THE ADVENTURE OF THE CLAPHAM COOK
UK, 50 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran, Brigit Forsyth, Dermot Crowley, Frieda Dowie, Katy Murphy, Danny Webb.
Directed by Edward Bennett.
This is the first of the 70 films in the television series of Agatha Ms Christie mysteries with David Suchet as Poirot.
At times, he is surprisingly grumpy, not characteristic of his later presence. He is also very snobbish but learns a lesson. Busy, wanting cases, he turns down the opportunity to finding a missing cook. However, is challenged by the lady of the house and he and Captain Hastings begin to investigate. However, the audience has already seen a character collecting the cook’s clothes and with a huge case.
While the fate of the missing cook is happily accomplished, there are further complications, especially with a robbery in a bank. The boarder in the house where the cook works seems a simple simpering type but, of course, turns out to be an archvillain, murdering a fellow worker, stealing from the bank, putting the the bank assistant’s body in a box and sending it to Glasgow while he escapes with the money, attempting to sail to Venezuela.
Hastings is rather incomprehensible as so often, Inspector Japp is also sceptical, but takes Poirot’s word and the case is solved (although, there is a red herring when the railway assistant says he saw Bolivia on the bank notes but Poirot realises that it is BolÃvar, the currency of Venezuela).
And the series is on its way, finishing 70 episodes later in 2013.
1. The popularity of the Agatha Christie mysteries? David Suchet as Poirot, the beginning of his performances?
2. The London settings, the apartment block where Poirot lives, his flat and office, Hastings prison, Miss Lemmon and her work? The visit to Clapham? The visit to the Lake District – and Poirot preferring the city? Southhampton and the wharves? The musical score and the first outing of the popular theme music?
3. The audience initially seeing the boarder, packing the cook’s clothes? The box and the rope?
4. Mrs Todd, coming to see Poirot, his refusal of the case, her accusation of snobbery, his accompanying her to Clapham? The situation of the cook, her day off, her disappearance? Sending for her things?
5. The interview with Simpson, his seeming simplicity? Alibi and explanations? The truth, his plan, the murder, the box, at the railway, sending the box to Glasgow, the robbery, going to the wharf?
6. Mr Todd, against Poirot, dismissing him, sending a guinea fee?
7. The idea of the ad in the paper, the cook replying, the address in the Lakes District, the trip, Poirot not liking the countryside at all, not seeing the view? The house, meeting the cook, her explanation, sending the note to Mrs Todd, the agent from Australia talking with her, the legacy, the house, her going to the house?
8. Poirot, the bank, the assumption who was the thief, days and alibis, Simpson saying he was sick? The truth?
9. The collection of the box, at the railway station, the assistant, surly, eventually the information about Bolivia?
10. Inspector Japp, Hastings, their going to the wharf, the ship not sailing? The BolÃvar instead of Bolivia? Apprehending Simpson?
11. Case solved – and 69 more in the series?
