CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS

UK, 2009, 103 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Harriet Walter, Carol Mac Cready, Claire Skinner, Susan Wooldridge, Natasha Little, Adam Croasdell, Amanda Abbington, Miranda Raison.
Directed by James Kent.

A later film in the television series of Agatha Christie mysteries with David Suchet as Poirot, Captain Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp and Miss Lemon are missed.

The film opens unexpectedly with revolutionary scenes in a foreign land, an attack, the death of the Prince, the consequences for the Princess and her succession?

The scene then shifts to Meadowbank, an exclusive school in England, where the Princess is to move from Switzerland for her safety. She is very haughty, abducted, and unmasked as an imposter.

Poirot is a friend of the headmistress, Miss Bulstronde, a strong performance from Harriet Walter. He is invited to give a prize and also to remain at the school to assess the candidates to succeed the headmistress. He observes, he listens, he questions.

The film induces the range of staff and some of the girls, quite a range of suspects for the ensuing murders. One teacher is particularly abrasive and she is soon killed in the gymnasium, by javelin. Later, one of the other teachers is assaulted also in the gymnasium. And the French teacher, rather prissy, is also murdered.

There are wheels within wheels, an issue of sapphires hidden in a tennis racket, the search for the sapphires leading to the deaths, a groundsman who appears suspicious but is actually a government agent.

Poirot gathers everyone together for the revelation – and, as with so many other Agatha Christie stories, the character with the least attention given to her turns out to be the murderer.

The writer is actor-writer Mark Gatiss who went on to write the Sherlock series with Benedict Cumberbatch (and to play Mycroft).

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

2. The introduction with scenes of the revolution? The threats to the prince? His associate? Getting the visitors out? The deaths? The tone for the background of the film? The Princess, in Switzerland, coming to England to the school? Her behaviour, haughty? Her being abducted? The reality, her identity, criminal connections?

3. The exclusive school, the building, the grounds, the interiors? The staff, the opening, Poirot invited to present the prize? The introduction to all the staff, to the girls? Miss Bulstrode and her competence, personality? Miss Chadwick as her friend, associate? The issue of her successor? Poirot being asked to stay and assess the staff?

4. His going about the school, conversations, observing, listening?

5. The range of teachers: Miss Rich and her alleged illness, the revelation of her pregnancy and giving birth? Miss Blake and her art teaching, the revelation of her past impropriety? Miss Springer, abrasive personality, critical, harsh on the children, especially Patricia and her size? Liking to hunt out scandals? Miss Blanche, French, her prissy manner? Miss Johnson, old and jolly, the nurse? Miss Shapland, her own room, new, getting used to the place and people? Her previous employment?

6. Adam Goodman, working in the grounds, initial suspicions, his being part of the Secret Service, his collaboration on the investigation?

7. The gathering, the parents, Mrs Upjohn and the moment of recognising somebody? Not telling the headmistress? The headmistress later remembering the incident?

8. The murder of Miss Springer, the javelin, the gym? The speculations? The later attempt on Miss Rich? The later death of Miss Blanche?

9. The search for the tennis racket, the motive for murder? The girls changing rackets? The discovery of the jewels? Their being handed to the authorities? And later Poirot giving one of them to the girl with initiative?

10. The complications with the Princess, the unmasking of the pretender?

11. Miss Rich, her searching for evidence, the revelation about Miss Chadwick, Miss Chadwick’s jealousy, hitting Miss Rich, later confessing?

12. The gathering, the explanation, Mrs Upjohn and the revelation about Miss Shapland? Her past espionage career? The gun, her attempt to shoot, Miss Chadwick in the way, the confession, in hospital, her death?

13. Order restored at school? The reaction parents, taking with the girls? The possibility of building up again? Miss Bulstrode and her determination, collaboration with Miss Rich?