MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA
UK, 2001, 103 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Ron Berglas, Barbara Barnes, Dinah Stabb, Christopher Hunter.
Directed by Tom Clegg.
Agatha Christie spent several years on dig sites in the Middle East, her husband, Max Mallowen, being an archaeologist. This story takes advantage of her experience, archaeological digs in Iraq. The film was shot in Tunisia standing in well for Iraq.
While there is a lot of atmosphere, details of digs, archaeological finds, investigations, translations, there is also a murder. Hastings had been invited to come to the dig. Poirot was to meet a woman in Baghdad but she fails to turn up – leaving a final phone call for him to pay the hotel bill.
Most of the action takes place on the archaeological dig, with a genial Dr Leidner (Ron Berglas) directing. There are quite a number of associates, the wife of Dr Leidner and her nurse. She is the target – a rather far-fetched story about her first marriage, the death of her husband, subsequent threats. There is a subplot with one of the archaeologists heroine addicted.
There are quite a number of suspects, Poirot illustrating the possible guilt in the final meeting with them all – and a rather unexpected scenario for the murder of the wife.
1. The popularity of Agatha Christie’s novels? Her experience with her husband in archaeology? The television versions with David Suchet as Poirot?
2. The title, expectations? Archaeological digs in Iraq? The location photography, filmed in Tunisia, scenes in Baghdad, hotels, streets, the archaeological site and digs? The musical score?
3. The setting, Poirot in Baghdad to meet his friend, her never appearing, asking him to pay the bill? Hastings and his presence for two weeks of the dig? His nephew driving? Jovial? The discomforts of staying at the dig? Mosquitoes – and the mosquito catching sequence? Poirot impeccably dressed for the desert?
4. The background of the dig, Dr Leidner, his American background, long experience, genial personality? His love for his wife? Her presence at the dig? Attraction to Richard? The ambiguous looks, his friendship with Dr Leidner, the attraction to Louise despite himself? Miss Johnson, her devotion, her skills, older? Mercado, his work, his drug addiction, the initial encounter with the Arab, the murder? His wife and her devotion? The nurse and her presence, caring for Louise? Coleman, young and enthusiastic? The priest, his habit, his skills?
5. Louise, the welcome to Poirot, the dinner? Her fears, the face and the mask at the window? Her first marriage, the death of her husband, to marry again, threatening letters? The brother of her husband? The recurring letters, the gaps, the writing? Her death?
6. The local police, Maitland, his daughter and her wilfulness, riding out to the dig, her lies? The attraction to Richard?
7. The mysterious stranger, the priest working with the young boy, his skills and reputation? His leaving, the forgeries, the telegram that the real priest was at his monastery?
8. Mercado, going to the city, the room, his suicide and note?
9. Miss Johnson, the solution, her being murdered, the window?
10. Everybody assembled, Poirot and the indication of guilt for each one? The issue of the dead husband and the letters? Dr Leidner and
his alibi, on the roof? Miss Johnson working out what happened? The visualising, Dr Leidner as the former husband, 20 years later? Passion, inventions? His plot to kill his wife?
11. The far-fetched aspect of the plot? Yet Agatha Christie’s skill, and Poirot’s investigation and solution?
