SAD CYPRESS
UK, 2003, 93 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Elizabeth Dermot Walsh, Rupert Penry- Jones, Kelly Reilly, Paul Mc Gann, Phyllis Logan, Marion O' Dwyer, Diana Quick, Stuart Laing, Jack Galloway.
Directed by David Moore.
Sad Cypress is a Shakespearean reference to death. This is a full-length feature in the television series of Agatha Christie murder mysteries with David Suchet as Poirot.
It is a later production and so he is not accompanied by Captain Hastings or Miss Lemon. The substitute in this story is a doctor, friend of Poirot from the past, a chess-playing companion. He is played by Paul Mc Gann.
However, the film opens in a court, a grim woman in the dock, talking about feeling vengeful. She is found guilty of murder and to be hanged. She is played by Elizabeth Dermot Walsh, Eleanor, whom we see at the beginning of the film engaged to Roddy, Rupert Penry- Jones. They have received a mysterious letter warning them about her dead aunt’s will. They bring the letter to Poirot who sees it as quite a vengeful letter and goes down to the house of the woman who will be murdered, Diana Quick.
The elderly woman is dying, is attended by housekeeper, by the doctor, by two nurses – and by young woman, Mary (Kelly Reilly in an early role), the daughter of the gardener, his education has been financed by the elderly lady. There is concern about her health and about her dying.
She dies without a will and therefore the niece will inherit. But Eleanor and Roddy have fallen out because of Mary. In the aftermath of the death, Eleanor has Mary and Nurse Hopkins (Phyllis Logan) who is helping with sorting clothes and other things to lunch – after which Mary is found dead on a couch.
The solution to the mystery involves photos from the past, a mysterious outsider at the time of the death, suspicions on Eleanor, on Roddy. However, Poirot is able to sort out what has happened in the past concerning the dead woman and Mary, her illegitimate daughter, who would inherit everything instead of Eleanor. Mary has made her will in favour of an aunt in New Zealand. And the solution, Nurse Hopkins who has figured prominently in the story, is in fact the aunt that Mary has never seen and therefore is to inherit Mary’s money from her birth mother.
With only a few days to go before being executed, Eleanor is liberated from prison – and met by her effort-devoted doctor friend.
1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? This adaptation of her novel, part of the television series with David Suchet as Poirot?
2. The setting, costumes and decor, 1937 (and the news of the death of George Gershwin), Poirot’s office? Courts in prison? The mansion, interiors and exteriors? The grounds? The musical score?
3. The title, the Shakespeare reference, death?
4. The opening, Eleanor Carlyle in the court, her voice-over and commentary, her face, impassive? The prosecutor, the condemnation, criticism of her, no remorse? Poirot in the court? The judge, the jury’s verdict of guilty, condemned to death? The audience assuming that she was the killer?
5. The action in flashback? The introduction to Eleanor and Roddy? Their friendship from the past, the relationship, engaged? Roddy going to Europe? Eleanor and her concern, the letter and the warning?
6. Roddy and Eleanor, their concern, going to visit Mrs Welman, Eleanor’s aunt? The household, the housekeeper, the nurses, Hopkins and O’ Brien? The presence of Mary? Memories of the past, with Eleanor and Roddy? Mrs Welman play paying her education fees? Mary returning from Germany, in the household? The background of her father and the garden? Teddy and his attentions to her?
7. Poirot, his reputation, wanting cases? Eleanor and Roddy, the note, their concern, consulting him? His explanation about the forcefulness of the note, the pressure of the writing? His sense of foreboding, the visit to the house?
8. The relationship between Roddy and Eleanor, from the past, his immediate attraction to Mary? Eleanor’s reaction? Her seeing them kissing? Her feeling vengeful? Yet her exterior calm manner?
9. Mary, her personality, in town, the encounter with Poirot and his warning to her, her devotion to Mrs Welman, in her sick room, keeping vigil? The aftermath of the death? Sorting out? The lunch, the sandwiches, her death?
10. Eleanor, her aunt, concern, her aunt’s illness, moods, death? Her not having any will? The doctor’s explanation? Eleanor inheriting everything? The discussions with Roddy, his going to France? Eleanor feeling vengeful, buying the fish paste, the issue of food poisoning? Making the sandwiches, the special sandwiches for Mary? Nurse Hopkins present, sharing the lunch? Making the tea? The discovery of Mary dead?
11. The presence of the doctor, the past friendship with Poirot, his being the Hastings equivalent? His care for Mrs Welman, medication? His devotion to Eleanor? The discussions with Poirot?
12. Poirot, his visit, presence in the house, the death, the local police?
13. Suspicions with Nurse O’ Brien, in the lift, her suspicions of Eleanor? Poirot later questioning her?
14. The prominence of nurse Hopkins, her caring concern? With Mary?
15. Poirot, Nurse O’ Brien and the photo, Mrs Welman of the baby? The correspondence? Mrs Welman saying the name of Louis as she died? The revelation of the story, Mrs Welman and Louis, his being married, the birth of Mary, her being entrusted to the couple, being brought up, and the aunt in New Zealand?
16. Mary, the possibility of her inheriting rather than Eleanor? The daughter? Her having made a will, in favour of the aunt in New Zealand?
17. Poirot, the final revelation, Nurse Hopkins as the aunt from New Zealand? Her sister looking after Mary? Nurse Hopkins’ plan, the poison in the tea, Poirot’s pretence that he had been poisoned, the revelation of the truth? Mary not knowing who Nurse Hopkins was? But Nurse Hopkins as the aunt to inherit the fortune?
18. The police, the doctor, the revelation of the truth? Eleanor in prison, preparing for death? Her being freed? And the doctor ever devoted to her?
