The Million Dollar Bond Robbery

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.

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 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.

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?

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.