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

Appearing here as Inspector Japp, David Suchet later played Hercule Poirot in the TV series Agatha Christie: Poirot and subsequent TV specials, including Agatha Christie: Poirot: Lord Edgware Dies, another version of this story.

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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

Inspector Japp: Poirot - buzz off like a good chap, will you? I've got bigger fish to fry.
Hercule Poirot: In a good bouillabaisse the little fish are often tastier than the big ones.
Inspector Japp: What are you talking about?
Hercule Poirot: Add poison, however, and the whole soup is polluted. Then the size of the fish are immaterial.
Inspector Japp: What's fish got to do with it?
Hercule Poirot: It was your own metaphor; I didn't bring the fish...
Inspector Japp: I didn't either!
Hercule Poirot: Stop fish then! Let's leave it out!

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Connections

Version of Lord Edgware Dies (1934)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Ustinov is highly entertaining as Poirot

Peter Ustinov is an absolute joy to behold in the role of Hercule Poirot. He played Poirot in three theatrical films: Death On the Nile, Evil Under the Sun, and Appointment With Death. He also played Poirot in three TV movies: Thirteen At Dinner, Murder in Three Acts, and Dead Man's Folly. It's always a delight to spend time with Ustinov's Poirot. He's so much fun! The three Poirot TV movies starring Ustinov are now available in a three DVD set. I've had a great time watching these with friends and family and all of Ustinov's Poirot movies are worth watching and re-watching. My deep affection for Ustinov's Poirot grows with each viewing. He's brilliant and each of his Poirot movies are fantastic fun.