Murder in Mesopotamia (8 Jul. 2001)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Murder in Mesopotamia (original title)

While Poirot is on holiday in Iraq, the wife of the head scientist at an archaeological dig confides to him that she is the target of threatening letters.

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

Agatha Christie (based on the novel by), Clive Exton (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Ron Berglas

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Poirot
Hugh Fraser	...	Hastings
Ron Berglas	...	Dr. Leidner
Barbara Barnes	...	Mrs. Leidner
Dinah Stabb	...	Anne Johnson
Georgina Sowerby	...	Amy Leatheran
Jeremy Turner-Welch	...	Bill Coleman
Pandora Clifford	...	Sheila Maitland
Christopher Hunter	...	Father Lavigny
Christopher Bowen	...	Richard Carey
Iain Mitchell	...	Superintendent Maitland
Alexi Kaye Campbell	...	Joseph Mercado
Deborah Poplett	...	Mrs. Mercado
Kamel Touati	...	Squat Man
Hichem Rostom	...	Hotel Receptionist (as Hichem Rostrom)

Storyline

While accompanying his friend Hastings to a dig in Iraq, Hercule Poirot becomes involved in the murder of an archaeologist's wife. The victim, Mrs. Leidner, had been receiving threatening letters signed by her first husband, who was known to have been killed in a train wreck. Did he survive? Was it his younger brother who was avenging his memory? Did Miss Johnson get rid of her rival for her employer's affections? Did Richard Carey kill the woman he publically announces that he hates? Is the French priest really who he pretends to be? And how many deaths will occur before Poirot unmasks the murderer?

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Plot Keywords:

letter | threatening letter | hercule poirot | iraq | murder | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

8 July 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bray Film Studios, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnival Films, A&E Television Networks, Chorion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 100 min (14 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Hastings: But why would she write threatening letters to herself?
Hercule Poirot: O, I think that would be an assumption too great to make, Hastings, on the grounds of the similarity of the handwritings. But if it were so, it would not be an occurence unheard-of.
Hastings: Pretty ruddy silly if you ask me.
Hercule Poirot: Ah, well, if only people would ask you, Hastings, they would refrain from the ruddy silliness.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to the Archeological Site of Oudhna.

User Reviews

awful mystery drama

Herculis Puaro is, in general, a well established 'hero' we know well from books and movies. This movie or this story don't work and i felt its not Agatha's mistake. The cast isn't good, the actors are over exaggerating and making foolish gestures, the costumes are so clean and tidy that everything (even Arab clothes) look fake and for the serious spectator who thinks twice this movie can be seen as a comedy instead of mystery drama. The actor playing Herculis Puaro is doing a nice job but nothing fantastic. The scenes are, as said before, perfect and looking fake. The story is not very enchanting although a mystery of murder but who cares about the death of a loony and vicious blond 45+ woman in the iraqi desert?! The 'victim' is not likable.