THE MILLION DOLLAR BOND ROBBERY
UK, 1991, 50 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, David Quilter, Ewan Hopper, Lizzie Mc Inerney, Oliver Parker.
Directed by Andrew Grieve.
This is an early short story amongst the 70 television versions of havoc Agatha Christie’s mysteries featuring David Suchet as Poirot.
It is set in the world of international finance and includes a trip on the Queen Mary on her inaugural voyage to New York – and features some footage from the actual voyage.
Hugh Fraser is captain Hastings would love a trip on the Queen Mary, Poirot not wanting to sail on water again. When Poirot is asked to accompany the area of bonds from London to the US, he accepts and enjoys the trip, Hastings have been some time of being seasick!
The original carrier is knocked down by a car in the street and suffers some poisoning. His successor is an ambiguous character, a gambler.
The bonds are stolen much to the anger of the security officer, and the head of the bank is imprisoned. Also in the complication is a glamorous blonde from the American South who intrigues Hastings. The solution is certainly not what was expected, a collaboration in stealing the bonds and putting the blame on the other character as a scapegoat.
1. The popularity of Agatha Christie stories? The series with David Suchet, embodying Poirot?
2. A short story, early in the series? The 1935 setting? The newsreel footage about the Queen Mary and her voyage to the United States? Financial issues, between the UK and the US, bonds? Literal transfer by ship?
3. Poirot, his friendship with Hastings, Hastings and the Queen Mary, Poirot not wanting to travel, his taking the job, the voyage, Poirot enjoying it, Hastings sick? The seeming failure of the mission, the disappearance of the bonds?
4. The bank background, Mr Shaw at the bank? Taking the bonds? His superior? Ridgeway as his alternative? The car accident? Shaw and the poisoning, taking to his bed? Nurse Long? Ridgeway, his seeming unreliability, his gambling, the thugs, his girlfriend is the Sec, talking with Poirot, concerned about him?
5. The voyage, Ridgeway and his gambling? Miranda Brooks and her American style? Hastings attraction? The disappearance of the bonds? The concern of the captain and the person? The news in England, Mc Neil and security, his antagonism towards Ridgeway and Poirot?
6. The return, Poirot urging Ridgeway away (later so that he would avoid the thugs)? His fiancee at the wharf, her concern? Mc Neil and his upset? The arrest of the bank superior, in jail?
7. Poirot, his visit to Shaw, the explanations, the revelation about Ms Brooks and Nurse Along? The plan with Shaw? The wrists – and a happy ending in good resolutions for Ridgeway and his fiancee?
