The Million Dollar Bond Robbery

"The Million Dollar Bond Robbery" is very different from the Agatha Christie story...very. One of the differences is that someone supposedly consumes Strychnine...a story element used in the two previous episodes of "Poirot"! Yes, this is the third strychnine poisoning episode in a row...which is odd because there are many other sorts of poison.

Poirot has been called to meet with a bank president. It seems one of their people was nearly run over...and it seems intentional. The next day, this same man is supposedly poisoned as well! THis is tough because he was supposed to take a million dollars with of bonds across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary...but now the job is given to a man who is a compulsive gambler! So, it's not all that suprising when the bonds are reported stolen...even though Poirot is aboard this ship, the Queen Mary. What really happened here?

The big question never answered is the exact whereabouts of the bonds by the end of a show...a strange omission to say the least. Add to that the problem that the show is VERY different from the Agatha Christie story make this a weak episode...enjoyable but weak.

Series 3 of Poirot seems to involve any story that had strychnine poisoning featured in it. This also adds a 'double' to it as well although it is done rather well here.

Miss Lemon mentions that Poirot had problems with his previous bank, in fact he got the bank executive arrested.

Now Poirot is hired by the London & Scottish Bank to beef up the security of a large bond transfer across the Atlantic and this involves a trip on the new liner Queen Mary something which Hastings is looking forward to.

The person accompanying the bonds is poisoned so his unsuitable deputy Philip Ridgeway takes his place and he spends more time on the ship gambling.

When the bonds are stolen suspicion lands on Mr Ridgeway who was deemed unfit to lead by the bank's own head of security.

A nice nifty mystery but not too deep with a lull in the middle. It was sad to see Hastings get sea sick as he was so looking forward to the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary and his genuine disappointment that someone so glamorous could also be so dowdy as well.

Poirot has to solve a seemingly impossible case, an impossible theft.

It is a visually stunning episode, the style and direction are fabulous, it looks so incredibly well made, sets and costumes all on point.

There is a great mix of humour and drama, some wonderful laughs throughout, it's a great episode for Hastings, but what makes this so special is the mystery itself, and the breathtaking transformation scene at the end, I certainly never saw that one coming.

Suchet and team are incredibly good as ever, but praise to the guest cast, a special mention to Lizzy McInnerny, who is wonderful.

It's well paced, imaginative, and boasts a terrific conclusion. An episode of quality. 9/10

A fair part of this sublime episode takes place on the maiden voyage of the RMS Queen Mary sailing from Southampton to New York, leaving on May 27th 1936.

At the end of day two of the voyage, before seeing some of the men playing cards, we see the wake of the ship and further away the sun setting. The ship is evidently sailing away from the sunset, so the direction must be due east - not the straight route to New York...!

• No wonder the speed record wasn't broken at this occasion ;^)

(Actually IRL the ship made a "pit stop" in Cherbourg-Octeville, France just south of Southampton but that will not explain going due east).

Agatha Christie sometimes wove her mystery stories around real events of history. In this episode of the Hercule Poirot Mystery Theater stories Poirot and Captain Hastings are among the passengers onboard the Queen Mary for its maiden voyage from England to New York. She set sail on May 27, 1936.

This mystery is about the theft of a million dollars in bearer bonds. Poirot is hired by the London and Scottish Bank to keep an eye on the bonds as their representative delivers them to a bank in America. Besides being a very good mystery, "The Million Dollar Bond Robbery" has considerably more humor in witty dialog.

Reading about the forthcoming maiden voyage of the Queen Mary, Captain Hastings would love to make the trip. Poirot, on the other hand, gets seasick even thinking about it. Then he gets the commission to protect the bonds, so he and Hastings wind up aboard the Queen Mary. How they do for sea legs is part of the humor.

A major source of the early humor is in exchanges between Poirot and the bank's head of security, Mr. McNeil. He resents Poirot's presence, and tells him so. While he may be a good security man, McNeil is no match for the grey cells of Hercule Poirot. That goes for repartee as well as in detecting and crime solving.

This is a most enjoyable and entertaining mystery served up by Dame Agatha and her super sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Here are some favorite lines from the film.

Captain Hastings, "The Queen Mary? Poirot, you're going too far." Hercule Poirot, "No, Hasting, I'm going nowhere. Even to contemplate such a matter gives me the mal de mare." Captain Hastings, "I can assure you, Poirot, you wouldn't be seasick on the Queen Mary." Hercule Poirot, "Hastings, it is 20 years ago that I came to this country, in a boat, across the channel, and still I am not recovered."

Mr. McNeil, "I'll have you know that in the five years that I have been the head of security here, not so much as a paper clip has gone astray." Hercule Poirot, "Monsieur McNeil, I'm sure if such a thing were to happen, you would be the man ideal for the case."

Mr. McNeil, "With due respect, I can't quite see what's to be gained by employing a Belgian."

Hercule Poirot, "And yet you're traveling alone, Mademoiselle Brooks?" Miranda Brooks, "Oh, you're never alone on a ship, Mr. Poirot. I'll see ya."

Tom Franklin, "But what about the search, Mr. Poirot? You're Mr. McNeil was pretty insistent." Hercule Poirot, "I assure you, officer, Monsieur McNeil does not belong to me."

Hercule Poirot, "I'm sorry." Mr. Shaw, "Don't be. Prison can't be much worse than 25 years of the London & Scottish Bank."

Captain Hastings, "Well, there she was. As you say... glamorous young woman. But with a bit of a wig and a few bits of makeup, she could transfer herself into that dowdy, hag of a nurse." Hercule Poirot, "Yes, it was indeed very well done, Hastings." Captain Hastings, "But... well I mean... if a woman can do that one way, she can do it the other." Hercule Poirot, "Ah, Hastings." Captain Hastings, "Oh, I mean, then where are you?" Hercule Poirot, "At the beginning of wisdom, mon ami. Now, that also is something to celebrate, n'est-ce pas?