Thirteen at Dinner (TV 1985)

An American movie actress, best known for playing dumb blondes, is Scotland Yard's prime suspect when her husband, Lord Edgware, is murdered. The great detective, Hercule Poirot, digs deeper into the case.

Director:

Lou Antonio

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), Rod Browning (teleplay)

Stars:

Peter Ustinov, Faye Dunaway, David Suchet

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Ustinov	...	Hercule Poirot
Faye Dunaway	...	Jane Wilkinson / Carlotta Adams
David Suchet	...	Inspector Japp
Jonathan Cecil	...	Captain Arthur Hastings
Bill Nighy	...	Ronald Marsh
Diane Keen	...	Jenny Driver
John Stride	...	Film Director
Benedict Taylor	...	Donald Ross
Lee Horsley	...	Bryan Martin
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Sir Montague Corner
Glyn Baker	...	Lord Edgware's Butler
John Barron	...	Lord Edgware
Peter Clapham	...	Mr. Wildburn
Lesley Dunlop	...	Alice Bennett
Avril Elgar	...	Miss Carroll

Storyline

Hercule Poirot appears on a TV talk show with actor Bryan Martin who is making an action/detective movie with Jane Wilkinson. He also meets impressionist Carlotta Adams. They all go to a party and Jane asks him and Captain Hastings to go and meet her husband, Lord Edgware in regards to a divorce. They do so, to discover that the Lord had already granted her a divorce. Jane is delighted but drops hints that she could have killed the Lord if he didn't grant her the divorce. The next day Lord Edgware is found dead and all the staff at the Lord's house swear that Jane was the one who did it but witnesses at another Lord's party swear that Jane was with them. Carlotta then dies and Poirot must investigate as Inspector Japp is determined to put Jane away...

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Plot Keywords:

lord | divorce | detective | hercule poirot | actress | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Thirteen at Dinner

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Entertainment Production, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 90 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the scene where Faye Dunaway's character, Carlotta, is found dead in bed, Poirot is questioning actress Lesley Dunlop on where Carlotta had been the night before. On the coffee table are 2 photographs of Faye Dunaway, as Selena, her character in Supergirl, released the year before this movie.

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Goofs

During Poirot's speech to the gathered suspects (shortly before the 1:20:00 mark), he addresses Bryan Martin by the name "Mr. Marsh."

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Quotes

Hercule Poirot: Do I spend much time in Belgium? No, because there is so little crime. You know that I'm very patriotic. I believe in Belgium very profoundly, but crime is practically nonexistent.

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Connections

Followed by Dead Man's Folly (1986)

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Soundtracks

"Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries"
(uncredited)
Composed by Richard Wagner

User Reviews

Better than Most, Though More Obscure

I prefer my Poirot to be portrayed by Ustinov, and although this is more obscure than most, it IS better than some. No, it isn't lavish, and they did not spend a fortune on the production, but it is not the worst of the crop.

Faye Dunaway co-stars, along with Lee Horseley, and a (very) young Bill Nighy, directed by Lou Antonio (long-time television director) and dominated by the lovely Ustinov. Made for TV, not rated, but highly enjoyable who dunnit, which posed an interesting conundrum as the principle quandary.

All in all, I found it highly entertaining, and perfect as a Sunday afternoon diversion, though I'd watch Ustinov as Poirot anytime.

It rates a 7.4/10 from...

the Fiend :.