Five Little Pigs (14 Dec. 2003)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Five Little Pigs (original title)

Lucy Crale enlists Poirot to investigate the fourteen-year-old murder case in which her mother was hanged for poisoning her philandering painter father.

Director:

Paul Unwin

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), Kevin Elyot (screenplay)

Stars:

David Suchet, Rachael Stirling, Aidan Gillen

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Rachael Stirling	...	Caroline Crale
Aidan Gillen	...	Amyas Crale
Toby Stephens	...	Philip Blake
Marc Warren	...	Meredith Blake
Aimee Mullins	...	Lucy Crale
Julie Cox	...	Elsa Greer
Gemma Jones	...	Miss Williams
Sophie Winkleman	...	Angela Warren
Talulah Riley	...	Young Angela
Patrick Malahide	...	Depleach
Annette Badland	...	Mrs. Spriggs
Roger Brierley	...	Judge
Richard Teverson	...	Hollinghurst
Melissa Suffield	...	Young Lucy

Storyline

Fourteen years after her mother, Caroline Crale, was hanged for the murder of her artist father Amyas Crale, Lucy Crale asks Hercule Poirot to investigate her father's death. She is convinced that her mother was innocent but is prepared to accept the truth, whatever that may be. Poirot visits in turn all five persons present when the murder took place including Amyas' best friend, Philip Blake, who was visiting the Crales when Amyas was killed; Philip's brother Meredith from whom Caroline supposedly stole the poison used to kill her husband; Elsa Greer, who was sitting for a portrait and with whom Amyas was supposedly in love; Caroline's half sister Angela who despised Amyas but believed her sister to be innocent; and Miss Williams, the governess. Having heard the tale from five different perspectives, Poirot reunites them all to identify the murderer.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | hercule poirot | poison | artist | detective | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

14 December 2003 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Benington Lordship Gardens, Benington, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT), A&E Television Networks, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 93 min (11 episodes)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Meredith Blake is also the name given to a character in The Parent Trap.

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Goofs

We see young Amyas painting with his left hand. As an adult, he uses his right hand.

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Quotes

Hercule Poirot: Hercule Poirot: You kill her, you kill yourself.

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Connections

Version of Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie: Cinq petits cochons (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Alice Blue Gown"
(uncredited)
from the musical "Irene"
Music by Harry Tierney
Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy
Heard on a recording, sung by Edith Day

User Reviews

Finally, the Truth Comes

Regular readers of my comments know I have dozens and dozens here that complain about Christie films. Oh, I'll ramble on and on about the nature of detective narrative and how the filmmakers (different each time) always seem to apply formulas in ways that trample on the most fun parts.

What a sourpuss! What a killjoy!

But it all sets the stage for my enthusiasm over this project.

Here's the basic problem set. You must set the track of the story so that facts can be interpreted in different ways, "playing fair" with different outcomes. At the same time, there are important mechanics of narrative which move the viewer into the thing, detecting, writing, conspiring. And then we have the cinematic and theatrical needs. All that stuff about faces and places, character and rhythms, types of rhythms.

We have it all here, thanks to some smart people and the happy structure of the novel, which is a rashoman-like retelling of the same event. Each layer, each visit shows more and we know some versions will be lies.

Yes, I must admit the trick of the overly juggled hand-held camera and washed colors for the "movie within" was a bit amateurish and annoying. But forgivable, especially since this Poirot is so unlike all the other Suchet portrayals. This one is not a prissy joke, but a mind on legs, one that can be patient with a foolish world. Swapping directors around is so interesting because even with the same actor, you get a completely different character.

This one also has a higher level of acting talent than in the series stories.

I've remarked on Julie Cox before. Striking woman, something like an anorexic Polly Walker.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.