"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Lord Edgware Dies (2000)

Director:

Brian Farnham

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
Anthony Horowitz (dramatized by)

TV Series:

"Agatha Christie's Poirot" (1989)

Original Air Date:

19 February 2000 (Season 8, Episode 2)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

A beautiful actress becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her tyrannical husband - except that she has a cast-iron alibi for the night of the crime.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Remake | Detective | Murder Mystery | Private Detective

Cast

David Suchet	...	Poirot
Hugh Fraser	...	Hastings
Philip Jackson	...	Chief Inspector Japp
Pauline Moran	...	Miss Lemon
Helen Grace	...	Jane Wilkinson
John Castle	...	Lord Edgware
Fiona Allen	...	Carlotta Adams
Dominic Guard	...	Bryan Martin
Deborah Cornelius	...	Penny Driver
Hannah Yelland	...	Geraldine Marsh
Tim Steed	...	Ronald Marsh
Lesley Nightingale	...	Miss Carroll
Christopher Guard	...	Alton
Iain Fraser	...	Donald Ross
Tom Beard	...	Duke of Merton
Virginia Denham	...	Alice
John Quentin	...	Sir Montagu Corner
Janet Hargreaves	...	Lady Corner
Aliza James	...	Lucie Adams
Mark Brignal	...	Addison
Fenella Woolgar	...	Ellis
John Hart Dyke	...	Thompson
Jonathan Aris	...	Receptionist
Rory Firth	...	Pageboy
Nicola Michaels	...	Airport Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Ross	...	PC Roberts (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Farnham

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(novel)
Anthony Horowitz		(dramatized by)

Produced by
Brian Eastman	....	producer
Delia Fine	....	executive producer: for A&E Television Networks
Peter Hider	....	associate producer
Kris Slava	....	supervising producer: for A&E Television Networks

Original Music by
Christopher Gunning

Cinematography by
Chris O'Dell		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Webb

Production Design by
Rob Harris

Art Direction by
Katie Buckley

Costume Design by
Charlotte Holdich

Makeup Department
Sarah Grundy	....	makeup artist
Kate Hodgson	....	makeup artist
Pam Meager	....	make-up

Production Management
Nick Girvan	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Mallinson	....	first assistant
Ben Burt	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Chris Hider	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Dave Channon	....	construction
Tina Jones	....	set dresser
Katie Lee	....	buyer
Mickey Lennon	....	property master (as Micky Lennon)
Garry Dawson	....	stand by props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Sandy MacRae	....	sound recordist (as Sandy Macrae)
Sarah Morton	....	sound editing
Mike Reardon	....	boom operator
Ian Tapp	....	dubbing mixer
Oliver Tarney	....	sound editing
Ian Tapp	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Jason White	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Vince Goddard	....	gaffer
Ricky Hall	....	grip
Jamie Harcourt	....	camera operator
David Hedges	....	focus puller (as Dave Hedges)
Martin Cox	....	electrician (uncredited)
Martin Gooch	....	camera trainee (uncredited)
Lorraine Luke	....	camera loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Anne Henderson	....	casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lezli Everitt	....	wardrobe
Steven Kirkby	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Bruce Everett	....	post-production
Tony Tromp	....	assistant editor (as Tony Trump)
Cherry Brewer	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Justin Eely	....	on-line editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Jeffrey Broom	....	accounts
Roland Caine	....	locations
Dawn Mortimer	....	coordinator
Elizabeth West	....	script supervisor (as Liz West)
Pauline Hume	....	title designer (uncredited)
Jen Lambert	....	unit nurse (uncredited)
Tracey Nicholls	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer

Other crew
Mark Albela	....	location manager
Daren Thomas	....	location runner

Production Companies

• Carnival Films
• A&E Television Networks (in association with)
• Agatha Christie (in assocation with) (as Agatha Christie Ltd)

Distributors

• A&E Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• A&E Television Networks
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV) (2000) (UK) (TV)
• Malavasi Editore

Other Companies

• 2020 Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Anvil Post Production  sound re-recording (uncredited)

Runtime:

120 min | UK:100 min (14 episodes)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (2000)

Filming Locations:

Shoreham Airport, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Carnival Films

Trivia:

The 1985 film 'Thirteen At Dinner (1985) (TV)', starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, was also based on the book "Lord Edgware Dies." In that film David Suchet appears as Inspector Japp.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the butler falls through the airport roof you can see the inflatable crash mat when the butler lands on it.

Quotes:

Poirot:Do not be anxious, madam. All will be arranged. You have my word.

Movie Connections:

Version of Lord Edgware Dies (1934)

"A must see for all fans of classic murder mysteries."

Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) and Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) investigate the brutal killing of hated aristocrat Lord Edgware (John Castle), whom was found stabbed in the neck with a letter opener in his study. Edgware was married to eminent stage actress Jane Wilkenson (Helen Grace) who was asking him for a divorce at the time but he refused it. Jane Wilkenson becomes Chief Inspector Japp's chief suspect in view of this and also because she was admitted into Edgware's house by his manservant around the time of the murder. However, Japp (Philip Jackson) soon realises that this will not be an open and shut case because Jane Wilkenson was at a dinner party and the other guests can vouch for her being there. Meanwhile, Poirot and Hastings have another question to consider. Could the mysterious death of American impersonation actress Carlotta Adams (Fiona Allen) be linked to the death of Lord Edgware?

Lord Edgware Dies is an impeccable entry in ITV's distinguished Poirot franchise. The dramatisation of Agatha Christie's novel by Anthony Horowitz who has contributed many fine scripts for ITV's other money spinner, "Midsomer Murders", is outstanding and every single plot twist runs smoothly into the other. In addition, it follows Agatha Christie's novel very closely. Interestingly, the novel first published in 1933 was filmed in 1934 with Austin Trevor playing Poirot then later as Thirteen At Dinner with Peter Ustinov. Brian Farnham's direction is workmanlike and shows off his considerable skill as a storyteller and the proceedings are much enhanced by Chris O' Dell's elegant cinematography, which complements the impeccable set design and the attention to period detail. Performances as always are first class and there isn't one single miscast part. Suchet, Fraser, Jackson and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon can now play their roles with consummate ease and they are ably supported by John Castle (who played Inspector Craddock in the BBC's Miss Marple series with Joan Hickson) as Edgware and Helen Grace is simply outstanding as Jane Wilkenson.

In summary, it is very difficult to review these films as they are usually of such a high standard that one runs out of new words to use in order to praise them. All in all, Lord Edgware Dies, is a must see for all fans of great murder mysteries and for those who appreciate quality film making that deserves a theatrical release as well as being televised.