Blackmail, infidelity, diamonds and desertion contribute to this Agatha Christie story in the Hercule Poirot series. When I saw this episode in its first airing on TV, I thought it wasn't quite up to the standards of intrigue and mystery that we Agatha Christie fans had come to expect. Watching it again recently, I reaffirm that notion.
One scene is just too silly to be believed. The scene with Lady Yardly (Caroline Goodall) beginning to enter a room and then suddenly being pulled away by some unknown jewel robber is just too amateurish. Watching Poirot's face as she explains what happened to her, one can imagine that he thinks it was quite as silly as it looked to all the audience. Which means, it wasn't convincing and therefore a significant aspect of the plot is tipped to everyone. I don't know how they might have done that differently, but the actress just isn't convincing. Perhaps a little rewrite of the script to have had the necklace stolen the night before would work.
The Henrik Van Braks character is something of a red herring, but it is a way to get Chief Inspector Japp into the story. Otherwise, the period scenery, automobiles and dressing continue in a splendid manner of showing modern audiences something of the culture of the early 20th century in England.
There is one very good exchange of dialog between Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) and Poirot (David Suchet) at the end.
Hastings, "You know, you say you have the particular sensitivity to women and all that, Poirot. It seems to me that all you did for Mrs. Marvelle is to lose her her husband." Poirot, "A blackmailing, adulterous husband who is also the thief. That is such a great loss, Hastings?"
One scene is just too silly to be believed. The scene with Lady Yardly (Caroline Goodall) beginning to enter a room and then suddenly being pulled away by some unknown jewel robber is just too amateurish. Watching Poirot's face as she explains what happened to her, one can imagine that he thinks it was quite as silly as it looked to all the audience. Which means, it wasn't convincing and therefore a significant aspect of the plot is tipped to everyone. I don't know how they might have done that differently, but the actress just isn't convincing. Perhaps a little rewrite of the script to have had the necklace stolen the night before would work.
The Henrik Van Braks character is something of a red herring, but it is a way to get Chief Inspector Japp into the story. Otherwise, the period scenery, automobiles and dressing continue in a splendid manner of showing modern audiences something of the culture of the early 20th century in England.
There is one very good exchange of dialog between Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) and Poirot (David Suchet) at the end.
Hastings, "You know, you say you have the particular sensitivity to women and all that, Poirot. It seems to me that all you did for Mrs. Marvelle is to lose her her husband." Poirot, "A blackmailing, adulterous husband who is also the thief. That is such a great loss, Hastings?"