Description

C’est vrai!
David Suchet is the definitive Poirot.
Hercule Poirot is the detective, and no actor has defined the brilliant little Belgian’s onscreen persona like DAVID SUCHET, the Poirot. Millions of fans made Suchet’s Poirot the most-watched detective in the history of the PBS Mystery! series and a hit all over again on A&E. Armed only with his razor-sharp wit, Poirot unravels the intricate plots concocted by Dame Agatha Christie, the mother of the modern mystery story. Ablaze with the elegance of its 1930s setting, the series also stars Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings, Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon.

THE THEFT OF THE ROYAL RUBY — International relations are at stake as Poirot hunts for a stolen Egyptian royal jewel. THE AFFAIR AT THE VICTORY BALL — When two revelers at a lavish costume ball are murdered, small but telling clues lead Poirot to the killer. THE MYSTERY OF HUNTER’S LODGE — Poirot must find a murderer among the members of a quarrelsome hunting party. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE biographies of Agatha Christie and David Suchet, cast filmographies and Agatha Christie materials. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It's great!
Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. Well, this has now happened with Agatha Christie's detective, Hercule Poirot! In 1989, veteran actor David Suchet (b.1946) was tapped to play Poirot, and the rest, as they say, is history.

This marvelous DVD contains three(!) of the hour-long episodes of the Adventures of Hercule Poirot:

The Theft of the Royal Ruby - Season 3, episode 8 (February 24, 1991) - When a priceless jewel is stolen from a foolish Egyptian prince, the government turns for help to Poirot.

The Affair at the Victory Ball - Season 3, episode 3 (January 20, 1991) - When a man is murdered in a crowded costume party, and no one saw who did it, Poirot begins to exercise his little gray cells.

The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge - Season 3, episode 10 (March 10, 1991) - Poirot's visit to a millionaire's hunting party turns tragic when he gets a near fatal cold. But, when the host is found brutally murdered, Poirot realizes that only he can bring the perpetrator to justice.

This is a great DVD, one that I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery, or just loves excellent drama. It's great!

MYSTERY MAGNIFIQUE!
It's no mystery why this is the most-watched detective show in the history of the PBS "Mystery!" series --- Christie penned a brilliant Belgian [detective]who solves crimes only using his "little grey cells" and the aid of his affable associate Captain Hastings. And not one hair out of place on his perfectly coifed hairy lip! No mystery why fans shouldn't host sleuthing
fetes: Acorn is releasing the entire canon! Mystery magnifique!

Poirot continues to be wonderful!
The Theft of the Royal Ruby - While it's interesting to see Poirot on his own, I still missed Hastings and Miss Lemon. But what turned my away from this one is the mystery. It's just not that interesting and revolves too much around coincidence. - 3 stars

The Affair At Victory Ball - This episode combines a great atmosphere, intriguing characters, and chilling murder, with many great plot devices inclucing the six coustumed-characters and the final radio broadcast. While at first I thought this awkward, in the end I love it cause it just captures how much Poirot loves to show off, and I love the comment made about the broadcast at the end. GREAT TELEVISION! - 5 stars

The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge - Some repetitive plot devices, but still solid and Poirot's "One can Leave!?" comment has becomoe a staple in the quotes I say way too much. - 4 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 4 stars

wonderful mysteries with an added bonus
The Poirot series in general stands as a wonderful example of how good the much-maligned medium of television can be. Obviously the attention to period details is wonderful, but that in istelf is not nearly the greatest of the program-makers' achievements. Rather the quality of the writing and acting is what deserves the most notice, and this sixth set from the folks at Acorn Media is no exception. All of the mysteries here are highly enjoyable.

As a fan of radio, "The Affair at the Victory Ball," with its broadcast-focused climax is great fun and "The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge" is classic Poirot. My personal favorite in this set, though, is "The Theft of the Royal Ruby," because it's one of the uncommon cases where we get to see Poirot without his familiar sidekicks. David Suchet is always marvelous as Poirot, but here he makes the fullest use of the full spotlight.

And, if three great Poirot mysteries wasn't enough to make me happy, Acorn Media has included an excellent little guide-book to the show with this set called "The Poirot Casebook." Not only did it give cast and credits for the many episodes of the series, it included quotes, trivia and an introduction written by David Suchet. I don't know if this is a limited time offer, but if you're a fan of Poirot, this book is a must-have item.

Suffers only in comparison with the earlier sets
At last, the final set in this series of video mysteries. I say "this" series, because the friendly people at Acorn Media assure me that other entries are to follow in the not too distant future. Please see my reviews of sets 1-3 for general comments about these offerings.

"The Theft of the Royal Ruby" starts with both Miss Lemon and Hastings away (probably a holiday for Pauline Moran and Hugh Fraser) and Poirot all ready to spend Christmas alone with a box of chocolates. He is urged by a high official to retrieve a priceless ruby that a young and arrogant Egyptian prince has foolishly lent to an adventuress who vanished with it. The way in which it is retrieved halfway through the episode is stretching things a bit too far; and Poirot's plot to trip up the thieves is even more far fetched. A lot of fun, but not a really successful episode.

"The Affair at the Victory Ball" involves Commedia dell' Arte costumes; and somehow the Detective's explaining the solution over the radio simply does not work. The business of cocaine abuse among the upper classes, though, always has its effect; and by a coincidence, Acorn Media released this set at the same time as the Peter Wimsey "Murder Must Advertise," which also deals with drugs in the England of that period.

"The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge" uses the by now familiar device of the attractive woman disguised as a homely one, but it is the most satisfactory of the three. Although the relationships between the characters at the lodge are revealed sporadically during a hunt in which the dialogue is difficult to follow, this episode comes closer to film noire than does any other in the series and that makes it unusual.

Although I feel bad being so negative in this review, I realize that we have the 16th to 18th dramatizations of Christie's short Poirot mysteries and that most of the better ones have already been used. Still the production values and the acting are superior to the relentless realism of what now passes for "crime" television series and I must give it the top rating. If it suffers in comparison, it is only in comparison with the earlier offerings in this same series! ... Read more

Amazon.com

David Suchet brings the great detective Hercule Poirot to rich life in this collection of some of Agatha Christie's best work. This entertaining set includes three episodes, all lovingly true to their 1930s settings. The Disappearance of Mr. Davenham takes the standard case of a businessman's disappearance and spices it up with a friendly wager that Poirot can't solve the mystery without leaving his apartment. The Veiled Lady is more of a comic caper, as Poirot and the ever-ready Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) resort to burglary to stop a blackmailing cad, and The Lost Mine is cleverly set in a Chinatown reminiscent of the '30s concept of the Mysterious East. Suchet is a perfect Poirot, capturing both his dignity and his humor, and Fraser does a beautiful job of underplaying Hastings enough to keep him the perfect sidekick without ever making him boring. Special features include selected cast filmographies and biographies of Agatha Christie, David Suchet, and Poirot himself. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Magnifique, n'est-ce pas?
Agatha Christie's quirky Belgian detective Hercule Poirot has come to life in the form of David Suchet. The most watched series on PBS Mystery! and a huge hit on A&E, Poirot retells the tales, short stories, and novels written in the 1930s and 40s by Dame Agatha Christie, mother of the modern mystery. David Suchet plays the part perfectly, with some outstanding acting and chemistry from the supporting cast: Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings, Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemmon. All play off of each other beautifully and most often with hilarious side effects.

One of the most endearing features about this series as well as the others that follow is the humor value that is omnipresent throughout most of the series. Not only are the mysteries difficult to solve (most of them anyways), but the Christie's writing shines through giving the characters lovely quirks that spark laughter often during the episodes. You might find yourself distracted from the mystery itself by getting caught up in the comedy. The nuances come out perfectly and brilliant acting all around leads to one of the best shows ever produced for television.

I can't find anything at fault with the series. AcornMedia is not known for their superior picture quality, but this first in the series is actually a great transfer. If you enjoy a bit of British comedy, a good mystery, and all around outstanding entertainment, you should start collecting the series. You won't be disappointed!

Incredibly Well Done Television!
It's too bad that so few people know of this series, for it is one of the most well put-together television series I've ever seen. The series as a whole gets an easy 5-stars from me, but I plan to rate every episode so this particular box set gets its own score of 4-stars. Here are my thoughts on the individual episodes.

The Disappearence of Mr. Davenheim - Decent, but not great this one seems way to similar to Conan Doyle's "The Man With The Twisted Lip" to me, but not as good. - 3 stars

The Veiled Lady - Better than the first, but somewhat silly all throughout with a strange, but minor, flaw in the solution. Also the chase scene near the end was too drawn out. - 3.5 stars

The Lost Mine - Perhaps a glimpse of the greater future of the Poirot series, this one shines with a more interesting case and a more interesting solution. Also, watching Poirot and Hastings play Monopoly is priceless - 4 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 4 stars

Good fun and no gore
There were many one hour and somewhat less two hour episodes of the Hercule Poirot mysteries shown on PBS; and foresighted fans should have taped them then, because when A&E re-runs them, parts of each have to be removed to make room for all the commercials. Very often, the solution at the end flashbacks to scenes that we never saw because of the abridgments and frankly the value of these episodes are reduced considerably.

But now Acorn Media is reissuing them in complete versions, with the two hour features on DVD and the shorter ones on VHS. Both series are a delight. The acting genius of David Suchet is enhanced by his usual supporting cast (Hugh Fraser as Hastings, Philip Jackson as Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon), the wonderful guest casts, the done-to-perfection ambiance of time and place--the late 20s and early 30s--with all those fabulous art-deco buildings they have managed to find and populate.

The first boxed set of 3 episodes contains "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim," "The Veiled Lady," and "The Lost Mine." In the first, you might spot a bad flaw in the solution.

The second set includes "The Cornish Mystery" (with a genuine "blonde hussy"), "Double Sin" (with a Sweet Young Thing in Distress), and "The Adventure of the Cheap Flat" (with a neat reversal on the plot of Doyle's "The Red Headed League").

And if too many solutions depend on Poirot overhearing by chance some remark early in the story, well that should teach you to be more alert to these things on future viewings. Also if Poirot is not above breaking the law with a little forced entry now and then, well so did Sherlock Holmes.

Very amusing sleuthing for one and all--and a very welcome relief to the grizzly "modern" mysteries now being shown with extreme close-ups, whispered dialogue, and as much gore as possible in each frame. ... Read more

Description

Marvelous mustachioed Hercule Poirot stamps out evil with savoir faire to spare in this British television production that became a hit on both the PBS Mystery! series and A&E. Based on the fiction of Agatha Christie and starring David Suchet as the definitive Poirot, the series features great ensemble acting, witty scripts, and gorgeous period sets and costumes. The dapper, diminutive Poirot and his lanky assistant Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) sort out cases in and around 1930s London.

Dead Man's Mirror—At a fine furniture auction, Poirot loses in the bidding for an art deco mirror but wins a new client willing to part with the mirror for Poirot’s services.
Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan—Poirot tries to take a holiday but is soon required to save the day when a priceless necklace disappears.
The Adventure of the Clapham Cook—Finding a missing cook proves tougher, and more suited to his superior skills, than Poirot expects.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE biographies of Agatha Christie and David Suchet, cast filmographies, and Agatha Christie materials. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

3 strong entries in the almost complete POIROT series
Having sung the praises of Sets 1-8 of the Acorn Media releases of , I can find little to add about the general excellence of this series, which offers up the shorter episodes on VHS and the longer ones on VHS and DVD formats. With 3 of the projected 12 sets to go for the shorter entries, Set 9 offers up a trio of fairly strong tales.

"Dead Man's Mirror" concerns a ruthless millionaire who outbids Poirot on a mirror at an auction and then dangles the item as bait for the detective to investigate a case of fraud. There is much ado about inheritances, a second (unsigned) will, possible murderers, dinner gongs, and shots behind locked doors. And if the ending is far fetched, who cares? This one needs total concentration.

"Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan" is lighthearted and contains a wonderful spoof on the mystery plays popular in Christie's own time. You will enjoy not only the usual good characterizations by the supporting cast but also the very imaginative camera shots inside a chest of drawers.

"The Case of the Clapham Cook" hangs on a hoax that is a bit overly complicated, since the perpetrator could have accomplished his aims in a far less roundabout way; but then there would have been no plot. The use of disguises, fine in the original stories, often does not work on video, because it is too easy to spot the face behind the beard.

All in all, superior viewing for an evening. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The second batch of eight episodes from the wonderful Monarch of the Glen series picks up precisely where Series One left off. Young Archie MacDonald, the London restaurateur forced to assume his role as Laird of Glenbogle--i.e., head of the MacDonald family's 400-year-old, 40,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands--has finally taken to his immense responsibility with seriousness of purpose and no little family pride. His cantankerous father, Hector (Richard Briers), long estranged from Archie and once bitter about asking his son to save the financially strapped estate, has gracefully accepted his own change in fortunes but now runs little ploys to maintain a semblance of aristocratic privilege. (In one near-slapstick episode, Hector and his old friend Kilwillie, played by Julian Fellowes, try to hide a valuable barrel of malt liquor from Archie, who is trying to profit from every MacDonald asset.)

Archie's efforts to keep Glenbogle solvent include turning the estate into a sprawling museum and renting the place out for weddings. The tricky bit is that Glenbogle is also a home and touchstone for the MacDonald's appealing staff and friends, and there will always be someone upset about changes in the status quo. Monarch continues to be as much about lovable, boneheaded Duncan (Hamish Clark), the MacDonald's all-purpose assistant; the sexy, strong-willed Lexie (Dawn Steele); grizzled Golly (Alexander Morton); and schoolteacher Katrina (Lorraine Pilkington), whose dodgy, romantic ambivalence toward Archie wears a little thin but finally settles into a promising groove.The radiant Susan Hampshire (The Forsyte Saga) has more to do in this set of stories and thus shines brighter as Archie's intriguing mother. Equally lovely are spectacular views of Highlands scenery: amazing castles, romantic vistas. One wants to stay forever. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Monarch of the Glen series
This British series is fantastic! I can't wait for season 3 and 4 to be sold in America. It is very funny, has romance, beautiful scenery, great characters that you get to know in depth. People of all ages will love it. My college age niece, my 80 year old mother, myself, my brother-in-law and sister all enjoyed watching it equally. Now that is something ot talk about! I wish they would show this series on A and E TV so more people would be exposed. It ranks up there with my favorite miniseries, "Pride and Prejudice".

even better
The second season of MONARCH is just as good as, if not better, than the first. This is one of those rare series where you care about every single character, so no matter which character is the focus of the episode you are right there rooting for them. Hector is as cantakerous and lovable as ever, and even surprising at one point. Molly is another surprise, as usual, shrewd one minute and air-headed the next. When she is around, you know everything will be all right. Archie, one of the few sane ones in the bunch, struggles and stumbles along, like most of us. The romantic obstacles get to be a bit much between him and his love interest(s). I guess they would have been easier to take once a week than all at once. All the 'supporting players' are strong enough to be the stars of the show, and sometimes they are. And there are some new people added in. I especially like the expansions into the village. It rounds out the story, placing it in a larger context. These are people you would love to know, to be friends with and to revisit over and over, which is why this DVD, along with its first season, is a definite keeper. ... Read more

Description

Brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot cracks the toughest cases with brainpower alone, endearing him to thinkers everywhere and making Agatha Christie the bestselling author of her day. As portrayed by DAVID SUCHET in this British television production, Poirot became the most-watched detective in the history of the PBS Mystery! series and a hit all over again on A&E. In these three stories, Poirot outsmarts both the criminals and the other crime-solvers in and around elegant upper-crust 1930s London.
Murder in the Mews—On Guy Fawkes Night, Poirot is called in on a case he suspects is murder made to look like suicide.
The Adventure of Johnnie Wavery—A country squire hires Poirot to investigate threats against his young son.
Four and Twenty Blackbirds—Poirot’s keen powers of observation and culinary know-how help him solve a murder case. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

MYSTERY MAGNIFIQUE!
It's no mystery why this is the most-watched detective show in the history of the PBS "Mystery!" series --- Christie penned a brilliant Belgian [detective] who solves crimes only using his "little grey cells" and the aid of his affable associate Captain Hastings. And not one hair out of place on his perfectly coifed hairy lip! No mystery why fans shouldn't host sleuthing
fetes: Acorn is releasing the entire canon! Mystery magnifique!

Great productions, two weak plots
The excitement mounts (and shelf space decreases for collectors) as the 10th entry in the Hercule Poirot series appears! 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 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). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The English Abroad
The "Poirot" Box Set #11 contains "The Third Floor Flat," "Problem at Sea," and "Triangle at Rhodes." The first episode is set largely within Hercule Poirot's apartment building, Whitehaven Mansions; the other two take place very far from home, in Egypt and in Rhodes, Greece. I didn't care for "The Third Floor Flat"; its ending was far too predictable. "Triangle at Rhodes" is much more intriguing, a story about a "love triangle" that is not quite what it appears to be. The location shots and the décor in this episode are absolutely gorgeous. Like the previous reviewer, I did notice parallels between this story and that of "Evil Under the Sun," an excellent "Poirot" novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed "Triangle at Rhodes." In "Problem at Sea," Poirot and Hastings investigate a murder aboard a cruise ship bound for Alexandria. The episode features interesting characters and an uncanny denouement. Though "The Third Floor Flat" is only average, the two "abroad" episodes are well worth the price of the whole box set.

MYSTERY MAGNIFIQUE!
It's no mystery why this is the most-watched detective show in the history of the PBS "Mystery!" series --- Christie penned a brilliant Belgian dick who solves crimes only using
his "little grey cells" and the aid of his affable associate Captain Hastings. And not one hair out of place on his perfectly coifed hairy lip! No mystery why fans shouldn't host sleuthing
fetes: Acorn is releasing the entire canon! Mystery magnifique!

11 down, 1 to go
Only one to go! This is Set 11 of the Acorn Media "Poirot" 12 box series that will include all the shorter Poirot episodes we enjoyed so much on PBS way back when and later (in much mutilated form) on A&E. Starring the "definitive" Hercule Poirot, David Suchet, this series includes (I believe) all or most of the Poirot short stories penned by Agatha Christie, three to a VHS box, while the longer tales are available on VHS and DVD with running times of about 110 minutes.

The three episodes in Set 11 are pretty good. "The Third Floor Flat" brings a murder very close to Poirot's very own flat, just below it in fact. The solution is not very satisfactory and comes a little too early; but the setting more than makes up for it all.

"Triangle in Rhodes" (1937) bears a strong resemblance to "Evil Under the Sun" (1941), and the solution to the former is more credible. Hastings is absent from this episode and the scenery is gorgeous. Be sure to see "Evil" with Ustinov as Poirot and Diana Rigg as the victim for comparison purposes.

Hastings (Hugh Fraser) is back in "Problem at Sea," in which some of the characters are more interesting as believable humans than in most of the Poirot tales. You might guess not only the guilty party but even the modus operandi early on; and while Poirot's forcing a confession from the murderer is a little overdone, this is (correct me if I'm wrong) the only Poirot story in which he is strongly criticized for being "cruel."

A very good set, despite small story faults. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gorgeous to behold, slow to reveal its full charm and intelligence, Monarch of the Glen is not just for Britcom fanatics. Adapted and updated from the so-called "Highland" novels of Compton MacKenzie (author of Sylvia Scarlett), Monarch concerns the crisis of Archie MacDonald (Alistair Mackenzie), a London restaurateur all set (with his girlfriend Justine, played by Anna Wilson-Jones) to open a hip new eatery when he is interrupted by an emergency call from his home in the Scottish Highlands.

There is no emergency, as it turns out, just a gambit by Archie's mother, Molly (the radiant Susan Hampshire), to effect a reconciliation between her son and his cantankerous, relentlessly bitter father, Hector (Richard Briers). The reason: Archie, much to his surprise, must legally assume Hector's longtime role as Laird of Glenbogle, the MacDonalds' 400-year-old, financially strapped 40,000-acre estate. Despite their lengthy estrangement, Hector needs Archie to save the family's honor and assets.

The eight episodes in this first season of Monarch of the Glen find the urbane Archie fiercely resisting his obligation at first, then warming to it as Glenbogle's plight becomes more personal--not just an issue of hereditary leadership but of new attachments to the series' endearing, mildly eccentric characters. Among them is Lexie (Dawn Steele), the estate's sexy, street-smart cook; shy Duncan (Hamish Clark), an underachieving, kilt-wearing handyman; leftist land-reformer Katrina (Lorraine Pilkington), warily circling Duncan as a romantic interest; and avuncular, lovably laconic groundskeeper Golly (Alexander Morton).

Monarch takes a couple of delightful episodes to introduce these good people and establish story particulars and conflicts. But depth and emotional resonance arrive by the third episode (the MacDonalds have their share of repressed, unspoken old agonies) and remain through the last episode's cliffhanger ending. If that's not enough, the spectacular Highlands scenery is pure eye candy: castles, glimmering lakes, misty hills. One never wants to leave, or to see Monarch end. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Charming, Sentimental, Inspiring!
Television shows that can truly warm the heart are hard to find nowadays yet, thanks to the BBC, we now have a stunning example of one that most assuredly can. Monarch of the Glen, whilst probably best described as a drama, is in reality a cleverly constructed blend of drama, romance and, of course, humour. And by humour I do not mean of the American sit-com style (no offence), but rather a charming comedy with formidable wit and an acute sense of irony. This style of comedy is Britain's gift to the world, and it especially suits the British, Irish and Australian sense of humour. Nevertheless, the show is very well written, and its comic undertones should be easily spotted by most viewers.

The show itself is centred around Archie MacDonald, Laird of Glenbogle (and, in the 2nd series, Chief of Clan MacDonald), who abandons his London lifestyle to return to his ancestral home in the West Highlands of Scotland. Indeed, it is this conflict that forms the basis of this 1st season and, although Archie ultimately chooses to stay with his family and kinsmen in the glen, he at times appears to yearn for his former life on the Thames. This homesick-whist-at-home contradiction serves to make Archie a complex yet accessible character, at times unsure of where he truly belongs. Add romantic intrigue, and some genuinely lovable supporting characters, and you have in essence the simple brilliance of this show. Of the support characters, for me the standouts must surely be the ever bushy-tailed Lexie, the delightfully dotty Molly (Susan Hampshire at her most winsome), and that dependable old highlander, Golly MacKenzie.

As a series, Monarch of the Glen possesses a charm rarely found on modern television and, whilst the mood is for the most part light and funny, many scenes are surprisingly moving. The emphasis on clanship and the bonds of family and homeland are unashamedly sentimental, and the ruggedly beautiful highland landscape is simply breath-taking. Conversation between the characters is superbly constructed and, beneath the pleasantries and somewhat misleading appearance of landed gentry, lays the reality of simple, kind-hearted folk, bound together by loyalty and love for one another.

A witty, charming, and heart-warming show, Monarch of the Glen stands as a rare gem in comparison to the formulaic and rigidly structured nature of modern television. It is also presented here on a brilliant DVD, with the widescreen transfer displaying the luscious landscapes of the Scottish Highlands in majestic style. The Dolby Stereo soundtrack is also well mastered and proves more than adequate, as well as being a vast improvement over the audio transfer on the UK Disc.

One of the best TV series ever
Okay, I always find it amusing how only a complete synopsis "review" is deemed as "helpful to you". Fine. Anyone can summarise. But what does that art MEAN to you?

This series means much to me and my partner. I have been Anglophilic for much of my life. I've never experienced such a combination of subtly complex acting, photography, and script. The product is a thing of beauty that, as usual, American television has no idea how to produce. I gave up on our TV years ago.

Beautiful DVD copy, nice clear picture and sound. And this is one series where I couldn't care less about the "extras"- it's that good.

No one has mentioned the music. This has to be one of the many elements that glues this series together, yet stands completely on its own. I can't wait to own the soundtrack as well as the series. If you enjoy anything Scottish/Irish, you'll certainly find the music immensely satisfying. Perfectly blended with the action.

I've seen 3 of the 5 years available, and it only gets better! Unfortunately, this is all we have so far, series 1.
One has to get BBC America, typically, to see the series. Our local station has discontinued running it. Alas, I now feel the same way I did when I had to finish "Lord of the Rings", and say goodbye to characters I had grown to know and love deeply.

In the meantime, go join your local PBS television station, and support these programs being here in the U.S. You'll no doubt find even more than "Monarch" that you'll love.

Can't we go any higher than five?!
There are too few words in the English language to describe this show. The scenery is gorgeous, the cast is top-notch, the plot is engaging, the music is inspiring...and best of all, the show has been recorded to DVD in its entirety, not cut down as it's been to air on BBC America to allow for commercials. If you've ever seen the show on BBCA before, would you believe they hack out about 14 minutes worth of the show ON AVERAGE for commercials? There are many precious scenes -- some essential to your understanding of the storyline, some just plain funny or touching -- that you WILL see if you spend the money on this DVD collection. Disc two has all the extras on it: cast bios, British trailers for the show and a short "Making of Monarch" documentary filmed for British TV. If you even remotely enjoy the show, this set is worth the money.

My only complaint is the ENORMOUSLY long waiting period fans have had to endure before the release of the show on DVD...Series One was filmed back in 1999. Over in the UK, they have recently enjoyed the release of series FOUR on DVD this past year.

Waiting (not so) patiently for the release of Series Two in May.....

An absolute treat
I stumbled across this show on our library's DVD shelf, and I'm hooked. It's a winner in every way. The scenery of the Scottish highlands is unbelievably gorgeous (the first-rate cinematography will do wonders for the Scottish tourism industry!). The characters are layered and REAL ... no cardboard sitcom types in sight. Like all great TV shows, the characters find their way into your heart and stay there, so much so that you feel you know them. Even Justine, Archie's chilly London girlfriend, eventually earned a place in my affection (though not nearly so much as the feisty Katrina and the effervescent Lexie.)

Best of all, the scripts are terrific. They can best be described as comedy, though there are moments of real pathos woven throughout (as in the third episode, when a family tragedy from the past is revealed). The parent-child relationship between Archie and his parents, especially his addled and irascible father, is so authentic and well-developed.

Some episodes on the DVD are more memorable than others; the episode in which Archie's sister comes home, for example, didn't have quite the same sparkle as the others. But it's all relative, and even the least memorable of the eight episodes is leagues beyond what you'll find when you switch on an American sitcom. I've never laughed so hard at a TV show as I did in Episode Two, when Duncan did his Braveheart-style attack on the banker who was trying to muscle in on his girl ... but I'll stop there. Do yourself a favor, pay a visit to Glenbogle, and see for yourself.

Smart and Wonderful
This is a smart and wonderful TV series. I was hooked from the first episode. Clean, funny and brilliant! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

MYSTERT MAGNIFIQUE!
It's no mystery why this is the most-watched detective show in the history of the PBS "Mystery!" series --- Christie penned a brilliant Belgian [detective]who solves crimes only using
his "little grey cells" and the aid of his affable associate Captain Hastings. And not one hair out of place on his perfectly coifed hairy lip! No mystery why fans shouldn't host sleuthing fetes: Acorn is releasing the entire canon! Mystery magnifique!

STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH POIROT
The supernatural provides an eerie undertone in this trio of episodes featuring Agatha Christie's most famous detective. Poirot's secretary Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) experiments with the Ouija board and tarot cards; she even hypnotizes a murder victim's widow (with some success) in "The Underdog." And is an ancient Egyptian curse responsible for the four untimely deaths in "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb"? Poirot braves the untidy desert sand to find out. Finally, in "Yellow Iris," friends and family gather for dinner to commemorate the second anniversary of a woman's death; the atmosphere at the table is so charged one almost expects the victim to come back from the dead.
As always, the fastidious habits of Poirot (played to perfection by David Suchet) and the charming naiveté of his assistant Hastings (Hugh Fraser) add just the right touch of levity to these grim tales. For this, one must credit the scriptwriters as much as the actors--their addition of witty exchanges and subplots make Christie's stories even more delightful onscreen than on the printed page.

HERCULE POIROT HELPS YOU STEP OUSIDE THE BOX

Yellow Iris RULES!
Okay, so it's my favorite one-hour episode, forgive me!

The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb - Great! Quite different from all preceeding episodes, and while a more complex solution would have been nice, the build-up makes the episode wonderfully multi-faceted! - 4.5 stars

The Under Dog - Well, this was the under dog of this set, but it's actually pretty good. Again, the solution was just a little too simple for my taste, but I did like the "Trapped behind the curtain" bit. - 3.5 stars

Yellow Iris - It's hard to say how much I like this! Probably only the third episode in which the music really hit home with me (the other two being the Cornish Mystery and Double Sin) and the whole recreation of the murder scene, and flash back, and the murder's Pshycological moment thing were intertwined incredibly well! BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO! - 5 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 5 stars

Three thumping good entries in the Poirot series
The seventh set of 3 mysteries is now available from Acorn Media and all three are very satisfactory indeed.

"The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb" starts with a wonderful mixture of old newsreel footage and newly filmed studio shots of an Egyptian tomb being excavated and the entire premise bears more than a passing similarity to the Karloff film "The Mummy." As always, a little subplot is added to the original scenario that somehow ties in thematically (and now and then dramatically). The seeming curse on all those who attended the original opening of the tomb is killing them off but in very dissimilar ways. By putting his own life in the hazard--though not very deeply, as it turns out--Poirot forces the culprit to show his hand. As with all of the episodes in this series, the production values are high.

"The Underdog" concerns British businessmen who don't mind turning a profit even if it is with Nazi Germany. The scenes at the chemical plant are imposing, the red herrings well cooked up, and the acting up to standard for these productions. If the murder scene is a bit overly crowded (even for Christie), it does give us a chance to see the crime from several points of view and the cast manages to keep things on the serious side of what is nearly a French farce of people hidden behind doors and curtains. Even Miss Lemon's abilities as a hypnotist help Poirot to gather the clues in this one.

"Yellow Iris" has Poirot caught up in a coup d'etat in Argentina and actually arrested for espionage, all of which prevents him from solving a murder at a French restaurant owned by an Italian in Buenos Aires. While his demonstration of how the first murder was done leaves one a little incredulous (are intended murder victims all such good actors on the spur of the moment?), the psychological assumption of the killer is quite clever, making one think, "Yes, it would work!"

For some reason, the box shows Poirot as he appears in an episode slated for Set 8. A little Acornian production slip up? Still, three examples of top notch little-gray-celling. ... Read more

Amazon.com

David Suchet and Hugh Fraser team up again as the great detective Hercule Poirot and trusty Captain Hastings for three engaging hour-long adventures. In The Cornish Mystery Poirot has an unusual visitor--a victim who says she's not dead yet but is slowly being poisoned. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat blends international intrigue with the gentle comic relief of a foolish American FBI agent, and Double Sin contains a novel twist: Poirot announces his retirement and Hastings is left to solve the case by himself. The cast has the easy rapport of old friends, and as always Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp and Pauline Moran as the remarkable Miss Lemon are welcome companions. Special DVD features include selected cast filmographies and biographies for David Suchet and Agatha Christie. Brew some tea, check it for arsenic, and get ready for a thoroughly entertaining evening.--Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Shows, Mediocre Video Transfer
This rating is an average, taking about 5 stars for the quality of scripts and performances, and about 1 for the technical quality of these DVDs. I've been a fan of Suchet's Poirot from the get-go; and have just about worn out my tapes. For my wife and me, Poirot is video comfort food. That's why I'm buying the DVDs-to have wear-proof copies of these beloved shows.

Having said that, Acorn should not be proud that this is the best technical quality they can produce. Basically, these shows on DVD look no better than mediocre VHS; perhaps less than mediocre. The imagery is neither sharp nor crisp; dark scenes have a sort of permanent haze over them; they're almost in a monochrome, washed out with little color to the wonderful period scenery and sets.

I believe the shows were shot on film, which means negatives must exist. One has to wonder if the negs were lost or damaged, and these DVDs were made from secondary or tertiary sources. At any rate, I would love to know the story of how these video transfers came to be.

Whatever the reason, it's too bad that such a great series is being represented this way on DVD.

No Closed Captioning
I bought the previous Poirot set and was extremely disappointed that it did not have closed captioning. I love Poirot but if I had known that cc was missing I would have passed. I haven't purchased this one but no mention of closed captioning here either.

Poirot Series 2
This is classy, intelligent entertainment. I've watched the series many times and have returned to it like an old friend. Beats everything else on TV hands down.

Poirot Gets Better and Better!
The Cornish Mystery - Perhaps not the most complex mystery ever concieved, but the character interaction in this episode more than makes up for that! There are great bits about an Indian restaurant, a man in a scarlet kneeband, a yellow-haired hussie, and Japp once again losing a case to Poirot. The actors really shine in this one! Also the background music is great! - 4.5 stars

Double Sin - This one combines great character interaction as well as a great mystery. The solution is great, and even the background music is good! If this episode has any flaws it's that the Miss Lemon side-plot seems out-of-place, but that doesn't really detract from the episode at all - 4.5 stars

The Adventure of the Cheap Flat - Another great mystery with a tad of a plot stretch. There are some enjoyable side-characters in this one like an American FBI agent and a club-owner who never picks up his phone. Just as good as the first two, rounding out this set rather nicely! - 4.5 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 5 stars

Good fun and no gore
There were many one hour and somewhat less two hour episodes of the Hercule Poirot mysteries shown on PBS; and foresighted fans should have taped them then, because when A&E re-runs them, parts of each have to be removed to make room for all the commercials. Very often, the solution at the end flashbacks to scenes that we never saw because of the abridgments and frankly the value of these episodes are reduced considerably.

But now Acorn Media is reissuing them in complete versions, with the two hour features on DVD and the shorter ones on VHS. Both series are a delight. The acting genius of David Suchet is enhanced by his usual supporting cast (Hugh Fraser as Hastings, Philip Jackson as Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon), the wonderful guest casts, the done-to-perfection ambiance of time and place--the late 20s and early 30s--with all those fabulous art-deco buildings they have managed to find and populate.

The first boxed set of 3 episodes contains "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim," "The Veiled Lady," and "The Lost Mine." In the first, you might spot a bad flaw in the solution. Hint: how long was the playing time of the average 78 rpm disc back then? The second set includes "The Cornish Mystery" (with a genuine "blonde hussy"), "Double Sin" (with a Sweet Young Thing in Distress), and "The Adventure of the Cheap Flat" (with a neat reversal on the plot of Doyle's "The Red Headed League"). And if too many solutions depend on Poirot overhearing by chance some remark early in the story, well that should teach you to be more alert to these things on future viewings. Also if Poirot is not above breaking the law with a little forced entry now and then, well so did Sherlock Holmes. Very amusing sleuthing for one and all--and a very welcome relief to the grizzly "modern" mysteries now being shown with extreme close-ups, whispered dialogue, and as much gore as possible in each frame. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My favorite SET of Poirots So Far!!
I have all the DVD sets of Poirot - except for #6 which I am fixing to order! I LOVED this DVD the best so far!! Number #5 was so intertaining - and I highly recommend it.

It's great to have "Poirot" on video!
I so enjoyed the "Poirot" series when it was shown on PBS during the 1990's. David Suchet is for me the definitive Hercule Poirot, while Hugh Fraser and Philip Jackson are exactly how I always picture the characters of Captain Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp to be. This "Poirot" Box Set #5 contains three outstanding one-hour episodes. "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor" is a haunting tale of the supernatural. Young and beautiful Susan Maltravers, mistress of Marsdon Manor, is being tormented by visions of a girl who killed herself years ago on the Manor grounds. I wouldn't like to reveal any more of the plot that, but I would like to mention that in the episode the camera work is a remarkable feature and the denouement is terrifying. "The Double Clue" is a clever story about a theft that occurs during an elegant garden party. Even his romantic feelings for a Russian countess cannot distract Poirot from his first duty, to track down the thief. "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" is my personal favorite of the three episodes, an OTHELLO-like tale of jealous lovers. In addition to fine acting from each cast member and delightful period sets and costumes, each episode features a musical score that perfectly evokes the mood of the story. Anyone who loves the "Poirot" series will thoroughly enjoy this box set. Check out the other sets and the many full-length (103 minute) "Poirot" features, as well.

Still top notch entertainment
Thanks to Acorn Media, we may very well soon have all the Hercule Poirot episodes available for easy watching, the shorter ones on tape and the longer on DVD. With the arrival of Set 5, we have cases 13-15 from the classic BBC series that was once shown on PBS and currently in shamefully abbreviated forms on a commercial channel.

I have already posted my general comments about this series on the webpages for the first four sets, so let me cut to the chase.

"The Tragedy of Marsdon Manor" begins comically enough with a would-be mystery writer of an inn owner summoning Poirot to solve a baffling case that happens to be fictional. Naturally a real death takes place under what seems to be supernatural circumstances; and the production does indeed create a wonderfully English country manor spooky-ness that makes this worth watching. Never mind that the solution involves all sorts of twists that verge on the incredible; but to invert the aphorism in "Sleuth," this is Inspector Fiction, not Inspector Fact.

"The Double Clue" is exceptional in that it shows Poirot emotionally involved with a suspect, a fascinating (at least to him) Russian countess who might or might not be involved in a series of jewel thefts. Japp is honestly in fear of losing his job unless the thefts are stopped, while Miss Lemon and Hastings do their own sleuthing as Poirot spends time with the countess. "The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" has a plot within the plot, so to speak, rather far-fetched. However, the presence of actor John McEnery and the opening surreally filmed dueling sequence more than make up for any storyline inconsistencies.

Again, it is always instructive to compare these dramatizations with the originals; but the former stand up very nicely on their own.

More gorgeous Poirot adventures
The neat-freak Belgian Hercule Poirot returns, along with the faithful Captain Hastings, blunt Scotland Yard Inspector Japp, and hyper-efficient Miss Lemon.

"The Double Clue" is a bit of a tearjerker--jewels vanish, Japp's job is on the line, and Poirot is beginning to fall for one of the suspects, neglecting his job. Hastings and Miss Lemon attempt to salvage the investigation, but without Poirot they are going to have trouble. The end is sad, and this is the first of the Poirot shows to indicate that Miss Lemon might have more than professional feelings for her employer.

"The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" is a strange story about love, deceit, jealousy, honor, and lots of swords. A man is found stabbed in a "Spanish Chest"--and even Poirot is being checked out. This includes the excellent scene where Poirot, along with a friend, end up dancing the Charleston (with very bad grace)

"The Tragedy of Marsden Manor" is a particular favorite, with an elderly man dying unexpectedly and leaving a beautiful young widow who is being attacked by a ghost. The actress playing Lady Marsden is downright chilling at times, such as when she is staring up at the trees, and this story includes a man asking Poirot to proofread his mystery novel. ... Read more

Description

After making Agatha Christie the bestselling author of her day, Hercule Poirot has proved equally popular on television, becoming the most-watched detective in the history of the PBS Mystery! series and capturing a new audience of mystery lovers on A&E. DAVID SUCHET plays the brilliant Belgian sleuth in these three stories that brim with period details and deliciously clever wit. Starring Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings, Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon.

The Case of the Missing Will — Poirot is the executor of a revised will that disappears when its author dies suddenly.

The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman — Hastings’ decision to buy an elegant Italian car coincides with a case involving an Italian count.

The Chocolate Box — A trip home to Belgium with Japp causes Poirot to reopen a case that he failed to solve 20 years earlier. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

God Bless Agatha Christie!
The Case of the Missing Will - This is a great episode! It's so complex it feels like it should be a 2-hour fare! All the relationships with characters made me watch it again DIRECTLY after seeing it the first time! - 4.5 stars

The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman - again more complex than many of the earlier cases, and it's nice to see the comic antics of Miss Lemon and Hastings in full-blast again! - 4.5 stars

The Chocolate Box - Very well done, and unique among all the episodes! Great flash backs, and great characterizations between Poirot and Japp! I loved how they explain the pin he's been wearing all through the series. One wonders if they thought ahead or if including it was an afterthought. I haven't read the original story of this one, so I'm interested to know if the pin was Agatha's idea, or the episode-writers'. - 4.5 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 5 stars

Three episodes of special interest
It is always a fascinating study to compare the shorter Poirot television versions with the stories on which they are based. So much circumstantial detail is added to most of them in order to stretch the scenarios to a full 51 minutes that one wonders if each episode should have been kept to 25 minutes and we would have two cases instead of one. But it is all done with such finesse that we cannot complain. Now that Acorn Media has made Collector's Set 8 available, we have yet three more chances to watch, read and compare.

But setting aside the originals, here are three excellent mysteries, each with a little something special. In "The Case of the Missing Will," we have a good deal of upper class British male anti-feminine feelings as a background to a murder designed to disinherit everyone mentioned in a will by stealing it and bringing up the possibility of a long-lost heir. The actual solution ties in nicely with the patriarchal theme set up early in the episode.

"The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman" finally brings in "an admirer" for the usually machine-efficient Miss Lemon and plays up Hastings' love for automobiles. Here too, an early incident--the purchasing of the car-- comes full cycle to a "gag" at the end to create a symmetry that would please Poirot himself. The running theme here is the rise of Mussolini and Italian criminal organizations that pre-date the Mafia (as we are told by the dialogue).

Possibly "The Chocolate Box" is the most special of the entire series of short episodes. Here we have flashbacks of Poirot when he was in the Bruxelles police force, trying to prove that a death by "natural causes" was indeed a murder. Naturally those involved are powerful people and Poirot's superior tries desperately to get him to stop looking into the case. Many years later, when Inspector Japp is called to Bruxelles to receive an award, Poirot finally gets to resolve things in a most surprising way. Here the background theme is religion and its tie-in with politics.

Only two more sets to go. And look for the DVD versions of "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" and "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe," also issued by Acorn Media. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Absence of Little Grey Cells
The BBC Poirot series is, overall, an excellent one, with many excellent adaptations from Agatha Christie's works. But when some diehard fans insist that even the clinkers are worth 5 stars, they cheapen the whole series, and do a disservice to the superior entries.

On the plus side, all three stories in Set 4 are lavishly produced with period attire and fully-elaborated sets, and thoughtful cinematography. On the minus side, nothing close to the same competence went into the plots.

"The Million Dollar Bond Robbery" recounts how bearer bonds disappear en route from London to New York aboard the Queen Mary. The story is so full of implausibilities and outright holes that one wants to weep. (Quasi plot spoilers ahead.)

For starters, the mise en scene is unconvincing. What bankers in their right mind would ship such a quantity of bonds (worth over $20 Million in today's money) in a mere briefcase left unattended by a solitary bank official in his stateroom? These people never heard of armored vaults or professional security guards?

Much is also made of the fact that only a few people have keys to the briefcase (thereby supposedly limiting the list of possible culprits), when in fact any thief would simply take the whole briefcase. Once you appreciate that the bonds could be stolen without benefit of one of the authorized keys, the whole storyline is revealed as a Rube Goldberg concoction of gross proportions, using a pathetically convoluted scheme entailing many risks, when a much simpler plan would have done the job much more easily and safely (for the thief).

Then there's the person who needs to be in two different places at once, and is able to shift from Place A to Place B and back again with truly impressive ease, like Captain Kirk beaming up. And if this person had to be in B as part of the grand plot, why the appearance in A? There was no need for it. Wait, the appearance in A did serve a purpose after all; it was so Poirot could notice the clue that solved the case. . .

"The Plymouth Express" concerns a jewelry theft and murder aboard a train. This, too, evidences extraordinarily shoddy plotting.

Again, the villain orchestrates an elaborate scheme when a much simpler one would suffice. This villain goes to tremendous lengths to mislead the police (and the audience) about whether the murder took place before or after a certain train stop. To what end? As the story unfolds, we eventually come to realize it is totally irrelevant when the murder occurred.

And, let's not forget, there is no need whatever to commit this particular theft and murder aboard a train, exposing the perpetrator to many potential witnesses, not to mention requiring eight hours on a train (out and back) - not the most clever of getaway plans. There was ample opportunity to rob and kill the victim back in London.

Worst of all, the solution to this case is pulled straight out of a hat. All we're told is that Poirot was able to identify the perpetrator by studying his secretary Miss Lemon's "files". That's it?

The third story, "Wasps' Nest", succeeds a little better than the other two, though it still leaves much to be desired as a whodunit. Here, at least, the murder plan is interesting and plausible. However, the motive for the murder is somewhat of a stretch, and the story development is also spun out of thin air. Poirot in effect makes a series of lucky guesses, based on no clue discernible to the audience. No little grey cells at work here, just one guess after another to move the story along.

Agatha Christie would not approve.

Not as Good as Some Poirot, but any Poirot is great!
Poirot is such a superior series that even it's mediocre episodes shine brightly. But when judging one episode against the others there must inevitably be some that don't measure up.

The Million Dollar Bond Robbery - This is actually the highlight of the trio and features much enjoyable footage with the Queen Mary. As well as a rather good solution. - 4 stars.

The Plymouth Express - This is very well done and draws more emotion out of you than most episodes, but is still lacking. The plot just seems too simplistic when set against other episodes. Still the footage of the murder is chilling and you really feel for the victim's living relatives by the end. - 3.5 stars

Wasp's Nest - It's always nice to see them try something different, but this episode just didn't click with me. I've seen them all many times and I just can't get used to this one, even though I like the "solution." - 3 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 4 stars

A coincidental juxtaposition and one extraoridinary episode
We are now well on our way to the first six sets of the collection in boxed sets of three VHSs each. Please see my reviews of the first three sets for general comments on these sets as a whole.

Collector's set 4 contains two similar and one quite unusual episode from the immensely popular British television series. Without wanting to reveal the solutions, I can only say there is a marked similarity in those of "The Million Dollar Bond Robbery" and "The Plymouth Express." The former is quite different in detail from the short story, which runs only 8 pages in my "Hercule Poirot's Casebook" and thereby pretty well represents the changes necessitated by inflating short mysteries into full hour episodes.

The second is a few pages longer and the television version is more faithful to the original. Although you do not have too much sympathy for the murder victim in this one, the shot of the body and Poirot's description of the deed itself is chilling. One of the better entries, to be sure.

"Wasps' Nest" is the most unusual of all the mysteries in this series. Again, I must not reveal too much, but we have a very nasty Poirot suffering from having no case at hand and berating himself for looking at a new situation concerning a friend in a most negative light. Of course, his suspicions are confirmed and he sets out not to solve a killing but to prevent one. But I must say no more. What is doubly fascinating is that the original story takes place only between Poirot and the person in question. So what you see in the final scene of the video is pretty much how the original story is handled. It is also one of the slower moving of the episodes.

Do not forget that the most excellent and are available on DVD.

Agatha Christie is the greatest mystery writer of all time.
If you enjoy mysteries, you will love this collection. The plots are interesting and complex. The characters have great depth. Hercule Piorot is charming, clever, and full of surprises. Hercule always knows more than he lets on which make his explanations seem fascinating. There is not a dull moment and the mysteries are very easy to get involved in. Agatha Christie has done it again with this classic collection of mysteries and I guarantee that the end will surprise you!

Sachet
Made for BBC 1, this series was the kind of thing the BBC did really well - expensive, well-mounted period drama, this time based on Agatha Christie's Belgian (not French) detective 'Poirot' (rhymes with 'Kitaro', before you ask). At the time he was the most obscure of Christie's heroes, and this series rectified that in style. David Suchet (who, like all British actors, has played the bad guy in a Hollywood film - this time 'Executive Decision) played the character to perfection - fussy, pedantic and always right, he was nonetheless charming and an enormous hit with women of a certain age. The 1920's art deco presentation, especially the title sequence, worked well, and the atmosphere of dapper sophistication was a welcome change from the more homey Miss Marple. Technically the series is still going, although it's restricted, 'Inspector Morse'-style, to one-off specials. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

MYSTERY MAGNIFIQUE!
It's no mystery why this is the most-watched detective show in the history of the PBS "Mystery!" series -- Christie penned a brilliant Belgian dick who solves crimes only using his "little grey cells" and the aid of his affable associate Captain Hastings. And not one hair out of place on his perfectly coifed hairy lip! No mystery why fans can have sleuthing fetes: Acorn is releasing the entire canon. Mystery magnifique!

Some heavy revision to the source, but well done
"How Does Your Garden Grow?" is taken from _The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories_, while the others are taken from _Poirot Investigates_.

"The Adventure of the Western Star" - There's a legend about twin precious stones, the eyes of an idol in the Far East, having long been separated - the Star of the East and the Western Star - and of what is fated to happen when they meet again. The Western Star resides in the famous Yardley collection in England, while the Star of the East belongs to an actress about to film on the Yardley estate...

"How Does Your Garden Grow?" The old lady wrote to Poirot on a matter requiring such discretion that she would not commit it to a letter. Alas, she died before her commission ever reached him...

"The Kidnapped Prime Minister" - Viewed solely on its own merits, an interesting case. Viewed as an adaptation, however, it is flagrantly unfaithful to the source; the writers seem to have had a free hand in adjusting matters to make a more dramatic and puzzling story. The action now occurs between wars instead of during WWI, so the motive has altered and the kidnappers by necessity are a somewhat different group than in the original story. Written early in Christie's career, the victims and witnesses were just stage props leading up to one of Poirot's flashy conjuring tricks, with no depth or personality. While this worked in short story form, I can see the inherent difficulty in adapting it for the screen, so while I ordinarily deplore heavy revision, I concede the need for it here. Not to put too fine a point on it, the revision helped this story no end, and it's much more interesting on video than in its original form.

Poirot Does it Again!
How Does Your Garden Grow? - Good mystery, not too much depth, but at least Miss Lemon gets to leave the office! And it's always fun when Agatha Christe uses nursurey rhymes as plot devices. It creates sort of a surreal atmosphere. - 4 stars

The Adventure of the Western Star - More typical Poirot. It's easy to get used to how wonderful these are and start treating their greatness casually! My favorite part of this one is Hastings and his China-man! - 4 stars

The Kidnapped Prime Minister - Ireland gets some of the lime-light in this one as Russia did in the first. My favorite part of this one is when Miss Lemon is trying to remember the name of the castle! - 4 stars

Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 4 stars

Brilliant production values and truly gifted scripting.
Hercule Poirot is second only to Sherlock Holmes in the hearts of mystery fans everywhere and, along with Miss Marple, Agatha Christie's most famous and beloved private investigator whose "little grey cells" would figure out the guilty party in a style all his own. This third volume in the Acorn Media video set series showcasing the British television productions that brought Poirot vividly to life for millions of English and American viewers features three of Agatha Christie's best Poirot cases: The Kidnaped Prime Minister; The Adventure of the Western Star; and How Does Your Garden Grow? Flawless produced with meticulous attention to historical detail in set designs, clothing, automobiles, streets and building architecture, these stories present some of the finest actors that contemporary Britain has to offer and under brilliant production values and gifted script writing, lighting, and direction, present a very highly recommended addition to any personal and community library video entertainment collection.

More of the same and just as wonderful
There were many one hour and somewhat fewer two hour episodes of the Hercule Poirot mysteries shown on PBS; and foresighted fans should have taped them then, because when A&E re-runs them, parts of each have to be removed to make room for all the commercials. Very often, the solution at the end flashbacks to scenes that we never saw because of the abridgments and frankly the value of these episodes are reduced considerably.

But now Acorn Media is reissuing them in complete versions, with the two-hour features on DVD and the shorter ones on VHS. Both series are a delight. The acting genius of David Suchet is enhanced by his usual supporting cast (Hugh Fraser as Hastings, Philip Jackson as Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon), the wonderful guest casts, the done-to-perfection ambiance of time and place--the late 20s and early 30s--with all those fabulous art-deco buildings they have managed to find and populate.

I have already commented on the first two sets (see those webpages). This third entry contains "The Kidnapped Prime Minister," "The Adventure of the Western Star," and "How Does Your Garden Grow?" The first offers a plot (in both senses of the word) that has been copied in many a mystery since then, and the red herrings are quite good. The second reveals its r.h. half way through, and still holds some surprises. The last is a good old Christie murder story in which all the villainous characters turn out to be...well, see for yourself.

I keep asking myself if the reason that I keep watching these episodes over and over is the superb acting, the marvelous décor, the other way around or both in equal measure. I will guess at the last.(...) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

At last, the series complete
At last. With the appearance of the 3 tapes that comprise "Poirot, Set 12," the Acorn Media series of releases of all the Poirot episodes is now available, the short episodes on tape only but soon to be released on DVD and the longer episodes in both formats.

The three stories in this last set are a cut above average (and that average is pretty high in this series). "The King of Clubs" involves the murder of a detestable film producer and opens with a very funny and technically fascinating sequence of a movie set during the era of the early talkies. Note especially the use of matte for special effects. While you might find the "solution" not quite satisfying, the whole thing is a lot of fun.

"The Dream" suffers as most television versions do of stories that involve one character made up to resemble another one. A little subplot is added concerning Miss Lemon's need for a decent typewriter and Poirot's strangely obtuse reaction to her demands. Again the opening sequence around the assembly line of a great pie factory with its female workers in fetching blue and white uniforms is beautifully done.

"The Incredible Theft" does have a double turn of events at the end and a pretty good car chase preceding it. And it is in this episode that we learn from Hastings that Chief Inspector Japp talks in his sleep as he relives past arrests!

It is little touches like this that have made the series such a success, not to mention the fine acting of leading and supporting actors and the impeccable period designs. Set 12 is a worthy ending to a fine set of video recordings from Acorn Media. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This beautifully packaged A&E set marks the return of David Suchet as Hercule Poirot in two feature films. Although the films are based on two early Christie novels, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Lord Edgware Dies, the stories have been rewritten to take place after previously filmed episodes in the Agatha Christie's Poirot series, thus accounting for the slightly older-looking cast.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd opens with a retired Poirot cursing at vegetable marrows in his country garden.When his old friend is found stabbed in the neck, Poirot begins an investigation that reunites him with Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) and uncovers a chain of furtive phone calls and secret romances.Unfortunately, the restructuring necessary to adapt the story from text to film takes away some of the shock value of Christie's original ending, which caused quite a controversy when the book was first published in 1926.

Lord Edgware Dies finds Poirot reopening his London office with the help of Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) and Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser). As they celebrate their reunion, Japp quips that there's "only one thing missing... the body." Right on cue, a corpse turns up just moments later. Most of the suspects are actor