Wasps' Nest

Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are invited to visit a friend in the country, only to find mystery galore. Poirot is stung by a wasp, but can he stop anything more deadly from happening? Captain Hastings lends a hand with his film darkroom, his latest hobby. Chief Inspector Japp is hospitalized with appendicitis. This one has a sad ending, with a different twist than most Poirot mysteries.

Poirot shows his squeamishness in this episode. After Japp's appendectomy, Poirot and Hastings visit him in the hospital. Japp says he wondered if the anesthesia was properly administered, because he thought he could feel every incision and move of the doctor. At which point, Poirot quickly gets up and says that he and Hastings must leave.

As with all of the films of this and other Agatha Christie mysteries, I appreciate the great resources the English have for making old movies. The land, castles, old buildings are one thing. But the great numbers and varieties of vintage cars in so many street scenes are most impressive. Also, the dress and other costuming of the period.

"Wasps' Nest" is an excellent story of intrigue in the Christie and Poirot series. Here are some favorite lines from the film.

Captain Hastings, "I thought a nice afternoon at a garden fete might cheer him up a bit." Chief Inspector Japp, "Hmm. About the only thing that's gonna cheer him up today is the discovery of a body in a lucky dip."

Captain Hastings, "You're not planning to use the bathroom for the next half hour or so, are you Poirot?" Hercule Poirot, "Well, let me check with my diary, Hastings. No, it would seem not." Hastings, "Good. If you need me, you know where I am." He sets up a darkroom in the bathroom.

Hercule Poirot, after being stung by a wasp, "The open air - it should be closed during the summer. Captain Hastings - he wonders why I have a hatred for these crawling, buzzing things; and the reason is, they're always trying to kill me."

This film was puzzling to say the least, and the ending made me want to cry, which is rare for Poirot films as the endings of the hour-long films usually comprise of Hastings doing something silly and Poirot and Japp laughing at him, which is warming for the audience to see after the mystery has unravelled itself. However, I found this film a little more sentimental than the others, because the ending is sad, although I wouldn't have guessed so from the rest of the film which is more typical of the Poirot films. This film is full of red herrings, as always with Agatha Christie- such as the mysterious doctor appearing here and there, etc. I was glad to see that Hastings appeared in this film because he is excluded from some of the films and he is a valuable character, both for humour's sake and the sake of the plot.

Hercule Poirot must stop a crime before it happens in "Wasps' Nest" from 1991.

Hastings and Poirot are at a village carnival when Poirot sees an old friend, John Harrison, and Hastings immediately recognizes his fiancé, Molly Deane, a fashion model. Harrison invites them to his home the next week.

Once at Harrison's home, Poirot finds out that Molly's former fiancée is Harrison's best friend, Claude Langton, who played a clown at the village event. A few incidents put Poirot's little gray cells on alert: two kinds of lipstick on a cup, the inability to get rid of wasps on Harrison's land, a car breaking down, an old man who keeps showing up...Poirot believes a crime is about to be committed, and he utilizes Hasting's new love of photography to help him. Can he stop it in time? Meanwhile, poor Inspector Japp is in the hospital with acute appendicitis.

Excellent episode, and a poignant one, as Poirot works out what is gong to happen. There is even a fashion show of '30s clothes in this episode, another indication of the high production values that are always present.

It's a shame that Japp, Hastings, and Miss Lemon are not in later shows of the series, because as can be seen here, they really add to the episodes and also lighten them up because of Poirot's relationship with them. Later on, some of the shows are quite dark.

One of the best in the series.

Wasp's Nest is definitely one of my favourite Poirot episodes. Apart from starting off a little too slow, there is next to nothing wrong with this adaptation. It looks very sumptuous, with lavish costumes, breathtaking scenery and fluid photography, and the music is gorgeous. The script is of fine quality, the pacing is just right with the exception of the slow beginning and the story is easy to follow. The acting here is exceptional, I know I have remarked more than once that what I love about Poirot is how it is made and acted. Wasp's Nest is no exception, with a stellar performance from David Suchet, in this series there is the perfect balance between the funny and the serious sides of Poirot, both of which Suchet does brilliantly. Hugh Fraser is wonderfully naive and funny as Hastings, and both Phillip Jackson and Pauline Moran are very effective in their roles as Japp and Miss Lemon. Out of the supporting performances, Peter Capaldi was the most impressive, it was a performance of real subtlety. And I can't write this review without mentioning the ending, by far my favourite scene of the adaptation, so quiet and poignant it was just sublime, and one of those scenes that had me in tears. Overall, I loved it. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox

One of my favourite Poirot episodes. Beautifully acted by all four leading actors. The venture into 1930s fashion was superb. I always enjoy Poirot for the careful detail and attention paid to period details - clothing (esp. Hats), automobiles, architecture, furniture, and, especially, scenery. Watching Poirot is like time travel. And to have one of my favourite actors, Peter Capaldi (Local Hero, 1982), was such a treat. He plays a fantastically eccentric character, and though the role is minimal, he plays it to perfection. The plot is a treat as well. Without giving anything away, suffice it to say it is unlike any other Poirot dramatization in this wonderful series.