Hercule Poirot's Christmas 

The tyrannical patriarch of a dysfunctional but wealthy family summons his adult children for a Christmas reunion, but prior to the holiday his throat is slashed apparently by one of them.

Director:

Edward Bennett

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), Clive Exton (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Vernon Dobtcheff

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Philip Jackson	...	Japp
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Simeon Lee
Simon Roberts	...	Alfred
Catherine Rabett	...	Lydia
Eric Carte	...	George
Andrée Bernard	...	Magdalene (as Andree Bernard)
Brian Gwaspari	...	Harry
Sasha Behar	...	Pilar
Mark Tandy	...	Sugden
Olga Lowe	...	Stella
Ayub Khan-Din	...	Horbury (as Ayub Khan Din)
John Horsley	...	Tressilian
Scott Handy	...	Young Simeon
Liese Benjamin	...	Young Stella

Storyline

When Simeon Lee, a mean-spirited, tyrannical patriarch of a dysfunctional family, summons his offspring to his country manor house in Kent for Christmas, he employs Poirot to attend the reunion. The detective is not given a full explanation for his assignment, but he soon observes the palpable animosity, suspicion, and resentment among the three Lee sons. Also in attendance is the beautiful Pilar Estravados, the only surviving child of Lee's daughter, who recently passed away after living in exile in Spain. The ruthless Senior Lee, who made his fortune in the South African diamond fields, sadistically treats his progeny with deliberate cruelty and obviously relishes pitting one against the other. It comes as no surprise when the old man's throat is mysteriously cut in an apparently locked room, and although he was frail and wheelchair-bound, there appears to be evidence of a great struggle. Poirot is aided in his quest for a solution to the baffling mystery by Chief Inspector Japp and...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | south africa | manor house | uncut diamond | reference to francisco franco | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

French title is Le noël d'Hercule Poirot.

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Goofs

Horbury the valet suddenly appears in Stella's quarters (final 15 minutes) with the rest of the group, even though he wasn't present in the prior scene.

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Quotes

Simeon Lee: [Telephone rings] Hercule Poirot?
Hercule Poirot: Yes, it is I Hercule Poirot who speaks.

User Reviews

Poirot is invited to spend Christmas with Simeon Lee--a wealthy, embittered man--and his family.

This is one of my favorite Christmas movies, although I watch it year 'round. The interactions between Poirot and Japp are warm and indicative of their true (sometmes hidden) admiration and fondness for each other. The final scene will remind viewers of what Christmas is really about. David Suchet is--as always--the only Poirot to watch on screen. The soundtrack is one of my favorites--with children's choirs and Salvation bands. The setting is made more beautiful by the holiday events taking place within this suspenseful plot. Although I wonder about the whereabouts of Hastings and Miss Lemon, their absences don't significantly detract from this movie. Make this a part of your collection.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1994 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Chilham Castle, Chilham, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnival Film & Television, London Weekend Television (LWT), Picture Partnership Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min (14 episodes)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1