Four and Twenty Blackbirds

For some reason when I was younger, I ignored Agatha Christie stories. In the past few years, I've discovered them from borrowing audio books from the library and greatly enjoyed them - which let me to start reading as well. And so I was delighted to find out about the Poirot series. The few I've seen that I'd read were true to her stories, and those that I'd not read always left me impressed with her writing and tight plots, and left me guessing until the end "who dun it". One really couldn't miss a minute of it.

Therefore I expected so much more from this episode. In fact, until I looked at the other reviews, I really did not think it was based on a 'real' Agatha Christie story. I thought it was written by someone else just using the character. It was just too simplistic and obvious. But as always, the settings are beautiful, although I was still left very disappointed with the plot line. That said, I still have hope for other episodes in the series.

This was one of the Poirot episodes that required a lot of padding by the screenwriters. The original story itself was quite basic: at dinner one evening, Poirot hears a waitress make a chance remark that a regular customer had ordered a meal that was very different from his usual tastes. A few days later he hears from his dinner companion that that same habitual customer from the restaurant had happened to die that very evening, apparently by accident. Poirot's curiosity is aroused, and by talking with a series of acquaintances of the dead man, and calling on his knowledge of human nature, he is able to determine that the man's death was not all it appeared to be.

A simple enough story, and lacking some of the detail that would make it appealing to television viewers. So, the writers added in some considerable amount of background of the dead man's artistic career and family, along with a series of references to contemporary forensic science (faint traces of CSI!), cricket, and even a passing reference to Raffles, a fictional mystery-solving character from the 1930's. Nothing wrong with any of that. Didn't really add to the essential story, but didn't take away from it either. All in all, an episode that was enjoyable but not very memorable.

Poirot attends a meal with his dentist Bonnington. Waitress Molly casually talks about people being creatures of habit, she tells Poirot about fellow diner, Henry Gascoine, an artist and man of habit, broke his long standing routine recently, arriving on a different day, and eating different food. Poirot is instantly intrigued by Henry's deviation, more so when he learns that night poor Henry tumbled down the stairs to his death. Poirot attempts to learn more about Henry, talking to his neighbours and model, Poirot learns that Henry's estranged brother Anthony has also recently died. The little grey cells spring into action as Poirot smells a rat.

Brilliantly acted, I especially loved Holly De Jong's performance as Dulcie Lang, I will forever be a fan of Holly's after her brilliant performance a few years previous in Blackadder II.

As a fan of all things art deco i find this episode in particular a treat, some of the art work on show is just fabulous.

The music hall scenes look so good, a fun era expertly recreated. Some of the costumes too are rather wonderful. The seaside scenes also look so nice, meticulous.

I've always considered this one of the best of the early Poirot episodes. it's a super smart episode, it's a very clever plot, I've always liked the art of misdirection and the use of doubles. Short on suspects, but that seems not to matter.

As is to be expected from this outstanding series, the production values, costuming, sets (especially the music hall), music, underlying humor, and acting are all top-notch. Suchet is the quintessential Poirot with, however, perhaps a more pronounced display of humor and wit than Poirot of the books. In this outing, an elderly and eccentric artist dies from an apparent accidental fall down the stairs. But Poirot, while having dinner with his dentist friend at Bishop's Chop House had seen Gascoigne on the night of his death. The waitress comments to Poirot and his friend how much Gascoigne has deviated from his previous schedule and dinner choices. When he later hears that Gascoigne died soon after that dinner, Poirot becomes convinced that Gascoigne was murdered. He also learns that Gascoigne's twin brother has also died. Although it doesn't distract from enjoying this episode, it is slightly flawed by having too few suspects and thus it is easy to figure out whodunit. This quibble is more than offset by the running and humorous side story of Hastings' enthusiasm for following a cricket match. Poirot refers to cricket as "Cricket, an English enigma. I don't know of any other game where even the players are uncertain of the rules." This episode is another winner.

All episodes of Hercule Poirot are interesting and most enjoyable viewing. This entry of Agatha Christie's super sleuth is among the easier to solve.

The audience early on sees two separate segments and knows that this is about two estranged brothers. When Poirot learns of that in the film, he is quick to solve the murder mystery.

Poirot's usual retinue of Captain Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp and Miss Lemon are with him in this mystery. The film has some funny lines. Here are my favorites.

Hercule Poirot, "I have a dinner engagement with my dentist." Captain Hastings, "Your dentist? Positively morbid." Miss Lemon, "But you're always trying to avoid him." Poirot, "Not at all. Off duty, he's quite charming. Besides, he likes to see the end product at work."

Dentist (Bonnington), "To my good friend, Hercule Poirot, for whom life without a mystery would be like... roast beef without the mustard."

Bonnington, "Ah, I can see that bicuspid is still sensitive, Poirot. We must take a look at that. "

Captain Hastings, "Oh, but you would have noticed if his behavior had been in any way unusual?" Dulcie Lang, "I doubt it. Painters' behaviors are always unusual. They can never make up their mind whether to commit suicide or give a party."

Captain Hastings, "With both of the brothers dead, there aren't many Gascoynes left to pay their respects." Poirot, "Not too many suspects left either, huh?"