"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Sad Cypress (2003)

Director:

David Moore

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
David Pirie (screenplay)

TV Series:

"Agatha Christie's Poirot" (1989)

Original Air Date:

26 December 2003 (Season 9, Episode 2)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

Elinor Carlisle seems to be the obvious murderer of her ailing aunt and the beautiful romantic rival who broke up her engagement, but Poirot uncovers darker motives.

Plot Keywords:

Hercule Poirot | Doctor | Detective | Salmon | Sandwich

Cast

David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Elisabeth Dermot Walsh	...	Elinor Carlisle
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Roddy Winter
Kelly Reilly	...	Mary Gerrard
Paul McGann	...	Dr. Peter Lord
Phyllis Logan	...	Nurse Hopkins
Marion O'Dwyer	...	Nurse O'Brien
Diana Quick	...	Mrs. Welman
Stuart Laing	...	Ted Horlick
Jack Galloway	...	Marsden
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Seddon
Alistair Findlay	...	Prosecuting Counsel
Linda Spurrier	...	Mrs. Bishop
Ian Taylor	...	Shopkeeper
Timothy Carlton	...	Judge
Louise Callaghan	...	Hunterbury Maid

Directed by
David Moore

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(novel)
David Pirie		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michele Buck	....	executive producer
Phil Clymer	....	executive producer: Chorion plc
Delia Fine	....	executive producer: for A&E Television Networks
Leila Kirkpatrick	....	line producer
Margaret Mitchell	....	producer
Emilio Nunez	....	supervising producer: for A&E Television Networks
David Suchet	....	associate producer
Damien Timmer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Christopher Gunning

Cinematography by
Martin Fuhrer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Melanie Viner-Cuneo

Production Design by
Michael Pickwoad

Art Direction by
Malcolm Stone

Set Decoration by
Mark Rimmell

Costume Design by
Sheena Napier

Makeup Department
Carol Cooper	....	makeup designer
Rupert Simon	....	makeup artist
Sian Turner	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Fiona McGuire	....	executive in charge of production
Kate Stannard	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terry Bamber	....	first assistant director
David Cain	....	second assistant director
Jessica Hurles-Laws	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mike Fowlie	....	prop master
Kenneth Hambling	....	construction manager (as Ken Hambling)
Dougie Lankston	....	dressing props (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Downer	....	supervising sound editor
Tony Jackson	....	sound recordist
Billy Mahoney	....	dubbing mixer
Sarah Morton	....	dialogue editor (as Sarah Morten)
Mike Reardon	....	sound maintenance
Mike Reardon	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Alan Church	....	visual effects
Simon Giles	....	visual effects

Stunts
Ray Donn	....	stunt double: David Suchet (uncredited)
Jason White	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Boorer	....	grip
Michael Green	....	focus puller (as Mike Green)
Mike Miller	....	camera operator
Phil Penfold	....	best boy (as Philip Penfold)
Larry S. Prinz	....	lighting gaffer (as Larry Prinz)
Luan Hall	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Rab Harling	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
John Hurley	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Maureen Duff	....	casting
Claire Saunders	....	casting assistant
Gail Stevens	....	casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tamar Zaig	....	assistant costume designer
Jason Gill	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Anya Dillon	....	assistant editor
Lee Twohey	....	telecine colourist

Other crew
Nuala Alen-Buckley	....	production accountant
Diane Chittell	....	production coordinator
Alan Church	....	titles
Simon Giles	....	titles
Mariette Masters	....	publicist
Phoebe Masters	....	assistant coordinator
Gina Nocero	....	senior publicist: A & E
Caroline O'Reilly	....	script supervisor
Patrick Smith	....	picture publicist
Karen Thrussell	....	script editor
Peter Tullo	....	location manager
Derek Wax	....	script executive
Emily Chittell	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Elton Farla	....	medic (uncredited)
Lawrence Stevens	....	floor runner (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer

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

Production Companies

• London Weekend Television (LWT) (as LWT)
• A&E Television Networks (in association with) (as A & E Television Networks)
• Agatha Christie (in assocation with) (as Agatha Christie Ltd {a Chorion Company})
• Granada
• Carnival Films (uncredited)

Distributors

• London Weekend Television (LWT) (2003) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• A&E Television Networks (2003) (USA) (all media)
• A&E Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• New Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Malavasi Editore (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL8)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting (uncredited)
• Pepper Post Production  post-production facilities (uncredited)

Runtime:

Finland:94 min | USA:100 min (DVD) | UK:93 min (11 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:12 (video rating) (2004)

Filming Locations:

Dorney Court, Dorney, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Trivia:

The title refers to lines from William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night": "Come away, come away, death, And in sad cypress let me be laid."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Poirot gets into a taxi he asks to be taken to 'The British Library.' This was not created until 1973. He should have asked for 'The British Museum' or 'The British Museum Library.'

Quotes:

Nurse Hopkins:As I said before, Mr. Poirot, let the dead rest in peace.
Hercule Poirot:Not when one has to consider the living.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie: Je ne suis pas coupable (#2.2)" (2010)

Still Great but...

Poirot: Sad Cypress maintains the usual high quality that any adaptation with David Suchet has. Elinor Carlisle receives an anonymous letter advising her to visit her sick aunt or risk being cut out of the will by the enormous and negative influence someone recently acquired over the old lady. Elinor along with her fiancé Roddy although not believing the letter decide to do as it says in an attempt to discover what is really going on. By the advice of a friend they give Poirot the letter and it is clear to the Belgian detective that evil will soon take his victim. I wont say any more about the story not to ruin it for you but it has plenty of mystery as always and a few twists you wont expect. I was literally falling off the couch in the last minutes as the truth was about to be revealed as it is not easy to take a pick as to whom the killer is despite the opening shot that shows us Elinor being prosecuted for two murders and her off voice proclaiming that she has no remorse about it. We stay in doubt as to if that truly is the case or if maybe she actually is innocent. Of course that is a job for Hercule Poirot.

David Suchet is again perfect in his role. I love his work. I worship his portrayal of Poirot. Unfortunately time goes by and Suchet is not in his best shape and at times seems rather tired. Still he is the best Poirot there is and ever will be. Sad Cypress does loose a lot for not having its main character on screen much time. An hour had passed and we had seen Poirot in only a few scenes. While the story may justify this in a way it still is a disappointment to wait so long to see him in action.

The other actors all do a fantastic job with Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh taking the spotlight. She is amazingly beautiful and mysterious. What an absolutely gorgeous woman.

Sad Cypress is recommended to Agatha Christie's fans and to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Still it is somewhat disappointing due to a little too far fetched explanation and a sometimes absent Poirot performed by an aging Suchet that while still possessing great skill is bellow his best. And of course there's no Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon or Chief Inspector Japp. Its always more fun when the whole gang is present.

A wonderful effort that could maybe be better but still proves an absolute pleasure to watch.