The Underdog

The winds of war are blowing through this episode, as the prospect of a Second World War looms large on the horizon.

Sir Reuben is the managing director, of a prominent company engaged, in the manufacture of industrial chemicals.

He considers that war is good for business, his own in particular as the company, has a new product line in development, Sir Reuben is keen to license it, and is more than happy to do business with I. G. Farben.

I. G. Farben was the largest manufacturer, of chemicals in pre war Germany, and amongst other products they were involved, in producing were the toxic gases, used in the gas chambers of Nazi Germany's, notorious concentration camps.

Captain Hastings simply adores his golf, when he is proffered an opportunity, to watch a tournament in Scotland, he can not bare to miss out on it.

Poirot has absolutely no interest, whatsoever in anything to do with it, but he is however keen on art, when he discovered that a particularly, fine collection is held by someone residing in the same environs, he decided to join him north of the border.

World War II is in the wind in "The Underdog," and this episode of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot mysteries is entangled somewhat with the war. A British firm has developed synthetic rubber, and a sub-plot is whether or not it should sell its production to Germany.

This is a 1993 production in which Chief Inspector Japp is not present. But, Miss Lemon has more of a role, and Captain Hastings has a usual supporting role. Oh, yes, and golf again is part of the story - although it has nothing to do with the crime.

The cast of characters is quite large and there are no real red herrings in this plot. But the subplots alone make it a very interesting and entertaining episode. Miss Lemon's fad in this film is hypnotism, and she's quite good at it. But not so as to be able to entice the grey cells of the super sleuth.

Rather than humor in the dialog in this film, some Poirot philosophy and psychology is particularly pithy. Here a two examples.

Hercule Poirot, "Intuition, Hastings, often describes some fact that is so deeply buried in the subconscious, that the subject is not aware of its existence."

And, still, as he unravels the mystery, he tells those assembled, "I am a student of the psychology, and throughout this case I have been looking not for a man or a woman who has the bad temper, because the bad temper is in itself a safety valve."

The modern estate used for the filming has become very familiar in the Poirot mysteries. It's sameness is beginning to have the effect of detracting from the stories. But this is a very good Poirot mystery.

Poirot accompanies Hastings to a local golf tournament. Industrialist Sir Reuben Astwell has a magnificent collection of Belgian miniature bronzes that Poirot wishes to view.

Sir Reuben Astwell is the head of Astwell Chemicals where his brother is a junior partner. The company has developed a synthetic substitute for rubber.

However Poirot discovers that Sir Reuben is a philistine. A nasty man who cares about profit, he plans to sell the formula to a German company even though they may yet go to war with Britain.

When Sir Reuben is found dead, his nephew is the main suspect. He was heard arguing with his uncle on the night Sir Reuben died.

A fast moving episode, the art direction was wonderful. There was a lot of money spent in the sets and designs.

Miss Lemon has a prominent part to play as she is dabbling in hypnotism.

Sibling rivalry, stolen formulas, jealousy and greed. The episode has it all, the denouement was weak. I am not convinced the evidence against the culprit was that strong.

I have been a fan of Agatha Christie and of the Poirot series for several years now. The Underdog is not one of my favourites, but it still has plenty that I love about the series on display. It is very well made, with some scenes having a nice autumnal feel to them, and the scenery, costumes and photography are splendid, complete with an evocative atmosphere. Right from the iconic theme tune to the haunting under-scoring, the music adds much to the mood of the episode without being over-bearing. The script still has its perfect blend of humour, thoughtfulness and tension, and the story is always interesting with the hypnosis parts a nice touch and the final solution satisfying if not entirely unexpected. The victim himself is such an obnoxious bully, perhaps the most unpleasant and most deserving victim of the series, that you are actually glad when he is done in and you feel sympathy for the murderer. The acting is its usual reliable itself, with the four leads outstanding especially David Suchet, who as far as I'm concerned hasn't given a single bad performance in this role. All in all, well made, entertaining and well acted. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Sir Reuben Astwell is the CEO of Astwell Chenicals and a rather unscrupulous and obnoxious man. Astwell Chemicals has just developed a synthetic substitute for rubber, an incredibly useful innovation and surely something that will be useful if Britain goes to war with Germany. However, Sir Reuben, despite seeing the possibility of a war with Germany, makes a deal with to sell the formula to a German company. That night he is found dead, murdered. Luckily Poirot is in the vicinity and he is soon on the case.

Quite intriguing, with the murderer not being obvious. Some good twists, turns and red herrings. Some good sub-plots too: Miss Lemon and her hypnosis, Hastings and his golf.

A good whodunnit.