"Agatha Christie's Poirot" The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb (1993)

Director:

Peter Barber-Fleming

Writers:

Agatha Christie (short story "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb")
Clive Exton (dramatisation)

TV Series:

"Agatha Christie's Poirot" (1989)

Original Air Date:

17 January 1993 (Season 5, Episode 1)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

Shortly after opening an ancient Egyptian tomb, members of an English-American museum expedition start dropping off like flies. Can it truly be the Pharaoh's curse? Poirot travels to Egypt to unravel the mystery.

Plot Keywords:

Murder Mystery | Detective | Belgian | Hercule Poirot | Private Detective

Cast

David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser	...	Captain Hastings
Pauline Moran	...	Miss Lemon
Rolf Saxon	...	Dr. Ames
Olivier Pierre	...	Henry Schneider
Jon Strickland	...	Dr. Fosswell
Bill Bailey	...	Felix Bleibner
Paul Birchard	...	Rupert Bleibner
Simon Cowell-Parker	...	Nigel Harper
Grant Thatcher	...	Sir Guy Willard
Anna Cropper	...	Lady Willard
Mozaffar Shafeie	...	Hassan
Peter Reeves	...	Sir John Willard
Robert Wisdom	...	Waiter (as Bob Wisdom)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Bebb	...	Newsreader (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Barber-Fleming		(as Peter Barber Fleming)

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(short story "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb")
Clive Exton		(dramatisation)

Produced by
Brian Eastman	....	producer
Nick Elliott	....	executive producer
Dominic Fulford	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Christopher Gunning

Cinematography by
Norman G. Langley		(director of photography) (as Norman Langley)

Film Editing by
Chris Wimble

Casting by
Kate Day
Rebecca Howard

Production Design by
Tim Hutchinson

Art Direction by
Mark Raggett

Set Decoration by
Desmond Crowe

Costume Design by
Barbara Kronig

Makeup Department
Kate Bower	....	makeup artist
Janis Gould	....	makeup supervisor
Patricia Kirkman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Denise O'Dell	....	production manager: Spain
Guy Tannahill	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Bennett	....	assistant director
Dominic Fysh	....	assistant director
Carlos Lázaro	....	assistant director: Spain
Gerry Toomey	....	assistant director

Art Department
Alan Booth	....	construction manager
Mickey Lennon	....	property master (as Micky Lennon)
Mike Smith	....	production buyer

Sound Department
Paul Botham	....	boom operator
Colin Codner	....	sound assistant
Alan Killick	....	dubbing
Sandy MacRae	....	sound recordist
Rupert Scrivener	....	dubbing

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Alcorn	....	camera operator (as Steven Alcorn)
Ray Cooper	....	clapper loader
John Etherington	....	grip
Vince Goddard	....	gaffer
Danny Shelmerdine	....	focus puller

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jenny Hawkins	....	wardrobe
Lisa Johnson	....	wardrobe
Neil Sweetmore	....	wardrobe
Vernon White	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Christian Wheeler	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Mark Beeton	....	unit driver (uncredited)

Other crew
John Beharrell	....	accounts
Juan Carlos Caro	....	locations: Spain
Sue Field	....	script supervisor
Penelope Forrester	....	accounts
Pat Gavin	....	titles
Leila Kirkpatrick	....	production coordinator
Jeremy Oldfield	....	locations

Runtime:

UK:50 min (36 episodes)

Goofs:

Continuity: Although the episode opens with a newsreel that shows the opening of the tomb, when the scene cuts to the actual opening there is no camera present filming the event.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Newsreader:[voiceover] The pyramids of Egypt, the last surviving of the seven wonders of the world. The latest expedition by famous archaeologist Sir John Willard may soon reveal more of this ancient world's mysteries with the discovery of the tomb of Egyptian king Men-Her-Ra...

One of the best short story Poirot adaptations

I have always been a fan of the Agatha Christie Poirot series, and The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb is a strong example of why. It is very well made, as with all the Poirots, with some of the most gorgeous-looking scenery of any of the episodes, beautiful costumes and photography that is both elegant and cinematic. The music always has been a pleasure, and right from the iconic theme tune to the haunting background music The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb is no exception. The script has its usual intelligence, I do agree to some extent that despite the splashes of humour the episode has the tone is quite grim, then in a way the short story was also. The story is still highly intriguing with the pace just right. David Suchet once again is impeccable, and Hugh Fraser and Pauline Moran both do great jobs contrasting with him. The support cast are fine, particularly with Anna Cropper as Lady Willard. The resolution is still interesting, but the way it was done was more effective I felt in the short story.

All in all, one of the better short story Poirot adaptations and of the firth season the best episode was for me between this, The Chocolate Box and The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman. 9/10 Bethany Cox