Reviews (3)

Morse is actually quite funny throughout this film
Extremely well written, this mystery has Morse and Lewis on the trail of a murderer when all the evidence points to death by natural causes. In the course of the story Morse must deal with all sorts of wealthy American tourists, and one wonders whether this film had any impact on the screenwriters of GOSFORD PARK. Whether it did or not, and whether the actors are really Yanks or not, the cultural clashes are more overtly funny than this series usually gets, Morse is very nearly Basil Fawlty in several scenes.
By this time in the series, Whatley and Thaw were really hitting their stride and their natural ease with each other made these films entirely believeable. Dexter set out to write these stories because he thought he could do a better job than what he had read in the genre, and he did just that. Morse and Lewis are every bit the match for Holmes and Watson.
Anyway, this is a great story, brilliantly written for the screen, and one in which Morse's caustic humour is let run rampant over each and every person with whom he collides. Oh yeah, a jewel is stolen and a woman is dead. Who done it..... that would be telling.

Content good, DVD quality poor
The Inspector Morse series is one of the great British TV mystery programs of all time. "The Wolvercote Tongue" is a decent adaptation of Colin Dexter's "The Jewel That Was Ours," although the book is better. The stereotypical American characters are grating, but this episode is still worth watching for the wonderful performances of --and chemistry between-- actors John Thaw and Kevin Whately. My real complaint about this DVD, however, is with the overall presentation. While I'm grateful to BFS Video (an apparently low-budget operation in Canada) for finally bringing the Morse series to DVD in the US, they've done an incredibly poor job on the DVD transfer and with the packaging of the handful of Morse DVDs that they've released to date. Among other things, the video quality is poor. It looks something you'd get when you put your VCR to the lowest recording grade possible. Second, the unbelievably cheesy BFS Video logo and theme song that assaults the eyes and ears at the start of each DVD is an embarrassment. BFS can't seem to even get the cover photo of their products right. On some of their other Morse DVDs, they use photos that have nothing to do with the particular episode and/or are printed backwards. For this early Morse program, however, they go one further and use a photo that was not only taken many years later, it's from a DIFFERENT SHOW ENTIRELY, namely John Thaw's barrister series from the 1990s, Kavanagh QC. BFS- if you're reading this, kindly fire your products marketing people, as they clearly don't know anything about Morse. There are dozens --if not hundreds or thousands-- of fans out there like me who will gladly help you do things properly, and for no charge! There's no excuse for such shoddy work. Morse fans deserve better.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.....
The WOLVERCOTE TONGUE is a pin that fits into a buckle-an elaborate and beautiful Anglo-Saxon buckle of the sort excavated at Sutton Hoo. The bejeweled tongue is the most beautiful part of the buckle that once clasped the waist of a mighty lord. The matching buckle is on exhibit in the fabled Oxford University Ashmolean--the oldest museum in England.

The tongue, long ago separated from the buckle, is owned by a rich American woman who has traveled with a group of tourists to Oxford, where she plans to present the pin to the Ashmolean. The afternoon of the presentation, after too much touring about the city has tired her, the woman goes to her hotel room to take a nap from which she will never awake. Her husband discovers her body and that the Wolvercote tongue has gone missing. Never fear, Endeavor Morse, Detective Chief Inspector of the Thames Valley Police and his trusty sidekick Sgt. Lewis are soon on the case.

This is a lovely film, and a vicarious thrill for Anglophiles who have spent hours and hours in Oxford or wish they had. The colleges, the shops, walking along behind Merton, the Botanical garden, punters on the Thames, the Ashmolean-it wouldn't matter to me if the plot made sense or not (it does), or whether the characters were fully developed or not (they are). Oxford's gleaming spires in the dying light of the afternoon sun and John Thaw-who could ask for anything more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

No the wonder church attendences are falling!
Morse travels out of the city of Oxford into it's suburbs to try to track down the murderer of a church warden inside the church. During the course of his enquiries he becomes attached to the part-time cleaner, Ruth Rawlinson, not realising at the time of her key role in the mystery.

This is a curious perspective on Morse. At the church he seems smitten by Ruth at first glance and in a way the episode is about Morse persuing Ruth until he apparently succeeds only to be thwarted.

Service of all the Dead has all of the trappings of Colin Dexter's Oxford - the central role of ritual, social class, and the little details which make these shows so good - in this case the idea that there could be tramps in Oxford ( a recurring theme), the cycle riding middle classes, volunteerrism and carers. All good ingredients.

This particular drama is one of the most gruesome with six deaths all together. Also novel is the fact that the opening scene is found to be a set up. A lot of the death's seem to be red herrings too, to throw us off the scent.

There is a particulary sensitive scene which has some relevance to contemporary events in a different church where Morse perceives the vicar as a paedophile. Later on the child in question is found murdered although the exhumation of the body is not filmed.

Service of all the Dead is a gripping thriller replete with issues of blackmail, infidelity, revenge etc. Throughout it all Morse holds true to his feelings for Ruth and, despite the revelation that she loved someone else, he offers her a helping hand which, if discovered, could cost him his livelihood and his liberty.

As one of the characters puts it, an alpha. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

improbable plot
I have viewed and own numerous DVD entries in the Inspector Morse series. This particular mystery is not especially appealing, in that it revolves around a somewhat implausible combination of university/religious politics, eating disorders, and a weight loss organization which goes to extreme lengths to protect its reputation and profitability. Ultimately, even the death which represents the subject of the investigation turns out to be unconnected to blatant criminal activity. Compared to other entries in the series, FAT CHANCE is one of the less interesting stories.

M. Williams ... Read more

Reviews (1)

absence of virtue
This entry is excellent, especially since the key factors which identify the villain do not emerge until very late in the mystery. Absence of virtue could easily describe this mystery, as most of the principals in this story have significantly flawed characters and/or dark secrets. Morse's tendency not to suffer fools gladly is prominently displayed, as illustrated by his relationship with journalists who focus unusual attention upon him while covering multiple murders in the same wealthly family. Morse is also confronted with dealing with a temporary Chief Superintendant while his own boss is on vacation. The frustration level of Morse is palpable as he is faced with a vexing case, intrusive journalists, and a less than empathetic supervisor. In the end, however, the cerebral approach of Inspector Morse is vindicated. One thematic element which makes this story satisfying is that to one degree or another, all of the culprits get what they deserve. ... Read more

Description

A Suitable Vengance sees Lynley’s dreams come true as he returns to his ancestral pile to marry his beloved Helen. However, a brutal murder on the grounds of his idyllic Cornish estate sheds new light on the inspector and his surprisingly dysfunctional family.

Special DVD features include: link to the Mystery! Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On one DVD5 disc.Region coding: All regions.Audio: Dolby stereo.Screen format: letterboxed. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Unlucky in love??......
Dear Inspector Endeavor Morse of the Thames Valley Police in Oxford England (the late John Thaw) is a good police officer. When he isn't dectecting, he's home listening to Wagner or Turandot on the phonograph and drinking whisky. On duty, he may often be found having a pint of dark bitter at a pub with Sgt. Lewis (Kevin Whately). Morse does have his problems with the opposite sex, however. He meets attractive women left and right, but they always seem to have a dark secret. Sooner or later, he is embroiled in their problems.

In THE DEAD OF JERICHO, Morse encounters the lovely Anne Stavely (Gemma Jones, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY) a fellow member of an Oxford community choir. One evening after choir rehearsal, Anne invites Morse back to her new flat in the recently gentrified Jericho section of Oxford. One thing leads to another, and soon Morse discovers Anne has troubling secrets she won't share with him.

The day of the choir concert, Anne does not show up. Morse drives to her flat only to discover Thames Valley Police SOCO (Scene of crime officers) at hand. Who killed the victim, or was it suicide? Who was the young man staying with Anne who kept a copy of "Oedipus Rex" beside his bed? And what about the nosy neighbor--did he see something he should tell the police? Morse soon steps into sticky ethical waters as he is no longer a disinterested bystander. His difficulties grow more complex by the hour as he discovers death, backmail, and other illicit activities in Jericho--all involving Anne.

This is an excellent DVD and a good recording of the original TV show. My DVD has a little documentary of the "Making of Morse" showing locations around Oxford. A definite plus for Anglophiles.

The best introduction to Morse
Not necessarily the best episode ever, this definitely gives you a good view of Morse's personality, and endears him to you immediately.

The first time I ever was arrested by Inspector Morse
One cold rainy night in England with nothing to do I turned on my television (only four channels available) and found a new show called Inspector Morse. I have always been a fan of the detective story in print and had read extensively in the genre. Similarly I was a great action buff, with one of my favorites being the Streets of San Francisco (I wonder why that is not available on tape or DVD?).

At first, the pace of the drama was slow and a little bit irritating but I recognised John Thaw from that superb action show, the "Sweeney" and Patrick Troughton as the irrepressible second Doctor Who. It did not take long before I was hooked by the simple device of trying to figure out whodunnit. Usually in these things, especially Columbo, it does not take that long to figure out but in this case it was clear that there were red herrings and little cul-de-sacs aplenty to intrigue the viewer.

The main character was often morose and grumpy, with no time for the trivia of life and did not bear fools gladly. Unlike most other shows, this Morse did not pander to popular culture, utilizing it to sell the show. Instead it was clearly aimed at a more highbrow audience yet through a medium that was often the subject of disdain in those circles.

Pretty soon the two hours of leisurely paced drama was over and that was IT. As I lived near Oxford I sought out the locations on my next visit. It took some time to digest the content of the drama over and above the story itself, the insider's view of the contradictions of the city of Oxford, the juxtaposition of town and gown etc.

But getting back to the story itself. This is more of a movie than a TV show. It is a gripping, compelling piece of police drama set against a backdrop of relative opulence and wealth as well as against a working class city background. It is a story of a dreaming city, of intellectuals and academics, a story of the mundane, of passions and secrets. It is the story of a man of Oxford and at once against the rituals and spectacle that the University has to offer.

At the end of this show, I came quietly. I have had the pleasure to have enjoyed every minute of Morse - being entertained and perplexed until the final moment when the killer is revealed.

This is a great introduction to a marvellous run. One last thought - how measured and appropriate the incidental music and theme are.

Full marks all round! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

GREAT
Its a great movie if you like suspense and action. I love it when the guys head catches on fire! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent episode....
DECEIVED BY FLIGHT, made in 1989, is one of the better Morse dramas. Morse (John Thaw) is more light hearted in this film than some of the later episodes and it is a joy to see him interact with the other actors including his Sgt.'s child. He actually engages in a bit of prank-playing with Robbie (Kevin Whately) who, forced to go 'undercover' as a porter at one of the local colleges at Oxford, finds himself "watching" Morse's parked car as part of his duties.

The gist of the story is that an old boys club called 'The Clarets XI' is in town for an annual cricket match. One of the members, as well as the team coach are former classmates of Morse. The player-friend approaches Morse for a get-together lunch which turns out to be fish and chips on a park bench near the Thames. Morse senses that his former flatmate has something important to share but he can't quite bring himself to the point of telling Morse what it is. As they part, the friend mentions a Zen saying that involves the sound of one hand clapping and a dead student. Later, the friend turns up dead as a result of suicide. Or was it suicide. Soon Morse believes the man was murdered and he is on the trail of the killer. Was the killer his beautiful wife who could have been having an affair with one of the other cricket players? Was it one of the other cricket players? And what about the couple named Foster who behave suspiciously by asking Robbie the porter for a key to the dead man's room.

This episode has it all-great scenes of Oxford and its environs; Morse and Robbie struggling over the cricket match versus classical music on the various office, car, and other radios at hand; Robbie showing he can play cricket as well as any upper class ponce; a really interesting cricket match (I finally realized the pitcher is trying to hit the little poles behind the batter); Morse sleeping through the cricket match; and Morse falling for the wrong woman. The cast includes some familiar faces such as Daniel Massey, Amanda Hillwood, Sharon Maughan, and a very young Nathaniel Parker.

A complicated mystery for amateur sleuths to solve.
Deceived by Flight is one of author Colin Dexter's favorite televised Morse mysteries. Having seen at least twenty or so of these fine programs, I agree with his judgement.

The performances are uniformly excellent; not just Morse, played reliably and well by the fine actor, John Thaw, but also the supporting cast, particularly Kevin Whately as his able assistant, Sergeant Lewis, and Sharon Maughan as Kate Donn, television hostess and wife of slain barrister Anthony Donn. The plot is complicated and the clues are difficult for even Morse to decipher. Apparently Anthony Donn has committed suicide on the eve of his participation in a cricket match at Oxford. Morse doubts that his old friend deliberately killed himself and begins questioning suspects. As we soon find out, much more is at stake in this mystery than the death of an aging cricket player.

Cricket is part of the fun of this mystery. Much time is spent discussing the sport (Morse would prefer to listen to his music) and we also get to see it played. Sergeant Lewis goes undercover as a porter and expert batsman. At the matches another murder takes place and now Morse must try to determine if there are connections between the two deaths.

I think most viewers who watch the Morse series of films like to put their detective caps on and follow the clues carefully to see if they can arrive at the answers before Morse. Deceived by Flight will keep even the best armchair detectives struggling with clues until the satisfying conclusion of this fine program. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even the great Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) dreads a trip to the dentist. And in this case, with good reason: while the detective's checkup is completed without a hitch, mere hours later the dentist and two of the day's patients are found dead. Poirot's first clue is a fancy buckle that fell off a patient's shoe as she climbed out of a cab earlier that same day. Always attentive to the ladies and their fashions, Poirot senses that something is amiss well before Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) catches on. Although the viewer is able to see the deception before Poirot works it out, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe has enough unexpected twists to keep the motive a mystery until the climactic scene in which all is revealed.

What has always set the Agatha Christie's Poirot series apart from other mystery shows is the high production values, and this 103-minute episode is no exception. From the eerie, slow-motion opening sequence of two girls singing the title's nursery rhyme to the art deco set details (down to the curtains and teacups), One, Two, Buckle My Shoe is not merely a video adaptation of Christie's novel but a beautifully wrought film in its own right.

The DVD's special features include biographies of Agatha Christie and David Suchet, challenging Poirot trivia, and cast filmographies. --Larisa Lomacky Moore ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Best Poirot of them all.
This is really the best of all the Poirot movies of them all. Great writing, directly adapted from Christie's book. Great production values recreating 1936 London, and wonderful acting by the whole cast led by David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and Philip Jackson as Cheif Inspector Chapp.

From the Poirot Movie Collection
This has perhaps the best opening in a Poirot episode I have seen so far: slow-motion footage, plenty of superimposed images, of a (particularly malevolent) dentist being shot while little girls play hopscotch outside (the very fact that they do nothing else during the course of the film but play hopscotch makes them seem obsessive and evil)... The film itself did not disappoint. No other episode quite conjures up the feeling of clueing and detection in the books--although I am a great fan of the films, I sometimes feel that they fail to measure up to the essence of detection and mystery possessed by the books (the last two films, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD and LORD EDGWARE DIES, are examples of this). Yet in this adaptation, I was conscious of Poirot as __a mind__, as, with the assistance of Inspector Japp, he investigates murder after murder: a dentist's suicide (although the clue of the stains and the rug, also, I think, found in MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA, was missing), his patient's death by overdose (not revealed that he was a spy / blackmailer until end, unlike book), and the death of an actress (or was somebody else the victim, as the dental records indicate?). Finally, following the titular clue of a shoe buckle, Poirot is able to accuse the murderer (watching with my family, they were able to spot the villain--one of the flaws in the series, as Christie's misdirection works perhaps better on page than on screen). The acting was superb, and new areas of the characters' lives were revealed: a shot of the Whitehaven Mansions lobby, and Inspector Japp at home in Isleworth. Unfortunately, the church service scene was not in the film, nor are Mr. Chapman and Howard Raikes to be found; and most of the spy business was missing. Yet this is still an absolutely superb film, one that any fan of Agatha Christie would do well to watch.

Drilling for crimes...
This feature-length mystery falls squarely into the "middling" range. The plot lacks propulsiveness and too many of the supporting characters are of the cardboard cutout variety (a situation not helped by some weak acting, particularly by the actor playing the would-be Black Shirt). On the other hand, David Suchet is, as per the usual, effective as the misleadingly droll Poirot: he does a fine job of revealing the dangerous qualities lurking beneath the effete exterior. Peter Blythe turns in a similarly excellent performance as a coolly evil megalomaniac. As other reviewers have noted, the score is effective, and the reconstruction of the murder scene (done twice) is also well done. Some viewers may rejoice with me at the absence of Capt. Hastings. The quality of the DVD itself is adequate, but the picture was occasionally fuzzy.

My favorite of the DVDs is a unique experience, indeed!
Whether you like it or not, this episode is darker, more confusing, and more quickly-paced than any other in the series' history. Personally, I LOVE IT. The multiple, characters, settings, plot devices, and moods give it and incredible feeling of intrigue, creepiness, and A LOT to think about! I didn't mind pausing to get my bearings a few times, even though it may have interrupted the flow! It made me feel clever that I could keep up with it! Wonderful stuff!

And, as you may have noticed in some of my other reviews, I'm obsessed with picking which episodes have my favorite theme music. This one makes incredibly great use of the "One, Two, Buckle, My Shoe" nursery rhyme and makes it into a them that it played all throughout in so many different varations that it's mind-bogglingly wonderful!

You've got a love a film that can make girls playing hop-scotch seem demonic and evil!

A Change of Pace
This entry in the Poirot series boasts perhaps the fastest pace, the most complex story and a uniquely horrific feel that gives it an edge not possessed by most of the episodes. You're never allowed to get your bearings, quite, so that as Poirot and Japp jump from one murder site to another, you're always left a step or two behind. There are so many characters, it's difficult just to keep track of them, much less to figure out what they have to do with the rest of the story. So when the identity of the murderer is revealed it feels less like the closing of a mystery than the gasping to the finish line in the last lap of a race. (It's interesting that "Buckle my Shoe" and "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" should have been directed by the same person, Ross Devenish. They are just about at opposite extremes in pacing, one practically breathless, the other relaxed to the point of sedate.)

I'm not criticizing the episode for this rush of characters and locations. In fact, it's remarkably effective, especially in the opening sequences as we jump from one character to another, waiting for the thread that will tie them together. The clipped pace is, nonetheless, somewhat unusual for the series, which tends to have a relaxed, if persistent, forward movement. The episode is also largely lacking the humorous touches around the edges that makes some of the other episodes so endearing. So if one of the attractions of the series for you is its placid, tongue-in-cheek style, you may be a little put off by "Buckle My Shoe."

On the other hand, aside from the absence of Hastings and Miss Lemon, all of the series's familiar virtues are present: David Suchet and Philip Jackson in their usual parts, elegant design and camerawork, first-rate character acting in every part, no matter how small. And if "Buckle my Shoe" lacks the humor of the rest of the series, it has a darker tone that at its best is downright creepy. (The scenes in the dentist's office are especially skin crawling.) It may not be what you usually get from the series, but "One, Two, Buckle my Shoe" has more than enough to compensate. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Last Enemy
This one has more humor than any of the others I think.Morse is really going for women in these one. He has a toothache and its pretty funny. So I suggest you get a sotch and enjoy this epiosde. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Morse in God's Own Country?
Promised land begins, rather unpromisingly, with Morse and Strange observing a funeral and identifying in the grand tradition of detective movies the villains. A nod to the old Thaw series, the Sweeney, the show continues in this vein for a while as the boundaries are established, of getting the final villains, the possibility of a gang's release.

Morse is ordered to revisit a supergrass to try to uncover evidence which would resolve both the issues. The snitch has begun a new life in the equivalent of the witness protection scheme so everything appears to be straightforward.

On the eve of their departure, Lewis is more than a little miffed at having to forego his vacation, a burglary occurs at the local freesheet newspaper and in the grand Holmesian tradition, nothing is stolen.

Off our intrepid heroes set for Lewis to discover that the person they are visiting was transplanted to Australia.

There are some spectacular shots of the countryside which dwarf the car that they are driving and which serves to give a sense of perspective on the vastness of the country. In a vignette Morse discovers that he has not brought his beloved opera tape with him to play on the long drive. Lewis, searching for an alternative discovers country music, Australian style, on the radio. This again underscores the notion of Australia as a new country shaking off her connections to Britain.

On arriving at their destination the sterotypical portrayal of Australian men as boorish, gambling, womenisers is presented in a scene where Morse and Lewis venture into the local bar. In a very funny moment, Lewis orders a beer while Morse contents himself with an orange juice - a reversal of the usual position - which moves on to a condemnation by Morse of non-real ale and a perception by the locals that Morse is possibly homosexual.

The plot develops with a mysterious stranger driving a camper, the stoolie's wife is both hostile and yet welcoming. Her husband has disappeared, nothing new in that, and Morse and Lewis expend considerable energies in the search.

As the programme develops the stereotypical views of the country and it's people are challenged and they are shown to be warm, sociable, and open minded.

In the conclusion, in front of the Sydney Opera House, Lewis has resolved his issues by remaining in Australia to be joined by his wife. Morse is left in solitude with his ticket to the opera, a tragic figure who is unable to articulate his feelings.

This Morse does not have the usual twists and turns and in many ways is one of the most approachable of the shows. Regardless it is still terrific entertainment and well worth the five stars. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

INTELLIGENCE, HORROR, SUSPENSE
It's christmas time and Poirot gets a phonecall from an old man who says that his life is in great danger and he wants Poirot to join him and his relatives in his house, Poirot will get very dissapointed because the old man will not survive the first 20 minutes of his company. There is suspense and horror in the air.

Poirot will need his little grey cells to clear this case.
as well as you...

once again i must tell you that the only way to figure out who the murder in Agatha Christies stories is to not accept your eyes or your ears... because almost everything is a lie or an act.

This is an movie i am very proud of to have in my bookcase i tell you see this movie...

As usual, GREAT
I am a Poirot fan so I may be somewhat bias but this movie was excellent. As usual you never can figure out the end and this movie was no exception. The quality of the movie was great and the sound was suberb. What else can I say.

An excellent Poirot movie
When the boiler in his building breaks down, Monsieur Poirot (played by David Suchet) faces the prospect of a very cold Christmas. So, when he receives a call from the wealthy Simeon Lee (Vernon Dobtcheff) to come and investigate his suspicion that he is the target of a murder plot, Poirot boards the next train. However, Mr. Lee is a spiteful old man who has left behind him a trail of used and angry people, and when he turns up murdered, it is up to Poirot to find out who did it and how. [Color, released in 1994, with a running time of 1 hour, 43 minutes.]

I must admit to having bought this video sight unseen. I am a big fan of David Suchet's Poirot, and had faith that I would like this film as much as the rest. Well, I was not disappointed. Perhaps even more than some, this episode kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing at who did it and what he or she would do next. Plus even though Hastings (Hugh Fraser) wasn't in it, the redoubtable Chief Inspector James Japp (Philip Jackson) was!

So, let me just say that this is a very good Poirot movie, an excellent one in fact. If you are a David Suchet/Poirot fan, then I highly recommend this movie to you.

Poirot's Christmas: A Feast for his Fans
Hercule Poirot's Christmas is an absolute delight. It's the perfect synergy between book and film, writer and director. As a long time reader of Agatha Christie and devotee of her inimitable Hercule Poirot and his little gray cells, I had expected to enjoy this video. But what impressed me was the superb dramatic pacing, the use of music to accent and develop the story, and the characters' living, breathing authenticity. David Suchet is as always the perfect, palpable incarnation of our Belgian detective and as for Philip Jackson, he is Chief Inspector Japp. All the actors, however, clearly seem to thrive under the excellent direction of Edward Bennett. There's just the right balance of humor and suspense, that splash of wit and verve in a serious story of greed and retribution.

Poirot's Christmas isn't just for the holidays, although for me it will become a tradition like viewing the original "Christmas in Connecticut." Poirot's Christmas is the sort of feast that you'll never tire of enjoying and I am sure the little gray cells will agree.

One of the Best
David Suchet does a superlative job with the character of Hercule Poirot in all of the BBC productions of Dame Agatha Christie's short stories and novels, but HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS, one of the lesser known books, has become one of the best of the video adaptations.

Loaded with appropriate Christmas atmosphere and sly Poirot humor (getting an unwanted Christmas gift, attempting to eat brown Windsor soup), CHRISTMAS finds Poirot investigating the vicious throat slashing of wealthy Simeon Lee in a locked room, a man who had just the day before hired Poirot to visit him as all of his children come home for the holidays. He suspects there is no love lost for him among several of his kin, and he's right. With a local superintendent and the ever-reliable Chief Inspector Japp present to assist, Poirot and his little gray cells have seldom operated so judiciously and adroitly.

Production values are lavish this time around. Period details of the 1930s are accurate, and Lee's manse-like abode offers large, beautifully appointed rooms and lots of shadowy hallways and anterooms for plotting and observing.

As has been the case with the other Acorn releases of these television productions, the video is presented in 4:3 ratio. There is marvelous Dolby surround sound in this one, though, and when those wonderful angelic voices begin singing nostalgic carols that wrap around you, you just want to sit back, close your eyes, and listen. Alas, such a plan will cause you to miss some vital clues to the solution of the mystery. The usual and wanting special features have been brought over from previous releases. One longs for a "making of" documentary on these marvelous transcriptions of Christie's masterworks.

You can't go wrong with this one! ... Read more

Amazon.com

While most murderers try to hide from detectives, the killer in The ABC Murders sends a series of letters to alert the famous Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot when and where the murders will be committed. Based on one of Agatha Christie's most ingenious plots, the film contains enough false clues to distract both detective and viewer from the murderer's true identity. As Poirot, David Suchet does not so much play the dapper detective as he inhabits him--his accent, his meticulous manners, and the scowl of concentration as his "little gray cells" solve the puzzle are all immediately familiar to readers of Christie's books. In this feature-length adventure, he is aided and abetted by his perennial sidekick, Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser), and Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson). Though Christie's novels spanned several decades, the PBS Mystery! series has set all of its episodes in the 1930s; the art deco architecture and elegant costumes lend an air of sophistication that makes watching these videos a respectable guilty pleasure.

DVD extras include biographies of David Suchet and Agatha Christie, challenging Poirot trivia questions, a filmography of all the Poirot Mystery! episodes, and a link to the official Agatha Christie Web site. --Larisa Lomacky Moore ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Poirot knows his ABC's in this classic adaptation
"The sanity of a town full of men against the insanity of one man," says Hercule Poirot while the police are keeping a sharp lookout for a killer who has already murdered one person and threatens to kill another. The trouble is, what does a madman look like? Especially a madman who writes the following letter to Poirot:

You fancy yourself don't you, at solving mysteries that are too difficult for our thick-
headed British police? Let us see, Mr. Clever Poirot, just how clever you can be. Perhaps you'll find this nut too hard to crack. Look out for Andover, on the 21st of this month.

Yours sincerely

A.B.C.

The first of what could have been twenty-six letters addressed to Poirot results in one of the Belgian detective's most renowned cases. After a six month dearth of cases, the letter serves to remove the rust from Poirot's neglected "little grey cells," and the return of his friend Captain Hastings from the wilds of Venezuela teams them up once again.

Sure enough, there is a murder in Andover, the only clue being an ABC Railway Guide, which is a detailed booklet listing trains going to and from one city to another, indexed by city. And within the scope of ten days, there is a total of three murders. Poirot thinks there is some connection to the murders, despite the murderer's penchant with the alphabet. Is he right? Poirot has assistance from the relatives of the murder victims, all determined to catch A.B.C. Chief Inspector Japp isn't too impressed, though, as he believes Scotland Yard is good enough.

The viewer is also introduced to a tall lonely man with glasses, shabby coat, and a stooped back named Mr. Cust. He has been mentally affected by his service in World War I, and has been reduced to selling stockings, a sad reminder of how veterans were unable to get decent jobs during the interwar economic slump. In fact he laughs crazily when someone tells him the difference between diseases and wars is that the latter can be prevented.

Some padding in the original novel is left out, all very well, but that is replaced by a comedic subplot of Hastings trying to tell anyone who'd listen about a caiman he shot while in Venezuela and had stuffed. It's all the more funnier when we learn that Hastings brought this as a gift for Poirot, and its large grotesque presence clashes with Poirot's sense of aesthetics. Also, the ABC Guide is for the year 1936. In the original novel, the first letter Poirot gets is dated 21 June 1935. Clearly, the movie's a year off. And Chief Inspector Japp has a more substantial role here than in the novel, that being given to Inspector Crome.

Most of the characters bear great similarities to the novel. Of the guest cast, Donald Sumpter does best as the good but weak-minded Cust. Apart from the regulars, Nicholas Farrell (Don Fraser) is the only other well-known actor, appearing in Chariots Of Fire, and Branagh's Hamlet as Horatio. His hair's not red per the novel, but he exudes the jealous boyfriend character well, even if he's older than the novel's Fraser. However, the novel's Franklin Clarke is described as a "big fair-haired man with a sunburnt face," a far cry from the character shown here, clearly in his 60's.

Other than that, this is one of the best Poirot feature-length adaptations, as key parts of Agatha Christie's dialogue from the novel is reproduced. Indeed, the question remains-what does a madman look like? A tall sinister person with a beard, furtive eyes, wearing a black hat, or someone like you and me?

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!
I cannot possibly praise The ABC Murders highly enough. Not only is it my favorite Poirot (which says a lot), I count it as one of my all-time favorite movies.

Any movie can be either lost or salvaged by its script, and this is screenwriting at its absolute best. Every line of dialogue is perfectly scripted, and even better, perfectly executed by each brilliant actor. The Poirot series is famed for its excellent acting, but wow, does this take the cake! What can I say about David Suchet? He is such a phenomenal actor that you entirely forget that he's acting. Hugh Frasier is charmingly clueless as always, and Philip Jackson absolutely shines as the upstaged and frustrated (but, ultimately, conscientious and good-hearted) Chief Inspector Japp.

However, the real stars of The ABC Murders are the extras, and, not to say too much, there is at least one performance that is Oscar-worthy.

There is also a great deal of suspense that is not generally present in other Poirot episodes that stems from its very un-typical plot, and which is perfectly paced throughout the movie to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Add to this perfection a liberal dose of subtle British humor (enough to satisfy even the hungriest anglophile), and the art-deco ambiance which is immaculate to the tiniest detail.

My only complaint is that the DVD video quality is not pristine - it is somewhat grainy, especially during the dark scenes. (Acorn has corrected this problem in the newest Poirot release, Hickory Dickory Dock, which is crystal-clear.)

But that is a very small complaint, and overall this is outstanding entertainment.

Best in Breed
Of the first three feature-length Poirot episodes in the Acorn series, The ABC Mysteries is best of breed. Let me hit the highpoints:

*Features a novel premise that, unlike the one in Death in the Clouds, seems at least slightly plausible. Right up there with Murder of Roger Ackroyd (the novel; haven't seen the movie).
*Suspense and anxiety created throughout and enhanced by a sense of urgency; think of it as "the little gray cells" on the run.
*Makes Poirot seem a bit larger than life in this one as seemingly all of England follows his exploits in this one
*Excellent direction that ...Sorry, I can't even suggest more without giving stuff away. But if it doesn't have you convinced, then you're better than I.
*Suchet's always wonderful performance. Suchet is Poirot...or is Poirot Suchet?

Of course, my standard complaint with this series remains. Where are the multimedia extras? That's why I can only give it four stars. Get with it Acorn. DVDs are not books. They are multimedia delivery devices. Text-based extras won't cut it.

If you're a fan of the series, you'll want this one. An absolute original.

EXCELLENT!
This video kept me on the edge of my seat through out the entire movie! I was totally surprised who had done it! David Suchet is an excellent Poirot!

Classic Mystery
My TV mystery days started well before PBS with Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes, and film noir on Sundays. This will be a classic series remembered and replayed for years.

An ABC murder is an interesting tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Filled with several murders, you will work through this with Poirot and Hastings. This is an excellent transfer and plays well at home. Much better than the broadcast and uninterrupted by fund raisers.

A word to the wise-if you plan on collecting the series, a collector's set of the first five releases will be released in June. This will save a bundle over individual purchases. ... Read more