"The Mystery of the Spanish Chest" is from 1991 and is a wonderful entry into the Poirot series.
Someone Poirot has previously met, Lady Chatterton, approaches Poirot and requests his help - she believes a friend of hers, Marguerite Clayton (Caroline Langrishe) is in danger of being murdered by her husband Edward (Malcolm Sinclair). Apparently he has quite a temper.
Poirot is invited to a party so that he can meet Clayton. Clayton never arrives. The next day, Inspector Japp shows up and informs Poirot that he was the unknowing witness to a murder. Edward Clayton's body was found in a Spanish chest, which was in the same room as the party.
A Major Rich is arrested -- he is a friend of Marguerite's and a suspected love interest of hers. Poirot believes in Rich's innocent, and ultimately figures out who did it and how it was done.
This was a particularly gruesome murder in a story that has an atmosphere of sophistication, as so many of the Poirot episodes do, and a real feeling of the '30s. Poirot, immaculately portrayed by David Suchet, is in rare form, admitting to Hastings that he cannot act when complimented by blushing, muttering thank you, or dropping his eyes. He is the best! Why pretend? Hastings thinks he could dial it back a little.
It was a joy to see the lovely Caroline Langrishe as Marguerite. I remember her so fondly from Lovejoy and Clive Owen's big break, Chancer.
Someone Poirot has previously met, Lady Chatterton, approaches Poirot and requests his help - she believes a friend of hers, Marguerite Clayton (Caroline Langrishe) is in danger of being murdered by her husband Edward (Malcolm Sinclair). Apparently he has quite a temper.
Poirot is invited to a party so that he can meet Clayton. Clayton never arrives. The next day, Inspector Japp shows up and informs Poirot that he was the unknowing witness to a murder. Edward Clayton's body was found in a Spanish chest, which was in the same room as the party.
A Major Rich is arrested -- he is a friend of Marguerite's and a suspected love interest of hers. Poirot believes in Rich's innocent, and ultimately figures out who did it and how it was done.
This was a particularly gruesome murder in a story that has an atmosphere of sophistication, as so many of the Poirot episodes do, and a real feeling of the '30s. Poirot, immaculately portrayed by David Suchet, is in rare form, admitting to Hastings that he cannot act when complimented by blushing, muttering thank you, or dropping his eyes. He is the best! Why pretend? Hastings thinks he could dial it back a little.
It was a joy to see the lovely Caroline Langrishe as Marguerite. I remember her so fondly from Lovejoy and Clive Owen's big break, Chancer.