FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS
1989, 50 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran, Richard Howard, Tony Aitken, Charles Pemberton, Holly De Jong, Clifford Rose, Hilary Mason.
Directed by Renny Rye.
This is one of the earliest short stories in the television series of Agatha Christie murder mysteries featuring David Suchet as Poirot.
There are settings in London as well is in Brighton. There is a visit to an art class, an exhibition of paintings, to a Music Hall with Hastings enjoying the comedy.
There is an initial natural death followed by a murder. The two deaths involve twins who have not spoken to each other for decades. There are only other relative is nephew who is a manager of the Music Hall.
Poirot becomes involved out of curiosity, seeing the brother who is the artist, a scruffy old man, who dines regularly at a restaurant which Poirot is visiting with his dentist. He begins the investigation, questioning the neighbours, the doctors, visiting Scotland Yard and finding Chief Inspector Japp and the forensic developments.
The audience may well realise what has happened in terms of the old man, disguise, performance.
1. The rhyme? Poirot remembering it? Henry Gascoigne and the final meal? The desert? No stain on the teeth of the corpse? The key to the solution?
2. Scenes in London, Poirot’s apartment block, his office? The dentist? The restaurant? Henry Gascoigne scruffy, regular visits? The arts class? The painting exhibition? The music hall, the performance, backstage? The funeral, the home in Brighton? The musical score?
3. Anthony Gascoigne, Mrs Hill looking after him, his death? Her phone call to George Lorimer, his not coming? Finally arriving, making the funeral arrangements? Mrs Hill and her upset?
4. Poirot, the friendship with Hastings, the work of Miss Lemon? The connection with Chief Inspector Japp? Modern forensic developments at Scotland Yard?
5. The interrogation of the neighbours, the woman disliking foreigners, the visit to the doctors and their opinions?
6. Henry Gascoigne, at the restaurant, his regularity, his meal, the changing menu? The neighbours finding him dead? The fall and his injuries? His background as an artist? The interview with Dulcie, her attitude, posing at the art class? Her paintings? The manager, meeting at the gallery, the discussions about the financial situation?
7. The visit to the theatre, Hastings enjoying the comedy? The actor and his disguise? The discussions with George Lorimer, with his assistant?
8. The visit to Brighton, the funeral, the discussions with George Lorimer, Mrs Hill and her reaction?
9. The audience suspecting the disguise? The murderer?
10. Poirot, the explanation, the clash between the two brothers, Anthony’s wife in the painting, they’re not speaking, issues of wills? Anthony dying, Henry inheriting, Henry dying and George in control?
