THE ADVENTURE OF THE EGYPTIAN TOMB

UK, 1993, 50 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Pauline Moran, Rolf Saxon, Olivier Pierre, Jon Strickland, Bill Bailey, Paul Birchard, Simon Cowell- Parker, Grant Thatcher, Anna Cropper, Peter Reeves.
Directed by Peter Barber Fleming.

This is a later episode in the short stories section of the television series of Agatha Christie’s Poirot, with David Suchet as Poirot.

Agatha Christie had a connection with excavations, with her husband, and such stories as Murder in Mesopotamia. The location for these Egyptian locations in the Valley of the Kings is actually Spain.

The film draws on the popularity of the excavations by the British and the Americans in Egypt’s, the opening up of tombs and the revelations, and mysterious deaths and the popularity of imagining curses.

There are several deaths and the widow of the chief excavator asks Poirot to investigate. He and Hastings go to Egypt. There is a mysteries of several deaths at the excavations site. There is also the suicide of a young man in New York. Poirot and Hastings go to Egypt, there are more deaths – but Poirot gathering the group together, unmasking the killer and explaining his motivations (which do seem to be a bit far-fetched even though the killer himself is comparatively nondescriptive compared with other villains in Agatha Christie mysteries.

1. Polarity of Agatha Christie mysteries? The television series with David Suchet as Poirot?

2. The London settings, the block of flats, Poirot’s office? The visit to the Woolard estate?

3. The contrast with the sequences in Egypt, the excavations, the archaeologists and the workers, the opening of the tomb, the interior of the tomb? The camp, the details of life at the digs, Poirot, Hastings in the tent? The visit to the United States? The young man, his apartment, his death? The musical score?

4. The opening of the tomb, Sir Jon and his impatience, imperious in manner, his collapse? The continued focus on the statutory? The possibilities of a curse? His wife, consulting Poirot, the hostility of Guy?

5. Hastings in America, the visit to Rupert, his gloved hands, upset? Hastings return, finding Rupert dead? The suicide in the note?

6. The further deaths at the digs, tetanus, infections, harsh deaths? Dr Ames and his having to treat all those who are sick? His background, the group of young men being at Yale?

7. Poirot and Hastings, going to Egypt, the tent, accommodation? The investigations? The deaths? Ames and his illness? The warning from the servant? Guy and his presence, apprehensive, in charge of the excavations? Poirot and the suggestions about the curse?

8. Poirot, his investigations, the cabinet, the medications? Poirot, the drink, his collapse, only pretence?

9. The gathering of the group, the British archaeologists, the American archaeologists, Poirot and his explanation? The revelation that the doctor was the murderer, the gun, his being overpowered? The explanation of his motivation, the death of the uncle and his leaving his money to his nephew, persuading Rupert that he had leprosy, the depression leading to suicide, and Rupert grateful for the doctor saving his life in the past, naming him in his will?