One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (19 Jan. 1992)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (original title)

After Poirot pays a routine visit to his dentist, the doctor apparently shoots himself to death a short time later. Chief Inspector Japp appropriately recruits the detective as both witness and consultant.

Director:

Ross Devenish

Writer:

Clive Exton (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Joanna Phillips-Lane

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Philip Jackson	...	Chief Inspector Japp
Joanna Phillips-Lane	...	Gerda / Helen
Peter Blythe	...	Blunt
Carolyn Colquhoun	...	Mabelle
Christopher Eccleston	...	Frank Carter
Karen Gledhill	...	Gladys Neville
Laurence Harrington	...	Henry Morley
Rosalind Knight	...	Georgina Morley
Sara Stewart	...	Jane Olivera
Helen Horton	...	Julia Olivera
Kevork Malikyan	...	Amberiotis
Trilby James	...	Agnes Fletcher
Joe Greco	...	Alfred Biggs
Oliver Bradshaw	...	Mr Hendry

Storyline

Poirot pays what appears to be a routine visit to Dr. Morley, his dentist, but shortly after he leaves the clinic, the doctor is found dead with a gunshot wound to his temple, an apparent suicide. Poirot suspects foul play, and all those who entered the doctor's offices after Poirot left are suspect. They include Alaistair Blunt, a prominent and very influential bank director, Frank Carter, a young fascist thug with a personal grudge against Morley, Mr. Amberiotis, an enigmatic recent arrival from India suffering from a toothache, and Mabelle Sainsbury-Seale, a charity worker also recently returned from India. When Amberiotis is found dead in his hotel room from an overdose of Novocaine and Sainsbury-Seale disappears, Poirot rightly expands his list of suspects and connects the crime to events that occurred in India 12 years earlier.

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Plot Keywords:

india | dentist | suicide | hotel | detective | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1992 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Lichfield Court, Sheen Road, Richmond, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnival Films, ITV Productions, London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 100 min (14 episodes)

Color:

Color Black and White (newsreel archive footage)

Did You Know?

Goofs

Upon inspection of the victim Inspector Japp quotes "revolver grasp in lifeless fingers". The gun is not a revolver but a semi-automatic.

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Quotes

Julia Olivera: I've never heard of a dentist committing suicide before. Wouldn't happen in the States, you can be sure of that; they're too damn rich to kill themselves!

User Reviews

Gave me nightmares when I first saw it

One, Two Buckle My Shoe was a solid adaptation of a very complicated book. It is absolutely true, the plot is very convoluted and the character of Jane Olivera was underused. And I wasn't sure what the scenes in India had to do with the original story; then again it has been a year and a half ago since I read the book. As usual, the look of the adaptation is superb, beautifully shot with splendid period detail. The music was so haunting, and scenes like the beginning and when Sainsbury Seale's foot is seen poking out from the hamper gave me nightmares when I first saw it, and still does. David Suchet gives yet another impeccable performance as Poirot, and he is perfectly matched by Hugh Fraser, Phillip Jackson and Pauline Moran. The other supporting performances ranged from acceptable to very good, Christopher Ecceleston giving the most impressive supporting contribution, but they weren't as good as Suchet, who was by far the best thing of the adaptation. The final solution while very long was interesting. All in all, definitely worth the watch. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox