DUMB WITNESS

UK, 1996, 103 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Ann Morrish, Patrick Ryecart, Kate Buffery, Paul Hertzberg, Julia St John, Norma West, Pauline Jemeson, Muriel Pavlow.
Directed by Edward Bennett.

The title refers to Bob, the dog at the mansion where murders take place. Bob is present at the opening where there is an attempted murder, is present with most of the characters, seems attracted to Poirot himself who has to make a decision at the end of the film as to where bold can spend the rest of his life.

This is one of the 70 films in the collection of television versions of Agatha Christie mysteries featuring David Suchet as Poirot.

The occasion for Poirot to be in the country is that he is accompanying Captain Hastings to an attempt at the speed on water record. The central character, the target of murder, is an elderly aunt – with the suspects being a niece, and their view, a niece who has married a Greek doctor. There are also other members of the household – and two elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be a medium and who is supported by the other (veteran actress Muriel Pavlow).

The murderer is an unexpected character who seems to be on side but reveals very unpleasant attitudes during the solution of the mystery.

1. Title? The focus on Bobby, the dog? Audience response to him? His presence at all the events? Communication with Poirot? The surprise of Poirot bonding with the dog?

2. The popularity of Agatha Christie’s mysteries? The series with David Suchet? Embodying Poirot and his character, mannerisms?

3. The speed test, Hastings friendship with Charles, Poirot accompanying? Meeting all the family? The excitement? The test, the failure of the boat, the explosion, Charles surviving? Dependence on his aunt for Finance? The dis-inheriting? His angers? Further tests? Going to the United States?

4. The tension in the opening, the dog on the landing, and Amelia, the reflection of the dressing gown initials? The tripwire, her falling down the stairs? Surviving? Her manner, her wealth, the relationships, spouses? Dr Granger? The two sisters and their sense of the cult? The range of different characters, interactions, the issue of the will, the change in the will, reactions after the death?

5. The two sisters, the seances, the green breath from the aunt? Their wanting to hold a late assignments seances, messages for Poirot? His using the seances for their taking Bobby into their care?

6. Bella, marrying Jacob, his Greek background, doctor, medication, suspicions? The children? The marks on the boys back? Bella accusing Jacob, leaving him? Her motivations, self-centredness, not wanting to go back to Greece? The murders? The aunt, the doctor and his diagnosis?

7. Poirot, his interventions, with the aunt, discussions about the will? His interrogations? Wilhelmina inheriting everything? Her relationship with the doctor? The threats, the raid on her house by Teresa and Charles? Her dividing the money between the relatives?

8. The issues of medication, tablets, liver illness, Jacob and his Greek solutions?

9. Satisfactory portrayal of the crime, the suspects, interactions, the mystery solved?