The Adventure of the Clapham Cook (8 Jan. 1989)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" The Adventure of the Clapham Cook (original title)

Poirot probes the disappearance of a wealthy woman's cook, and soon uncovers an elaborate plot to hide an ever darker crime.

Director:

Edward Bennett

Writer:

Clive Exton (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser	...	Captain Hastings
Philip Jackson	...	Chief Inspector Japp
Pauline Moran	...	Miss Lemon
Brigit Forsyth	...	Mrs. Todd
Dermot Crowley	...	Arthur Simpson
Freda Dowie	...	Eliza Dunn
Antony Carrick	...	Mr. Todd
Katy Murphy	...	Annie
Danny Webb	...	Porter (as Daniel Webb)
Richard Bebb	...	Mr. Cameron
Brian Poyser	...	Salvation Army Speaker
Frank Vincent	...	Purser
Phillip Manikum	...	Police Sergeant
Jona Jones	...	Police Constable

Storyline

Poirot is approached by a Mrs. Todd, whose cook, Eliza Dunn, has suddenly disappeared. Poirot manages to track down the cook , and she tells him that a stranger, acting for a law firm, told her that she had inherited a property in the North of England but she had to go there immediately. Her heavy trunk was called for but it was deposited at the train station, where Poirot makes an interesting discovery, connected to a recent bank robbery.

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Plot Keywords:

murder mystery

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 January 1989 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Studios, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min 50 min (36 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Captain Hastings: Husband put head in gas oven; home life happy.
Hercule Poirot: No.
Captain Hastings: Belgravia and Overseas Bank clerk absconds with fortune.
Hercule Poirot: How much is this fortune?
Captain Hastings: Uh... ninety thousand pounds.
Hercule Poirot: No.
Captain Hastings: That's a king's ransom, Poirot.
Hercule Poirot: When it is used to ransom a king, it becomes interesting to Poirot.

User Reviews

The one that started it all...

I have always been an Agatha Christie and Poirot fan, and this was an interesting starting point to one of my favourites of all time on television. Better was still to come, with everybody finding their feet, but this is a most promising start, though while still clever the story isn't the most plausible of Poirot mysteries. Also Mrs Todd's clothing is not entirely accurate in comparison to the rest. However, as to expect from this series, it is a classy and elegant looking adaptation, with the music haunting and beautiful and the writing intelligent. David Suchet would give better performances later on in this same role in other episodes, but he still disappears behind the character and is always never less than convincing, often outstanding. The same can be said for Hugh Fraser, Phillip Jackson and Pauline Moran too and Brigit Forsyth and Dermot Crowley are solid in their support roles of Mrs Todd and Simpson. All in all, a promising start that opened the door to even better episodes to the series. 8/10 Bethany Cox