IMDb >
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Four and Twenty Blackbirds (1989)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditsAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidePlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotesDid You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Four and Twenty Blackbirds (1989)
Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers:
TV Series:
Original Air Date:
29 January 1989
(Season 1, Episode 4)
Plot:
When a reclusive painter is found dead, Poirot finds the vital clue in the dead man's last meal. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
One of the series' finest
See more (1 total) »
Cast
(Episode Cast) (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification) | David Suchet | ... | Hercule Poirot |
 | Hugh Fraser | ... | Captain Hastings |
 | Philip Jackson | ... | Chief Inspector Japp |
 | Pauline Moran | ... | Miss Lemon |
 | Richard Howard | ... | George Lorrimer |
| Tony Aitken | ... | Tommy Pinner |
| Charles Pemberton | ... | Stooge |
| Geoffrey Larder | ... | Harry Clarke |
| Denys Hawthorne | ... | Bonnington |
| Holly De Jong | ... | Dulcie Lang |
| Clifford Rose | ... | Makinson |
| Philip Locke | ... | Cutter |
| Hilary Mason | ... | Mrs. Hill |
| Cheryl Hall | ... | Molly |
| Marjie Lawrence | ... | Irene Mullen |
| Su Elliot | ... | Edith (as Su Elliott) |
| John Bardon | ... | Lavatory Attendant |
| Peter Waddington | ... | Forensic |
| Guy Standeven | ... | Vicar |
| Andrew Mackintosh | ... | Doctor |
| Stephen Pruslin | ... | Pianist |
 | John Sessions | ... | Radio Voice Overs (voice) |
| Episode Crew |
Directed by | |||
| Renny Rye | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Russell Murray | (dramatized by) | |
| Clive Exton | (script consultant) | |
| Agatha Christie | (short story "Four and Twenty Blackbirds") uncredited | |
Produced by | |||
| Linda Agran | .... | executive producer | |
| Brian Eastman | .... | producer | |
| Nick Elliott | .... | executive producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Christopher Gunning | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Peter Jessop | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Paul Hudson | |||
Casting by | |||
| Rebecca Howard | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Mike Oxley | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Linda Mattock | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Hilary Martin | .... | makeup supervisor | |
Production Management | |||
| Martin Bond | .... | production manager | |
| David Fitzgerald | .... | production supervisor | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Edward Brett | .... | first assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Mickey Lennon | .... | property master (as Micky Lennon) | |
| Les Peach | .... | construction manager | |
| Vanda Vivian | .... | production buyer | |
| Mark White | .... | construction (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| Graham Harris | .... | dubbing editor | |
| Sandy MacRae | .... | sound recordist (as Sandy Macrae) | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Jamie Harcourt | .... | camera operator | |
| Joe Spence | .... | gaffer | |
Distributors
- Elephant Films (2009) (France) (all media)
- Eén (2008) (Belgium) (TV)
- Malavasi Editore (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
- Picture Partnership Productions developed for television by
- Regalian Properties our thanks to: for Poirot's apartment block
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
UK:50 min (36 episodes)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Certification:
UK:U (video rating) (1989) (1998) (2005)
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Goofs:
Anachronisms: During Poirot's and Hastings' visit to a music-hall, a modern 'EXIT' sign is clearly visible in the background.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Doctor:There's very little I can do for him now, Mrs Hill. He's very weak.
Mrs. Hill:Oh dear! Is there no hope?
Doctor:I'm afraid not. It's more a matter of hours, rather than days, now. Doesn't Mr Anthony have any relatives?
Mrs. Hill:There's a brother, Henry, but they haven't spoken in twenty years.
Doctor:No one else?
Mrs. Hill:Well, yes. There's Mr George, his nephew, in London. I expect he'd want to know.
See more »
Doctor:There's very little I can do for him now, Mrs Hill. He's very weak.
Mrs. Hill:Oh dear! Is there no hope?
Doctor:I'm afraid not. It's more a matter of hours, rather than days, now. Doesn't Mr Anthony have any relatives?
Mrs. Hill:There's a brother, Henry, but they haven't spoken in twenty years.
Doctor:No one else?
Mrs. Hill:Well, yes. There's Mr George, his nephew, in London. I expect he'd want to know.
See more »
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.See more (1 total) »
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Agatha Christie's Poirot" (1989)Related Links
| Main series | Episode guide | Full cast and crew |
| Company credits | IMDb TV section | IMDb Drama section |
| IMDb UK section |
Copyright © 1990-2013
IMDb.com, Inc.
Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads
An 
company.
I have always been a huge fan of Poirot and of Agatha Christie, and alongside The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman, Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, Wasp's Nest and The Chocolate Box, Four and Twenty Blackbirds is one of the better short story adaptations. It is a simple story, but still very clever and elegant in its simplicity. The writing still has humour, intelligence and suspense, the music is hauntingly beautiful and the adaptation with the evocative atmosphere, beautiful locations and sets and elegant costumes is very well made as usual. David Suchet is impeccable, and he as always is well supported by Hugh Fraser, Phillip Jackson and Pauline Moran. The support cast are solid, with nobody weak but nobody quite up the standard of acting set by the four leads. EastEnders fans look out for John Bardon(aka Jim Branning) as a Lavatory man. All in all, a great episode and one of my favourites of not just the short story adaptations but also of the series. 9/10 Bethany Cox