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By
FRANK BEHRENS
The excitement mounts (and
shelf space decreases for collectors) as the 10th
entry in the Hercule Poirot series appears!
"Poirot 10" has, of course, all the superb
production values of the other sets (both the
short episodes on VHS and the longer ones on VHS
and DVD) with the nearly perfect incarnation of
Poirot in actor David Suchet. However even the
most rabid fan must admit that two of the three
plots here are not top drawer.
"Murder in the Mews" is the strongest entry, with
its twist on "the murder set up to look like a
suicide" element. Toss into the salad the caddish
Major (James Faulkner), the pompous politician
(David Yelland) engaged to the victim, and the
best friend (Juliette Mole), and you have all the
ingredients for a solid whodunit with a good red
herring.
"The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly" telegraphs its
solution too early in the proceedings for any
interest to build up except for the question of
How rather than Who. Also the precautions taken to
prevent the crime are too unrealistic for
credibility.
"Four and Twenty Blackbirds" again uses a bearded
character, which in series such as this one too
often means someone in disguise. I am not
revealing too much, since Poirot knows this
halfway through, but the criminal in this case was
simply too careless and there are "too many
clues." A nude artist's model with a sense of
humor, however, does not hurt.
But mind you, these are still fun to watch as
Suchet penguinwalks circles around Chief Inspector
Japp (Philip Jackson). |
