Dumb Witness (31 Oct. 1996)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Dumb Witness (original title)

An elderly woman confides to Poirot that she fears one of her relatives is trying to kill her for her money. He persuades her to disinherit her heirs, but she is murdered anyway.

Director:

Edward Bennett

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), Douglas Watkinson (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Ann Morrish

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser	...	Hastings
Ann Morrish	...	Emily Arundel
Patrick Ryecart	...	Charles
Kate Buffery	...	Theresa
Paul Herzberg	...	Jacob
Julia St. John	...	Bella (as Julia St John)
Norma West	...	Wilhemina
Jonathan Newth	...	Dr Grainger
Pauline Jameson	...	Isabel Tripp
Muriel Pavlow	...	Julia Tripp
Pat O'Toole	...	Sarah
Geoffrey Freshwater	...	Sgt Keeley
Jestyn Phillips	...	Steward
Tobias Saunders	...	Alexis

Storyline

Hastings is invited by his friend Charles Arundell to be at hand when he tries to break a water speed record on a Berkshire country lake, but his boat's engine fails him. At a subsequent reception at the estate of Charles' well-to-do aunt, Poirot and the other guests witness her refusal to continue to underwrite Charles' expensive hobby, and he threatens her. Later, when she is almost killed in a freak accident involving her pet fox terrier Bob, she confides to Poirot that she suspects a family member of trying to kill her to gain part of her estate. The detective advises her to disinherit her grasping relatives and name a friend as beneficiary. Despite this precaution, she dies abruptly under questionable circumstances, but the local authorities refuse to authorize an autopsy. Suspecting foul play, Poirot looks to his wits as well as the Arundell dog, who remains a silent witness to murder.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | heir | fox terrier | liver disease | lake | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1996 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnival Films, London Weekend Television (LWT), A&E Television Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 100 min (14 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The portrait painting of General John Laverton Arundell also features in Agatha Christie: Poirot: The Mystery of the Spanish Chest in two scenes within the Military Club.

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Goofs

A modern mercury vapor street light is briefly visible as a man is pushing a cart along a town street towards the camera as it pans right, just before Emily meets with Jacob in the coffee shop.

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Quotes

Hercule Poirot: In my book, as you say, monsieur, everyone is a suspect.

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Connections

Referenced in Monk: Mr. Monk and the Dog (2009)

User Reviews

Eerie Christie story filmed amid fine trappings...

This is a delightful version of a rather unknown Christie story that deserves recognition as one of her most clever entries. I was partially successful at guessing the solution and once again it's a trick that Christie plays on her audience, this time involving a very subtle clue.

David Suchet and Hugh Fraser (Poirot and Captain Hastings) are vacationing in the English countryside near a wealthy woman's estate when the lady of the manor reveals that she suspects one of her heirs is willing to kill her in order to amass a fortune. From then on, it's up to Poirot to solve the case, based on what seems like very flimsy evidence involving inspiration from a dumb witness--a frisky fox-terrier named "Bob." The usual suspects keep their secrets well hidden until the final denouement which may come as somewhat of a surprise to most viewers.

A very eerie death scene involving a green mist that envelops the victim is stunningly staged for maximum effect. Well done mystery makes good use of a fine cast of players.