MURDER IN THREE ACTS
US, 1986, 94 minutes, Colour.
Peter Ustinov, Tony Curtis, Emma Samms, Jonathan Cecil, Lisa Eichhorn, Diana Muldaur.
Directed by Gary Nelson.
Murder in Three Acts is an entertaining Agatha Christie story with Peter Ustinov once again portraying Hercule Poirot. He did so in the cinema films; Death on the Nile, Evil Under the Sun, as well as the telemovies Thirteen at Dinner and Dead Man’s Folly. He obviously relishes the role. Jonathan Cecil repeats his performance as the rather engagingly dithering Colonel Hastings. The co-stars include Tony Curtis as an actor, Emma Sams from TV as a young girl interested in solving the murder. Guest stars include Diana Muldaur, Lisa Eichhorn, Dana Elcar.
The film has Acapulco settings which make it quite attractive to look at. The mystery is not too difficult to penetrate - but is enjoyable in showing how Poirot works it all out, as usual.
1. Entertaining Telemovie? Agatha Christie story? Poirot's story?
2. Acapulco settings, the affluent world of Mexico tourists? Musical Score?
3. The title, the focus on theatre, the actors and actresses, the dress rehearsal?
4. Audience enjoyment of peter Ustinov as Poirot, the previous films, the updated Belgian detective in the Agatha Christie vein? His personal vanity and idiosyncrasies? Friendship with Hastings? Going to Mexico, the dinner, the death? His scepticism, taking the glass? The lack of evidence? His return to Los Angeles, writing his memoirs with great difficulty? The visit of Charles Cartwright, the second death? His
return to Acapulco, the investigations? Suspicions of the various characters? Interaction with thein? The build-up to the meal and Charles acting the death - and people's reactions? The visit to the sanatorium? Mrs Rush-Bridger? The inside of the dress rehearsal? Everybody Joining for the final explanations and confrontation? Writing his memoirs - and the amusing ending with the thought that he might have been murdered?
5. Hastings, the proper Englishman, Poirot having him around, enjoying the company? in Mexico, naive, friendly with Poirot, guiding Taking notes, assisting in the investigation?
6. Charles Cartwright, the Tony Curtis style glamorous actor, reputation, retirement? Hosting the meal, the first death and his reaction? Leaving Acapulco? His coming to Poirot in Los Angeles? The return and the investigation, his participation? The confrontation - and the background of his murder, his madness and violence? The dress rehearsal? The impersonation of the butler, of the old groundsman? His final speech about sanity and madness? His being taken off?
7. The various suspects: Egg and her youthful enthusiasm, crashing into Poirot, suspecting the murder, friendship with Ricardo? Her mother? Her joining in the investigations, especially with Daton? Daisy Eastman, relationship with Egg, suspicious, going to the dress shop and interviewing Cynthia Daton? Janet Crisp and her non de plume, her plays? Her being curious, suspicious, dropping the coffee cup? Angela and the Broadway background, her presence, disdain for Egg? The Daton's and his alcoholism, her running the dress shop, the tension between the two, their being questioned? Ricardo and his friendship with Egg, the pretended drama of the car breaking down?
8. The victims - the Rev Babington, his early death, his wife? Dr Strange, friendship with Charles, his physician, the neurologist? Inviting everybody to the dinner, the joke about the butler? The phone call?
9. Colonel Murtoa, the investigations? Going to the sanatorium? The secret passage. Rosa and her boyfriend, giving the information? The people at the nearby restaurant -and their evasive answers?
10. The popularity of this kind of murder story, the clues and plane fare, audiences working out the mystery, hearing Poirot's solution?
