THE THEFT OF THE ROYAL RUBY

1989, 50 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Frederick Treves, Stefanie Cole, David Howey, Tariq Alibarti, Helena Mitchell, John Vernon, Nigel Le Vaillant, Robyn Moore, Siobhan Garahy.

This is an early film in the television series of Agatha Christie mysteries with David Suchet as Poirot. It is a story of robbery rather than murder.

There is a genial Christmas setting with guests gathering, with the singing of carols in the church, with gifts, and, especially the mixing of the pudding, eating the pudding – and the discovery of the Ruby in the pudding.

While there are a number of suspects, the villain this time is rather obvious, and a woman posing as his sister, an accomplice in the robbery. There is also the problem of a romantic infatuation by the daughter of the colonel, the host of the Christmas celebration.

The children the family plan to invent a murder to trick Poirot – however, he tricks them and stages a fake murder to unmask the villain. However, the villain has a plane and there is a car chase to the airport, finally stopping the plane.

The film gives some background to the international situation in Egypt and British involvement as well as thieves finding funds to support rebels – hence the stealing of the Ruby from the Prince of Egypt.

1. The popularity of the Agatha Christie mysteries? The television series? David Suchet as Poirot?

2. The political situation of the times? Egypt, the King, the reckless Prince, the Suez Canal, British politics and interventions? Financing of local rebellions?

3. The Christmas setting? Family, gifts, carols in church, plum pudding – especially the pudding? The musical score?

4. The introduction to the Prince, aged 19, foppish, spoilt, his companion, her stealing the Ruby? His upset? His bad manners?

5. Poirot, being apprehended, taken to the diplomat, the situation, his disapproval of the Prince? The invitation to go to the house for Christmas?

6. The family, the colonel and his Egyptology background, his need for finance, his concern about his daughter and the visitor, his assistant and trying to work out what to sell? The invitation for Christmas?

7. Poirot, his being welcomed, the colonel and his wife, their daughter and her infatuation, the assistant and his love for the daughter, the visitor and his sister? The introduction to the suspects? The staff, the kitchen, everybody stirring the pudding, the cook, the maid – and her intervention? The children and their games, planning to trick Poirot?

8. Poirot, seeing the visitor, his drinking the coffee? The note in Poirot’s bed warning against the pudding? The maid overhearing the talking church, writing the note? The meal, the pudding, the Ruby, Poirot saying it was glass? Poirot not drinking the coffee, the colonel?

9. The girl, the dead body, the knife? The visitor checking, finding the Ruby, taking it? The set up by Poirot?

10. The visitor and his sister, the car, the plane, the pursuit, the police, stopping the plane? The arrest? The sister not being the sister but the woman who stole the jewel?

11. A rather more obvious villain than usual?

12. The colonel preserving his treasures from Egypt? And the Prince, hopefully, learning a lesson?