The Million Dollar Bond Robbery

The London & Scottish Bank needs to transfer one million dollars' worth of Liberty Bonds from England to America via ship (on "Queen Mary"'s maiden voyage), but when someone attempts (twice) to murder the man assigned to the job, the assignment goes to another bank employer - a younger man with gambling problems. The bank's manager asks Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings to accompany him on the trip, but despite their presence the bonds do get stolen and only the young employer had a key to the case....

An exceptional episode of the "Poirot" series. The mix of newsreel b&w footage from the 30's and new footage featuring the actors is creative, the pace is breathless, the acting from all the key players is perfect and the moment of revelation is truly stunning - I challenge anyone to say he or she had figured this one out. There are some laugh-out-loud comedic moments as well - it's amazing how a 50-minute episode of a mystery series can make you laugh more than entire 2-hour supposed comedies. A must-see. (***)

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

Poirot is called in by a bank to help transfer $1 million in Liberty Bonds to America. The gentleman who is to take the bonds and travel on the Queen Mary with them has had an unfortunate series of events. He is almost run over by a car, and then he's poisoned.

Unfortunately the young man next in line has gambling problems, but he's what the bank has, so they ask Poirot to accompany him. Hastings goes along as well and he's thrilled as this is the Queen Mary's maiden voyage. Sadly the bonds are stolen.

Great episode, with newsreel footage accompanying the episode. All of the acting is top-notch. Exciting and entertaining - you can't ask for much more.

Poirot is hired by the London & Scottish Bank to investigate the security of a large bond transfer. The bonds are to be taken across the Atlantic on the liner Queen Mary (on her maiden voyage) and the courier, Mr Shaw, has been the target of two murder attempts. The second attempt leaves him unable to make the voyage so he is replaced by Philip Ridgeway. Poirot and Hastings are sent with him. This is wonderful news to Hastings, as he is a big admirer of the Queen Mary. (As it transpires, he doesn't get to enjoy the voyage nearly as much as he would have liked). A day or so from New York, the bonds are stolen. Not only does Poirot have to find the thief but he has to deal with the obstructiveness and disdain of Mr McNeil, the head of security for the bank. He has no respect for private detectives.

Quite interesting, with some great historic footage of the Queen Mary. It always helps a Poirot episode when an historic event is woven into the plot and the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary is such an event.

Some nice and amusing sub-plots too. Hastings, as always, features in the amusing aspects. His naivety, chivalry, malleability and wide- eyed wonder around beautiful women always makes for interesting watching.

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.