with Five Little Pigs and Sad Cypress one of the better Poirot adaptations. 9/10 Bethany Cox

It's been ages since I read Peril at End House, but apparently, this filmed adaptation has been changed only slightly from the actual story.

While staying at a Cornish resort, Poirot and Hastings meet a beautiful young woman, Magdala "Nick" Buckley (Polly Walker). She tells them that she's had a series of strange accidents lately. Poirot has reason to believe that someone is trying to kill her. When she leaves, she forgets her hat, and Poirot notices a bullet hole in it -- while sitting with them, she had been annoyed by a bee. Poirot points out to Hastings that it was a bullet, and actually finds it.

Concerned, Poirot becomes concerned with protecting Nick. One night, when she returns to her home to get something, her cousin, who was wearing Nick's coat, is killed. Nick tells Poirot that she doesn't care if she lives or dies, which Poirot finds a strange statement. She is put in a nursing home for her own protection.

Poirot then realizes that an aviator, whose trip has been followed by the media, is lost at sea, and that Nick was engaged to him. In the interim, his uncle has died -- meaning that Nick has probably come into a huge fortune. With the motive for the attempts on her life, Poirot sets out to find the will and the killer. He uncovers a lot more than that.

Really excellent, entertaining story, lushly produced, with Suchet perfection as Poirot. Hastings is pretty dumb in this one. Miss Lemon, as played by Pauline Moran, is a delight.

I figured this story out for the most part, but it's because my subconscious remembered it. It is a very intriguing mystery and you will be entertained by it.

One of the very few well made TV movies produced in the last 10 years, Peril at End House features the wonderful David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, along with the other regulars from the A&E series (Hugh Fraser as Hastings, Philip Jackson as Inspector Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon). This film also marks the debut of the divine Ms. Polly Walker (the most beautiful actress that almost nobody has heard of). She plays Nick Buckley, the owner of End House that someone is trying to murder!

I am a huge fan of the Poirot Series, and this two hour installment is truly a delight. It features beautiful scenery, a well paced and engaging story, and solid acting from almost every cast member. Suchet is THE perfect Poirot, even better than Peter Ustinov, whom I also love. There are several plot twists typical to a Christie story, but these will surprise a neophyte to her work.

Finally, how beautiful is Polly Walker! It's truly a shame that actresses like her and Helena Bonham Carter aren't in more mainstream movies. For Polly Walker fans this movie is a must see!

The first feature length episode is such a goody, the first in a format that we'd come to love for many a year. I understand there were a few amendment from the book, but they are so minor, it's a very faithful adaptation.

I love the whole chocolate poisoning sequence, it looks so effective, re-written from the book, but it works so well.

The highlight of the episode is undoubtedly the ending, the revelation sequences work incredibly well, they are very poignant.

The scenery is breathtaking, it is such a beautiful setting. The episode is a visual treat, the scenes in the hotel, the clothes, Freddie in particular gets to wear some great outfits. Wonderful music throughout, it feels so authentic.

Polly Walker literally left me speechless in this episode, one of her very first TV appearances, she is absolutely spellbinding, terribly sweet throughout. When I read the book, she is the character I see in my mind's eye.

Miss Lemon is put to great use, and is particularly good, at last we get to see her glammed up, and her séance scenes are brilliant.

For anyone seeing this mystery for the first time, and unaware of the plot the solution will come as a surprise, it's such a cleverly written story.

I think it's an excellent episode, truly enjoyable. 8/10