Death in the Clouds 

While Poirot sleeps on an airplane flight from Paris to London, a notorious French moneylender is murdered with a poisoned dart.

Director:

Stephen Whittaker

Writer:

William Humble (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Sarah Woodward

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Philip Jackson	...	Chief Inspector Japp
Sarah Woodward	...	Jane Grey
Shaun Scott	...	Norman Gale
Cathryn Harrison	...	Lady Horbury
David Firth	...	Lord Horbury
Amanda Royle	...	Venetia Kerr
Richard Ireson	...	Inspector Fournier
Jenny Downham	...	Anne Giselle
Eve Pearce	...	Madame Giselle
Roger Heathcott	...	Daniel Clancy
Guy Manning	...	Jean Dupont
Gabrielle Lloyd	...	Elise
John Bleasdale	...	Mitchell
Harry Audley	...	Raymond Barraclough

Storyline

After spending a bit of a holiday in Paris, Poirot finds himself on a flight to London with an odd assortment of people, some of whom he had met during his stay. When one of the passengers, Madame Gisele, is murdered during the flight by a poisoned dart, Poirot is asked by Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard to assist with the investigation. Gisele was a well-known moneylender with penchant towards blackmail. When Lady Horbury denies knowing the dead woman - which Poirot knows is false - the police clearly have their prime suspect. Poirot however, sees a far more complex plot to gain access to the victims money.

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Plot Keywords:

paris france | airplane | london england | stewardess | roland garros | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Inspector Japp goes through the passengers' personal effects, he notes that one passenger was reading an issue of Strand Magazine. A number of Agatha Christie's short stories first appeared in Strand Magazine.

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Goofs

The events can be dated to 1935, when Perry beat Von Cramm in the French Tennis Championship. However, the final was played on 2nd June. When Mlle Giselle meets Japp and Poirot at the Surete, the calendar on the wall is Friday 5th July. Although 5th July was indeed a Friday in 1935, the action takes place over much less than 5 weeks.

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Connections

Version of Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple: Kumo no naka no shi (sono ichi) Sora tobu misshitsu (2005)

User Reviews

Death in the Clouds

Hercule Poirot is admiring the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Paris. On the flight from France to England while Poirot was asleep an old lady has been killed. It seems a poisoned dart was used.

Among the suspects is a crime writer and a snooty aristocrat, who was in Paris to see Fred Perry at the French Open and gamble. It seems she was in debt to the old lady.

Poirot and Japp visit Paris to find out more about the victim and seek out a woman who claims to be the victim's long lost daughter.

This feature length mystery has wonderful production values of vintage Paris and the recreation of the French Open. However it is padded more than a psychiatric cell. I know we have moved on from the Agatha short stories but really you can see the director falling back on various tricks just to drag the story out such as the scenes on the plane which go on for ages. We even have a character telling Poirot to get on with it during the denouement.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1992 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Studios, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Media, Picture Partnership Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1