Problem at Sea (19 Feb. 1989)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot" Problem at Sea (original title)

Poirot's Mediterranean cruise is disrupted when an unlikeable passenger is found murdered in her stateroom.

Director:

Renny Rye

Writer:

Clive Exton (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Melissa Greenwood

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser	...	Captain Hastings
Melissa Greenwood	...	Kitty Mooney
Victoria Hasted	...	Pamela Cregan (as Victoria Hastead)
Roger Hume	...	General Forbes
Ben Aris	...	Captain Fowler
Dorothea Phillips	...	Nelly Morgan
Sheri Shepstone	...	Emily Morgan
Louisa Janes	...	Ismene
John Normington	...	Colonel John Clapperton
Sheila Allen	...	Mrs Clapperton
Ann Firbank	...	Ellie Henderson
James Ottaway	...	Mr Russell
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Mr Tolliver
Caroline John	...	Mrs Tolliver

Storyline

While on a Mediterranean cruise, Poirot is asked to investigate the murder of one of the passengers, Mrs. Clapperton who is found stabbed in the chest in her stateroom. She was somewhat haughty and generally disliked by the other passengers. Her henpecked husband, Colonel Clapperton, was ashore for the entire day with two other passengers. General Forbes, who admits to having been in love with the dead woman when they knew each other many years before, says he was having a nap. Then there is Miss Ellie Henderson, who is attracted to Colonel Clapperton but whose wife is in the way of any possible relationship. With everyone having a reasonable alibi, it is left to Poirot to find the killer.

---

Plot Keywords:

murder mystery

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1989 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Studios, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min 50 min (36 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Captain Hastings: The whole art of clay pigeon shooting lies in the timing. Trick is, when I say "Pull"...
[Pamela pulls the release]
Captain Hastings: No.
[He shoots twice]
Captain Hastings: Sorry. My fault, should have warned you there.
Pamela Cregan: Weren't you ready?
Captain Hastings: No no, it's all right.

User Reviews

Not a very difficult problem, I'm afraid

When a woman is murdered on a ship cruising around Egypt, the captain asks Hercule Poirot - who happens to be on board, along with Captain Hastings - to investigate the matter.

This episode boasts the usual high production values, but the mystery itself is transparent. It all relies on a single gimmick, and I was able to call it as soon as it was happening on the screen. Since I'm far from an expert at solving murder mysteries, I imagine that most viewers will solve this one prematurely, too. That leaves us in the position of being AHEAD of Poirot - a position as infrequent as it is undesirable. At least the actual revelation is done in an interestingly offbeat way. (**1/2)