The Kidnapped Prime Minister 

When the prime minister is kidnapped right before an important international arms summit, Poirot has just 32--and a quarter--hours to find the prime minister.

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
Pauline Moran	...	Miss Lemon
Lisa Harrow	...	Mrs Daniels
David Horovitch	...	Commander Daniels
Ronald Hines	...	Sir Bernard Dodge
Patrick Godfrey	...	Lord Estair
Timothy Block	...	Major Norman
Jack Elliott	...	Egan
Kate Binchy	...	Landlady
Milo Sperber	...	Fingler
Henry Moxon	...	Prime Minister
Oliver Beamish	...	Sergeant Hopper
Anthony Chinn	...	Shi Mong

Storyline

The British Prime Minister's car is attacked by a band of thugs. He manages to escape with minor injuries but a few days later he is kidnapped. The British government are desperate for the PM to be found quickly - he is due to attend an important conference. Upon the recommendation of Chief Inspector Japp, they call in Hercule Poirot.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | prime minister | kidnapping | ireland | paris | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 February 1990 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Studios, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Picture Partnership Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min (36 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Milo Sperber's final appearance.

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Goofs

When Mrs Daniels leaves home followed by Hastings, both cars go over a speed bump, which weren't introduced to the UK before the 1970s.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Chief Inspector Japp: No sign of him yet.

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Connections

Version of Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple: Sôridaijin no shissô (zenpen) Dôbâ-kaikyô no tsuiseki (2004)

User Reviews

Frustrated bureaucrats wait as Poirot follows clues they don't see

Politics are at the heart of this mystery, and kidnapping is the crime that Hercule Poirot is called on to solve. "The Kidnapped Prime Minister" is up to the standards of intrigue that Agatha Christie so masterfully wove into her mysteries. With her Belgian detective, Poirot, she created the world's greatest detective. While some may argue that point, few would argue that Hercule Poirot is the most entertaining detective in history, as David Suchet presents him on British TV and in films.

Poirot spends much time with his grey cells in this film, much to the consternation of Sir Bernard Dodge (Ronald Hines) and others. But in the end, it all pays off as he solves the case.

This TV episode had several notable lines of dialog. Here are some favorites.

Hercule Poirot, "Mr. Fingler is an artist, Hastings. And like all artists, he must be treated with a firm hand."

Poirot, "Madam, how would you describe the politics of your ex-husband?" Mrs. Daniels, "Torpid. He never had a political thought in his life."

Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson), "But, what if Mrs. Daniels doesn't leave?" Poirot, "Oh, she will have left already, chief inspector, or I am the Dutchman."

Japp, hanging up the telephone, "They've arrested a vagrant in some un-pronounceable village." Poirot, "A vagrant? Suspected of attacking the prime minister?" Japp, "When in doubt, arrest a vagrant. They'll let him go again."