The King of Clubs

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.

Poirot goes to the movies as Hastings visits an old friend who is directing a film. The studio boss, Henry Reddburn is an old fashioned tyrant. He fires the over the hill star of the film and wants sexual favours from his leading lady, Valerie Saintclair who is engaged to European royalty.

When Reddburn is found dead in his home, Saintclair is a suspect. She was at Reddburn's house at the time of his death and ran into the cottage behind his house where she is seeking shelter from the family.

Poirot thinks that a card, the king of clubs left behind in the packet is an important clue.

Another episode with sumptuous art decoration, Hasting even makes a comment on modern art which could easily be applied today. You even get to see some old time filming techniques as the studio shoots through a painted glass to give a desert effect.

It all masks a minor story which looked rather flawed to me. It involves Inspector Japp missing certain clues. The denouement was just underwhelming, making this a minor story.

I am a big fan of Hercule Poirot and these productions are easy and enjoyable to watch. Great sets and good performances. The weak link is the episode and the turn it took. It was reasonable enough to watch but the end was anti-climatic. It had its twists and turns but the events and set ups were easy enough to follow. Perhaps the public's views on these incidents were different back then or maybe Poirot has a unique moral code. But I found it hard to swallow when Poirot cast a blind eye to what he called an accident. A man, despite being a terrible one, was dead and there should be an investigation. But Poirot says its not the same as Murder. Yes but what about manslaughter? Poirot's behaviour is odd in visiting the actress as if nothing happened. Somewhat enjoyable yet bizarre.

.. 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.