Agatha Christie’s Poirot s05e05 The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman (1993) – 8/10 period crime detective murder mystery TV review

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Cast / crew Writer: Agatha Christie David Suchet: Hercule Poirot Hugh Fraser: Captain Hastings Pauline Moran: Miss Felicity Lemon Writer (Dramatisation): Clive Exton Leonard Preston: Mr Edwin Graves Anna Mazzotti: Margherita Fabbri David Neal: Bruno Vizzini Vincenzo Ricotta: Mario Asciano Producer: Brian Eastman Director: Brian Farnham

Agatha Christie’s Poirot S05E05 The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman (1993) Poirot is drawn into London’s gangland underworld following the murder of the master of Miss Lemon’s new boyfriend. 8/10 Poirot: ‘Haven’t you ever exaggerated your own self-importance to impress a girl?’ Hastings: "Well certainly not. Never. Oh, well, I once told a girl I was a member at Wentworth when I wasn’t. But she didn’t play golf anyway. She thought Wentworth was a lunatic asylum." This is a very good episode with a story that successfully gives you enough clues to point the finger of suspicion while misdirecting you wonderfully. The solid story is backed up, as is frequently the case in these hour-longs, by some wonderful writing and that lovely chemistry between Poirot and Hastings, especially, but also with Japp and Miss Lemon. Poirot is respectful and cheerful; he happily accompanies Hastings on a car shopping trip and shares his joy just like friends do. Writer Clive Exton really nailed the close friendship of the pair and never forgot the importance of humour. He gave Hastings the outstanding gag above and it’s not the only one. In fact, Hastings is awesome throughout the episode and gets to top it off with a car chase (which is quietly but brilliantly joined by a bus), a "you swine" and a classic punch on the nose. This Agatha Christie’s Poirot episode contains gory and unpleasant scene, inferred violence, brief violence Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Agatha Christie’s Poirot Screened by Slimm Previous episode: The Case of the Missing Will Next episode: The Chocolate Box

Agatha Christie’s Poirot S03E04 Wasps’ Nest (1991) – 7/10 period murder mystery drama TV review

Cast / crew Writer: Agatha Christie David Suchet: Hercule Poirot Hugh Fraser: Captain Hastings Philip Jackson: Chief Inspector Japp Pauline Moran: Miss Lemon Writer (Dramatisation): David Renwick Martin Turner: John Harrison Melanie Jessop: Molly Deane Peter Capaldi: Claude Langton Producer: Brian Eastman Director: Brian Farnham Executive Producer: Nick Elliott

Poirot, Agatha Christie’s S03E04 Wasps’ Nest (1991) Buzzing, crawling creatures are low on Poirot’s list of favourites things at the best of times but he has even more for his little grey cells to worry about when he becomes convinced that a murder is in the air. If he can solve the crime that has not yet been committed, maybe he can prevent a murder instead of merely catching the culprit. Hastings has taken up photography (and taken over Poirot’s bathroom), Japp has a nasty stomach problem and Miss Lemon is advocating the goodness of her fitness class to Poirot. 7/10 "Good god; this is England. Jealous suitors don’t go around murdering people." A career high for Poirot as he attempts to solve a murder before it happens. Both the plot and the murder that Poirot attempts to foil are cleverer than they first appear, writer David Renwick gives Poirot and Hastings some choice comedy moments (Poirot trying to move a box and Hastings engaging a pharmacist in conversation) and Poirot’s traditional summation rounds things off nicely. Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All. Links Agatha Christie’s Poirot Screened by Slimm Next: The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor

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Agatha Christie’s Poirot 3.01 How Does Your Garden Grow? (1991, TV) – 8/10

Writer (Original Story): Agatha Christie David Suchet: Hercule Poirot Hugh Fraser: Captain Hastings Philip Jackson: Chief Inspector Japp Pauline Moran: Miss Lemon Writer: Andrew Marshall Script Consultant: Clive Exton Anne Stallybrass: Mary Delafontaine Tim Wylton: Henry Delafontaine Margery Mason: Amelia Barrowby Catherine Russell: Katrina Reiger Producer: Brian Eastman Director: Brian Farnham Executive Producer: Nick Elliott

Poirot, Agatha Christie’s 3.01 How Does Your Garden Grow? (1991) While at Chelsea Flower Show to be accorded the honour of having a beautiful pink rose named after him, Poirot is accosted by Miss Amelia Barrowby and insistently given a packet of Catherine the Great seed. With no seed in it. 8/10 Splendid Poirot adaptation with all the clues given to you but only the master can put them together. There’s even a great closing gag involving a bottle of weed-killer. This is great fun and Suchet is marvelous. While a gander at the cast list and the verse of the nursery rhyme from which the title is taken will reveal the guilty party, you won’t do this before the event and, in any case, the way Christie weaves the story around the nursery rhyme is wondrous to behold. This Poirot, Agatha Christie’s episode contains unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.