The ABC Murders 

Poirot receives taunting letters from a serial killer who appears to choose his victims and crime scenes alphabetically.

Director:

Andrew Grieve

Writer:

Clive Exton (dramatized by)

Stars:

David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser	...	Captain Hastings
Philip Jackson	...	Chief Inspector Japp
Donald Sumpter	...	Cust
Donald Douglas	...	Franklin Clarke
Nicholas Farrell	...	Donald Fraser
Pippa Guard	...	Megan Barnard
Cathryn Bradshaw	...	Mary Drower
Nina Marc	...	Thora Grey
David McAlister	...	Inspector Glen
Vivienne Burgess	...	Lady Clarke
Ann Windsor	...	Miss Merrion
Michael Mellinger	...	Franz Ascher
Miranda Forbes	...	Mrs. Turton
Peter Penry-Jones	...	Superintendent Carter

Storyline

Hastings returns to Britain after a long absence to find Poirot anxious for a new case which will challenge his gray cells. Poirot quickly gets his wish in the form of taunting letters from a serial killer who has dubbed himself ABC and who leaves an ABC railroad schedule at the scene of each crime. The victims as well as the crime scenes appear to be chosen randomly, but maintain an obsessive adherence to alphabetical order. However, Poirot grows to believe that the killer is not the madman the authorities believe, but a methodical murderer with a very tangible motive.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | anonymous letter | peddler | invalid wife | dog finds dead body | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The screen in the Doncaster cinema shows a train crashing into a ferry and then into the sea. This scene is from the closing minutes of the 1932 movie, "Number 17", directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

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Goofs

In Doncaster, as Mr. Cust is getting up, to leave the theater, he turns to his left, but when, at the end of the movie, when the real murderer is revealed, and that scene is played, Mr. Cust is seen turning to his right, to leave the theater.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Announcer: Train now boarding.

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Alternate Versions

Title in most Spanish speaking countries is "El misterio de la guía de ferrocarriles"

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Connections

Version of Grandmaster (2012)

User Reviews

one of the best

Poirot investigates a series of killings in "The ABC Murders" in this excellent adaptation. As Hastings reappears after an absence, Poirot receives letters from a serial killer, calling himself ABC, who tells Poirot the city where the next murder will take place. At the scene of each crime, he leaves the ABC railroad schedule. The murders seem to have the same last name initial as the name of the town.

The authorities think the killer is insane, but Poirot doesn't. He believes there is a real method to the killer's madness. It takes a while, but Poirot finally figures it out.

Wonderful, exciting adaptation, and if you haven't read the book (or like me read it a hundred years ago) it's even more thrilling since you won't know the solution.

I love Poirot, Hastings, and Japp together. Suchet is so perfect as Poirot except for one small thing. Agatha Christie came to hate Poirot. There's no way she would have hated THIS Poirot. She found him "insufferable" and an "egocentric creep." Despite being fussy, egomaniacal, and arrogant, Suchet somehow gives Poirot warmth and a camaraderie with Japp and Hastings. I just love his interpretation. You can't hate him.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 1992 (UK)

Filming Locations:

39 Windsor Street Uxbridge, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Media, L.T.V., London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 100 min (14 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1