The Mystery of the Blue Train (11 Dec. 2005)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" The Mystery of the Blue Train (original title)

Poirot investigates the brutal hammer murder of Ruth Kettering, an American heiress and the theft of a fabulous ruby on the Blue Train between Calais and Nice.

Director:

Hettie Macdonald

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), Guy Andrews (screenplay)

Stars:

David Suchet, James D'Arcy, Alice Eve

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
James D'Arcy	...	Derek Kettering
Alice Eve	...	Lenox
Nicholas Farrell	...	Knighton
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Ada Mason
Tom Harper	...	Corky
Jane How	...	Lady at Ball
Samuel James	...	Steward
Helen Lindsay	...	Sister Rosalia
Oliver Milburn	...	La Roche
Jaime Murray	...	Ruth Kettering
Roger Lloyd-Pack	...	Inspector Caux (as Roger Lloyd Pack)
Etela Pardo	...	Dolores
Georgina Rylance	...	Katherine
Josette Simon	...	Mirelle Milesi

Storyline

After traveling on the Blue Train from Calais to Nice, Hercule Poirot is pressed into service to help solve the murder of heiress Ruth Kettering who is found savagely beaten in her compartment. She was the daughter of wealthy industrialist Rufus Van Alden and very much wanted a divorce. Both her husband and her lover were on the train but she had changed rooms with another passenger, Katherine Grey, so the question naturally arises as to whether she was the intended victim. Grey may also have had enemies as she had recently inherited a very large sum of money and greedy relatives had suddenly taken a interest in her. When an attempt is subsequently made on Grey's life, this appears to the case but Poirot methodically sifts through all of the clues to determine the motive and identify the killer.

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Plot Keywords:

train | heiress | ruby | maid | hammer murder | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

Italian English French

Release Date:

11 December 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada, A&E Television Networks, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min 94 min 93 min (11 episodes)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hercule Poirot mentions at the end that he has never traveled on the Orient Express, raising viewer expectations of his most famous case, "Murder on the Orient Express."

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Quotes

Mirelle Milesi: [after being asked where she was at the time of the crime] I was in bed all night. If you seek corroboration, interrogate my pillow.

User Reviews

Entertaining IF you get past the changes

POIROT has been cherished by Agatha Christie fans for keeping close to the original novel 9 times out of 10. For some reason, 3 of the 4 episodes this season have changed the plot until it's unrecognizable. Will the faithful Poirot ever return? Not very likely-- unfortunately, the faithful Poirot seems to have ended when Agatha Christie's daughter died. Matthew Pritchard says his grandmother wouldn't have minded the changes-- he is 99% of the time wrong, but he may have been right this time. Agatha Christie said several times that THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN was her worst novel ever, and she hated it. I do not share her opinion. I liked the book how it was. No changes are required if it's an Agatha Christie-- her name on the book is a guarantee that it's perfect.

The changes made in the movie are innumerable. This is a complete rewrite of the book-- it's the NEMESIS of the Poirot season. Did the screenwriter read the book? However, if you put the changes behind you and try to sit back and enjoy the movie, you may end up liking it.