Poirot (TV Series)
The King of Clubs (1989)
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- TV-14
- 50min
- Crime, Drama
- 12 Mar 1989
- TV Episode
A deck with a missing card provides Poirot with the clue he needs to solve the murder of the tyrannical head of a movie studio.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| David Suchet | ... |
Hercule Poirot
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| Hugh Fraser | ... |
Captain Hastings
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| Philip Jackson | ... |
Chief Inspector Japp
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| Niamh Cusack | ... |
Valerie Saintclair
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| David Swift | ... |
Henry Reedburn
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| Jonathan Coy | ... |
Bunny Saunders
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| Jack Klaff | ... |
Prince Paul of Maurania
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Rosie Timpson | ... |
Miss Deloy
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| Gawn Grainger | ... |
Ralph Walton
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Marc Culwick | ... |
Young Man
(as Mark Culwick)
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Vass Anderson | ... |
Frampton
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Avril Elgar | ... |
Mrs Oglander
(as Avril Elga)
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| Abigail Cruttenden | ... |
Geraldine Oglander
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| Sean Pertwee | ... |
Ronnie Oglander
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| Cathy Murphy | ... |
Maid
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| Jeffrey Harmer | ... |
Assistant Director
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Directed by
| Renny Rye | ||
Written by
| Michael Baker | ... | (dramatized by) |
| Agatha Christie | ... | (short story "The King of Clubs") (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Linda Agran | ... | executive producer |
| Brian Eastman | ... | producer |
| Nick Elliott | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Christopher Gunning | ||
Cinematography by
| Peter Jessop | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Roger Wilson | ||
Casting By
| Rebecca Howard | ||
Production Design by
| Mike Oxley | ||
Art Direction by
| John Demetri | ||
Costume Design by
| Linda Mattock | ||
Makeup Department
| Hilary Martin | ... | makeup supervisor |
Production Management
| Martin Bond | ... | production supervisor |
| Ray Helm | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Kevin Holden | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Edward Brett | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Ludmilla Barras | ... | production buyer |
| Mickey Lennon | ... | property master (as Micky Lennon) |
| Les Peach | ... | construction manager |
| Chrysoula Sofitsi | ... | set dresser |
Sound Department
| Brigitte Arnold | ... | dialogue editor |
| Colin Chapman | ... | dubbing editor |
| Sandy MacRae | ... | sound recordist (as Sandy Macrae) |
| Rupert Scrivener | ... | dubbing mixer |
Stunts
| Stuart St Paul | ... | stuntman |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jamie Harcourt | ... | camera operator |
| John Maskall | ... | camera operator (as Mike Maskell) |
| Joe Spence | ... | gaffer |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Dougie Hawkes | ... | costumer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Sam Donovan | ... | continuity |
| Clive Exton | ... | script consultant |
Additional Crew
| Sam Donovan | ... | production assistant |
| Pat Gavin | ... | titles |
| Mike Littlejohn | ... | production accountant |
| Natasha Wellesley | ... | production coordinator |
Production Companies
Distributors
- AcornMedia (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Elephant Films (2009) (France)
- Eén (2008) (Belgium) (tv)
- FS Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- France 3 (1991) (France) (tv)
- Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Home Video (2005) (France) (DVD)
- Granada International (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Imavision Distribution (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
- Malavasi Editore (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Picture Partnership Productions (developed for television by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
After a visit to Parade film studios with his friend Captain Hastings, Poirot finds himself investigating the murder of Henry Reedburn, the head of the studio. Reedburn was something of a tyrant who had fired a veteran actor, taken over a major film from a young director and had recently blackmailed actress Valerie Saintclair into signing a new contract. Upon finding the body, Saintclair ran to a neighboring house to seek help, interrupting the Oglander family's bridge game in the process. However, the lack of a king of clubs on the card table provides Poirot with only clue he needs to solve the crime. Written by garykmcd |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Even though these are based on the official Poirot canon, its not unusual for a long running tv series to feature one or more stories set in a film and/or tv studio. Clearly, as the (first) series was shot at the historic Twickenham Film Studios, that existed during the 1930s anyway, it makes perfect sense to shoot this episode there, as unlike some certain other studio facilities available in the UK, that either never existed in tbe 1930s, or now have changed beyond its 1930s period style, there's still enough of the original site to use, even with additional (digital) Matte Paintings. It also works as a bonus playful "behind the scenes" story, showing us where Poirot was filmed in 1989. The use of the Hoover (vacuum cleaner) factory as the exterior and some interiors, of the film studio complex, instead of just Twickenham Studios 3 soundstages, also implies that Parade is a gigantic production facility, not unlike MGM. See more » |
| Movie Connections | References Corsair (1931). See more » |
| Quotes |
Hercule Poirot:
Films are very boring, Hastings, but the actors who are paid to deceive us, now, they are interesting, hein. See more » |