The King of Clubs

Not one of the my favorite episodes, but I did find The King of Clubs satisfactory up to a point. The set-up is great - Henry Reddburn, a studio boss (and an absolute horrid man), is found dead on his library floor with his head bashed in. Poirot is asked by a friend to help with the investigation as his fiancé was the person who discovered the body. But there are plenty of other suspects - everyone at the studio loathed the man. It's a classic start to a Poirot plot. Poirot investigations and questioning of those involved were as enjoyable as ever. I even followed his thinking on the King of Clubs clue and knew, like Poirot, what it meant. So, events in this episode were progressing nicely and just the way I like. But then we come to the end. I won't spoil things, but I felt so unfulfilled, for lack of a better word. It's not the kind of ending a Poirot episode should have. (I'd really love to be more specific, but that would be giving far too much away. Sorry.)

Anyway, there's still a lot here to enjoy. The acting is top notch. I was especially impressed with Niamh Cusack and David Swift. They easily held their own with the series' regulars. The sets were impressive. I was struck by the contrast between Reedburn's modernistic looking home and the more traditional, understated Willows next door. I also enjoyed taking a quick look at some the early filming techniques, like filming through painted glass. Interesting stuff. And, I got a kick out of Hastings attempt to explain a piece of modern art to Poirot.

Overall, a 6/10 from me.

Film stars and Royalty combine for murder, with Poirot having to solve a possible murder of an odious bully.

It's a lavish production, it has some gorgeous buildings and sets on show, the set of Paul's bedroom is sumptuous. The room in which Mr Reedburn is discovered is also rather special, lots of glass and marble.

It's very well acted as usual, the main cast are on great form, Niamh Cusack is excellent as beautiful young actress Valerie, and the fiendishly handsome Jack Klaff is also very good as Paul.

It's not one of my favourite episodes to be honest, but I find it watchable enough, its not a mystery I feel you'd solve quickly, it does have a few twists and turns.

A pretty interesting, but visually appealing episode. 7/10

A ruthless studio boss is found dead with a hole in his head. The person who found him? A famous actress, engaged to royalty, who takes refuge in the house next door. Fearing unfavorable publicity which would mean no marriage, the Prince asks for Poirot's help in solving the case.

Good episode in that we see them making a '30s film, though it looks like a bad one. The first leading man, who is also a suspect, was a John Gilbert type, a mustached alcoholic who was big in silents.

Poirot wonders why the actress ran to the house she did, when another one was more convenient, and a couple of other things missed by Inspector Japp just don't add up.

Sumptuous production as usual. The denouement is a little different. Let's just say the King of Clubs is involved.

.. When the story begins, a nasty studio head is about to get punched in the face...but his security guards arrive and escort the punchee out of the place. You soon realize this studio chief is a real piece of work...a man not above blackmail or other dirty tricks. So, when he appears to have been bludgeoned to death, the question is more like 'who DIDN'T have a reason to kill him?'.

What I love about this episode is that since Poirot is NOT a member of any police department, he doesn't have to tell anyone what he finds if he doesn't want to. In this case, after exhaustive work, he realizes that the dead man isn't worth his time...and it might have been an accident anyways. Very clever and enjoyable...and all highly dependent on one strange clue...a missing playing card.

Right from the start of this story you know the man who must die ... a movie director who seems intent on bullying, demeaning, and generally making an ass of himself to everyone on the set and in the production.

With the complication of a Prince engaged to the female lead and a leading man who can't remember his lines and is being fired, you know it can't take long.

Poirot and Hastings just happen to be visiting the set when the death occurs. There is a bit of a kerfluffle over witnesses who can't be witnesses and a card game that couldn't have been played.

And there is a dead body that wasn't killed in the traditional ways of murder. And that's about it. I enjoy most of these shows but this one just seemed to spin its wheels without ever getting anywhere.