Hercule Poirot attends a special program to present the Pembleton Lacrosse Shield to the Meadowbank girls school in Broadhinny. The school co-founder and head mistress, Miss Bulstrode, is an acquaintance and old friend. She is considering retiring soon, and she asks Poirot to stay on a few days to observe some of the faculty to recommend her replacement.
In short order, two murders happen, and Poirot is at work solving a mystery that's tied to foreign espionage, a foreign revolution and smuggling priceless jewels out of that country, and a kidnapped princess. As always, Agatha Christie's story is highly entertaining, and David Suchet is superb as Hercule Poirot. All of the cast are very good.
This is one of barely a handful of the many Christie stories put on film in which I could guess the culprit by halfway through the film. It does give a more obvious inkling of whom it may be than most of her story films, I think. Of course, I wasn't sure until the end, but my guess was spot on this time, where most of the time I'm off or can't decide between a number of suspects.
While none of the early characters of Poirot's circle are in this film, Detective Inspector Kelsey welcomes Poirot's help in solving the crimes, and defers to his leading questions. And, as with all of the Poirot mysteries, as written for the screen (if not by Dame Agatha herself), this one has some clever lines and a little humor. Here are some favorite lines.
Hercule Poirot, "I comprehend. The challenge - it has gone."
Poirot, "There does not need to be present a crime for the investigator to thrive."
Miss Bulstrode, " Monsieur Poirot has an international reputation." Detective Inspector Kelsey, "Oh? So does Mussolini."
Poirot, "But nothing, rien, is more dangerous than to try the blackmail on a person who has killed at least once."