Agatha Christie sometimes wove her mystery stories around real events of history. In this episode of the Hercule Poirot Mystery Theater stories Poirot and Captain Hastings are among the passengers onboard the Queen Mary for its maiden voyage from England to New York. She set sail on May 27, 1936.
This mystery is about the theft of a million dollars in bearer bonds. Poirot is hired by the London and Scottish Bank to keep an eye on the bonds as their representative delivers them to a bank in America. Besides being a very good mystery, "The Million Dollar Bond Robbery" has considerably more humor in witty dialog.
Reading about the forthcoming maiden voyage of the Queen Mary, Captain Hastings would love to make the trip. Poirot, on the other hand, gets seasick even thinking about it. Then he gets the commission to protect the bonds, so he and Hastings wind up aboard the Queen Mary. How they do for sea legs is part of the humor.
A major source of the early humor is in exchanges between Poirot and the bank's head of security, Mr. McNeil. He resents Poirot's presence, and tells him so. While he may be a good security man, McNeil is no match for the grey cells of Hercule Poirot. That goes for repartee as well as in detecting and crime solving.
This is a most enjoyable and entertaining mystery served up by Dame Agatha and her super sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Captain Hastings, "The Queen Mary? Poirot, you're going too far." Hercule Poirot, "No, Hasting, I'm going nowhere. Even to contemplate such a matter gives me the mal de mare." Captain Hastings, "I can assure you, Poirot, you wouldn't be seasick on the Queen Mary." Hercule Poirot, "Hastings, it is 20 years ago that I came to this country, in a boat, across the channel, and still I am not recovered."
Mr. McNeil, "I'll have you know that in the five years that I have been the head of security here, not so much as a paper clip has gone astray." Hercule Poirot, "Monsieur McNeil, I'm sure if such a thing were to happen, you would be the man ideal for the case."
Mr. McNeil, "With due respect, I can't quite see what's to be gained by employing a Belgian."
Hercule Poirot, "And yet you're traveling alone, Mademoiselle Brooks?" Miranda Brooks, "Oh, you're never alone on a ship, Mr. Poirot. I'll see ya."
Tom Franklin, "But what about the search, Mr. Poirot? You're Mr. McNeil was pretty insistent." Hercule Poirot, "I assure you, officer, Monsieur McNeil does not belong to me."
Hercule Poirot, "I'm sorry." Mr. Shaw, "Don't be. Prison can't be much worse than 25 years of the London & Scottish Bank."
Captain Hastings, "Well, there she was. As you say... glamorous young woman. But with a bit of a wig and a few bits of makeup, she could transfer herself into that dowdy, hag of a nurse." Hercule Poirot, "Yes, it was indeed very well done, Hastings." Captain Hastings, "But... well I mean... if a woman can do that one way, she can do it the other." Hercule Poirot, "Ah, Hastings." Captain Hastings, "Oh, I mean, then where are you?" Hercule Poirot, "At the beginning of wisdom, mon ami. Now, that also is something to celebrate, n'est-ce pas?
This mystery is about the theft of a million dollars in bearer bonds. Poirot is hired by the London and Scottish Bank to keep an eye on the bonds as their representative delivers them to a bank in America. Besides being a very good mystery, "The Million Dollar Bond Robbery" has considerably more humor in witty dialog.
Reading about the forthcoming maiden voyage of the Queen Mary, Captain Hastings would love to make the trip. Poirot, on the other hand, gets seasick even thinking about it. Then he gets the commission to protect the bonds, so he and Hastings wind up aboard the Queen Mary. How they do for sea legs is part of the humor.
A major source of the early humor is in exchanges between Poirot and the bank's head of security, Mr. McNeil. He resents Poirot's presence, and tells him so. While he may be a good security man, McNeil is no match for the grey cells of Hercule Poirot. That goes for repartee as well as in detecting and crime solving.
This is a most enjoyable and entertaining mystery served up by Dame Agatha and her super sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Captain Hastings, "The Queen Mary? Poirot, you're going too far." Hercule Poirot, "No, Hasting, I'm going nowhere. Even to contemplate such a matter gives me the mal de mare." Captain Hastings, "I can assure you, Poirot, you wouldn't be seasick on the Queen Mary." Hercule Poirot, "Hastings, it is 20 years ago that I came to this country, in a boat, across the channel, and still I am not recovered."
Mr. McNeil, "I'll have you know that in the five years that I have been the head of security here, not so much as a paper clip has gone astray." Hercule Poirot, "Monsieur McNeil, I'm sure if such a thing were to happen, you would be the man ideal for the case."
Mr. McNeil, "With due respect, I can't quite see what's to be gained by employing a Belgian."
Hercule Poirot, "And yet you're traveling alone, Mademoiselle Brooks?" Miranda Brooks, "Oh, you're never alone on a ship, Mr. Poirot. I'll see ya."
Tom Franklin, "But what about the search, Mr. Poirot? You're Mr. McNeil was pretty insistent." Hercule Poirot, "I assure you, officer, Monsieur McNeil does not belong to me."
Hercule Poirot, "I'm sorry." Mr. Shaw, "Don't be. Prison can't be much worse than 25 years of the London & Scottish Bank."
Captain Hastings, "Well, there she was. As you say... glamorous young woman. But with a bit of a wig and a few bits of makeup, she could transfer herself into that dowdy, hag of a nurse." Hercule Poirot, "Yes, it was indeed very well done, Hastings." Captain Hastings, "But... well I mean... if a woman can do that one way, she can do it the other." Hercule Poirot, "Ah, Hastings." Captain Hastings, "Oh, I mean, then where are you?" Hercule Poirot, "At the beginning of wisdom, mon ami. Now, that also is something to celebrate, n'est-ce pas?