THE CORNISH MYSTERY
UK, 1990, 50 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran, Chloe Salamon, John Bowler, Jerome Willis, Amanda Walker, Derek Benfield.
Directed by Edward Bennett.
This is a rather straightforward murder mystery, part of the popular television series of Agatha Christie mysteries with David Suchet as Poirot.
Once again, there is a consultation, Hastings present, a middle-aged woman saying that she was being poisoned by her husband. She returns to Cornwall, Poirot and Hastings travelling the next day only to find that she has died. Her husband, the local dentist, is the main one under suspicion, gossip about his relationship with his younger assistant, and the quick announcement of the engagement. Others involved are the dead woman’s niece who had clashed with her aunt and moved out, the niece and her fiance, a local shop owner. One of the most forceful characters in the film is the local doctor, defying Poirot who is greatly irritated at him, declaring that the woman had died of gastritis.
Poirot does some investigations, interviewing the niece and her fiance. He is convinced that the husband is innocent and decides to rescue him from the courts. For Chief Inspector Japp, it is an open and shut case. There are scenes in the court room – but, finally, Poirot confronting the fiance, exposing his motivation and behaviour, giving him 24 hours to escape, but then going to the court and the police.
There is a final scene of Poirot and Hastings leaving the town, Japp discovering what has happened, waving his fist at Poirot! (While the setting is Cornwall, commentators note that it was filmed in a very recognisable town, with Castle in the background, in Somerset.)
1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? The television series with David Suchet as Poirot?
2. Almost a paradigm of an Agatha Christie mystery and Poirot investigation: introduction, consultation, murder, suspects, complications, the arrest, court case, investigation, confrontation, solution?
3. Poirot in London, at home, Hastings and his meditation, Indian food, rice? Poirot’s taunts? Miss Lemon? The consultation? The rain? Walking in the park, Mrs Pengelly, from Cornwall, suspicions about her husband, being poisoned? The clash with her niece?
4. Poirot and Hastings travelling to Cornwall, the visit to the house, the news of Mrs Pengelly’s death? The visit to the doctor, hardheaded and stubborn, insisting on gastritis? The maid and her condemnation of Mr Pengelly? The gossip in the town? Mr Pengelly and his dental assistant?
5. Poirot and Hastings, investigations, Hastings response to the blonde, infatuation? Visiting the niece, her story, the clash with her aunt, her aunt’s infatuation with Frieda’s fiance? His presence, corroborating this, discussions with Poirot?
6. The arrest, the court case, the witnesses, Mr Pengelly in the box, Poirot wanting to rescue him?
7. Chief Inspector Japp, his presence, a closed case? Poirot and his taunts? The discussions – and the finale, Poirot and Hastings driving off? Japp waving his fist?
8. Suspicions: Mr Pengelly, the dental assistant, Freda, Jacob?
9. Jacob, his shop, prosperity, expansion, the hope for marriage?
10. The reading of the will, Freda getting £2000? Mr Pengelly £20,000? And Mr Pengelly announcing his engagement to his assistant?
11. The confrontation with Jacob, the truth about his plan, the money, the murder, creating the fiction about Mrs Pengelly? Poirot giving him 24 hours? The signing of the confession?
12. Taking it to the court, the interaction of the case, Mr Pengelly freed?
