MYSTERY!: AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT, SERIES 1: THE KING OF CLUBS (TV)
Summary
One in this mystery anthology series. One in this series of Agatha Christie mysteries featuring Belgian dandy and private detective, Hercule Poirot.
In this episode, Hercule Poirot and his assistant, Captain Hastings, go to Parade film studios to visit Bunny Saunders, who is directing a film with popular star Valerie Saintclair and old-time actor Ralph Watson. Unfortunately, the studio head, Mr. Reedburn, is creating chaos on the set by firing Watson in the middle of a work day and harassing the leading lady, Saintclair.
An old client of Poirot's, Prince Paul of Maurania, is romantically involved with Saintclair and financially involved with the film, but he is tempted to withdraw his funding -- particularly when Reedburn propositions Saintclair. That night, Bunny goes to Reedburn's house to watch the rushes of their film. Valerie shows up just as Bunny is leaving, and a few minutes later, she runs over to the neighbors, the Oglanders. Soon the police and Hercule Poirot are informed that Reedburn has been murdered.
When Bunny tells Poirot that he suspects Ralph Watson was headed for Reedburn's house that same night, they briefly entertain the possibility that Watson is the murderer. But Chief Inspector Japp tells Poirot that he suspects a local Gypsy was the killer. As the investigation continues, Poirot interviews the Oglanders and searches through Reedburn's belongings, unearthing some surprising information. Poirot eventually deduces the cause of Reedburn's death, but he chooses not to disclose the information to the police, and the case remains an unsolved mystery.
Cataloging of the program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1999.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: March 8, 1990
- RUNNING TIME: 0:47:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:30355
- GENRE: Drama, police/private detective
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/private detective
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1980-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nick Elliott … Executive Producer
- Linda Agran … Executive Producer
- Brian Eastman … Producer
- Renny Rye … Director
- Michael Baker … Writer
- Agatha Christie … Based on the story by
- Christopher Gunning … Music by
- David Suchet … Cast, Hercule Poirot
- Hugh Fraser … Cast, Captain Hastings
- Philip Jackson … Cast, Chief Inspector Japp
- Niamh Cusack … Cast, Valerie Saintclair
- David Swift … Cast, Henry Reedburn
- Jonathan Coy … Cast, Bunny Saunders
- Jack Klaff … Cast, Prince Paul of Maurania
- Rosie Timpson … Cast, Miss Deloy
- Gawn Grainger … Cast, Ralph Walton
- Mark Culwick … Cast, Young Man
- Vass Anderson … Cast, Frampton
- Avril Elgar … Cast, Mrs. Oglander
- Abigail Cruttenden … Cast, Geraldine Oglander
- Sean Pertwee … Cast, Ronnie Oglander
- Cathy Murphy … Cast, Maid