Cards on the Table (19 Mar. 2006)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Cards on the Table (original title)

The enigmatic, sinister Mr. Shaitana, one of London's richest men, invites 8 guests, 4 of them possible murderers and 4 'detectives' to his opulent apartment.

Director:

Sarah Harding

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), Nick Dear (screenplay)

Stars:

David Suchet, James Alper, Philip Bowen

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
James Alper	...	Shaitana's Butler
Philip Bowen	...	Mr Luxmore
Cordelia Bugeja	...	Mrs Luxmore
Zigi Ellison	...	Mrs Craddock
Tristan Gemmill	...	Major Despard
Alex Jennings	...	Dr Roberts
Lucy Liemann	...	Miss Burgess
Lesley Manville	...	Mrs Lorrimer
Lyndsey Marshal	...	Miss Meredith
Jenny Ogilvie	...	Millie
Robert Pugh	...	Colonel Hughes
Douglas Reith	...	Serge Mureau
Alexander Siddig	...	Shaitana
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Ariadne Oliver / Mrs Oliver

Storyline

Hercule Poirot finds himself investigating the murder of his dinner host, Mr. Shaitana, who was stabbed in the heart while his guests played bridge. There are eight guests and Poirot finds himself in the company of three other investigators. The foursome interview each of the other guests in turn but make little headway until Poirot manages to reconstruct the various bridge hands played at the suspects' table. In doing so, he is able to identify one particular action that leads him to identify the killer.

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Plot Keywords:

hercule poirot | stabbed to death | homosexuality | police superintendent | nylon stockings | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

19 March 2006 (USA)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada, A&E Television Networks, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When a worker is nailing a board over a broken window at Shaitana's place, he is using a modern nail gun, not the hammer and nails that would have been used in the Thirties.

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Quotes

[Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver are in a gallery when Poirot frowns at an abstract sculpture]
Ariadne Oliver: You really must try and broaden your horizons a little. Some of these pieces are terribly revealing. For instance, what do you make of that?
Hercule Poirot: [sighs] I - I do not know what to make of it, Madame Oliver.
Ariadne Oliver: Not symmetrical enough for you?

User Reviews

Why do the producers think they can improve on a classic?

This adaptation of another Agatha Christie Poirot novel has all the right elements that we have come to expect from this series: gorgeous sets, great guest stars, and of course the definitive Poirot, David Suchet, as always impeccable. But oh no no no no no! The producers have totally altered the storyline, adding so many jarring and gratuitous elements, that it's ridiculous.

They've similarly bastardized the Miss Marple story lines with the recent Marple series staring Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, but thankfully the definitive Miss Marple has already been established (the series starring Joan Hickson). Therefore people can take or leave the McEwan versions. But David Suchet is the SAME definitive Poirot that starred in the marvelous, mostly faithful to the original, Poirot films/episodes that came out in the '80s-early '90s. As such, fans of the series want faithful adaptations, not cynical sexed-up revisionist crap that do not work in any way to improve upon the original.

Cards On The Table is by far the worst David Suchet-lead Poirot film so far. I sincerely hope that the other, new episodes coming up don't stray so far from the original story lines, but I fear the worst.