LORD EDGWARE DIES
UK, 2000, 99 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran, Helen Grace, John Castle, Fiona Allen, Dominic Guard, Deborah Cornelius, Tim Steed, Christopher Guard, Ian Fraser.
Directed by Brian Farnham.
Lord Edgware Dies is a popular Agatha Christie novel. It was filmed in 1985 as Thirteen at Dinner with Peter Ustinov and Faye Dunaway in the central roles – and David Suchet himself as Inspector Javert.
This is an atmospheric recreation of the murder of Lord Edgware, the atmosphere of the world of the theatre, acting, impersonations. Helen Grace is quite glamorous as the actress who is the main suspect for the murder but who has an alibi – an ingenious plot where another actress, skilled in impersonations, takes her place at the dinner.
Captain Hastings appears in many of the stories, friend of Poirot, helping in the investigations. He is played by Hugh Fraser. Philip Jackson also appears, as he does in many of the other versions of Agatha Christie mysteries, as Inspector Japp.
1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? The television series with David Suchet as Poirot?
2. Comparisons with the previous version, 13 at Dinner (with Suchet appearing as Inspector Japp)?
3. The title, blunt, Lord Edgware and his behaviour at the theatre, slow clapping his wife, humiliating her, his talk about being humiliated, refusing the divorce? Poirot questioning him, his sending the letter to his wife? His plans to go to Paris for business? His death?
4. The theatre atmosphere, Jane and her stage performance, humiliated by her husband, asking for the divorce? The party after the cabaret performance? Poirot present, with Hastings? Carlotta’s impersonation of Poirot? The variety of guests, Bryan Martin and a previous relationship with Jane? Penny Driver and her resentments towards Jane? Lord Edgware’s nephew, producer, lacking money? Bryan going to Poirot asking him to take a case?
5. Jane, her charm, asking for Poirot’s help with her husband? Denying she had received the divorce letter? Her relationship with the Duke of Merton? Her presence at the dinner, number 13, the phone call?
6. Hastings, the failure of his investment in Argentina, his wife still there, reunion with Poirot, with Inspector Japp? With Miss Lemmon?
7. The murder, Miss Carroll and her witness, her devotion to Lord Edgware, his rejection of her? Alton, a month in service, his witness? Being interviewed by the Inspector, Poirot and Hastings? The certainty that it was Jane arriving at the house?
8. The variety of suspects, the nephew and his need for money, Lord Edgware’s daughter and her dislike, Brian Ross and his writing the play, Penny and Bryan and their liaison? Miss Carroll? Alton and the robbery, going to Argentina, getting on the plane, his flight, falling to his death?
9. Hastings and his clue about the different order of events? The letter from Carlotta to her sister? The mystery about the nephew and the $2000?
10. Poirot, the comments on his infatuation with Jane? His gathering everyone together, the explanation of the mystery, Carlotta taking Jane’s place at the dinner, Jane and the murder, her altering the letter to Carlotta’s sister? Her brazen response when exposed?
11. Satisfactory mystery, clues, solution?
