Miss Lemon persuades Poirot to investigate a series of apparently minor thefts in a university hostel, but simple kleptomania soon turns to baffling homicide.
When a series of apparently minor thefts plagues a university hostelry run by Miss Lemon's sister, Poirot is recruited to investigate. Celia Austin, a pharmacological major, confesses that she is a kleptomaniac and responsible for most of the thefts but denies stealing several objects including a stethoscope, light bulbs, and a student rucksack. Furthermore, she claims to know the other thief and vows to help return the missing items. Unfortunately someone substitutes an overdose of morphine for one of her sleeping powders, and she takes the identity of the thief to the grave. Japp connects the murderer's m.o. with a cold case he had investigated ten years earlier, but the prime suspect in that crime, a powerful statesman, now lies dying in a local hospital. Despite numerous obstacles, Poirot is able to link the killing to an international diamond smuggling ring but not before the murderer claims more victims.
Written by G. Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)
Although Agatha Christie's original story took place in the 1950s, the setting is moved to the 1930s for continuity reasons.
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Goofs
Revealing mistakes:
When Poirot and Japp are reading the newspaper at breakfast (an hour into the film), the back page of the section held by Poirot is clearly identical to the back page of the paper bought at a newsstand by Japp at the beginning (approx. 4 minutes in), even though a few days have passed in the story.
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Quotes
Mrs. Hubbard:
I think she might have been a secret drinker. Chief Inspector Japp:
After all the bottles we found in her room, there's no secret about it. See more »