THE ADVENTURE OF JOHNNIE WAVERLEY

UK, 1989, 50 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran, Geoffrey Bateman, Julia Chambers, Dominic Rougier, Patrick Jordan.
Directed by Renny Rye.

This is an early contribution to the 70 television films of Agatha Christie mysteries with David Suchet as Poirot. In fact, it is the third film. (In the early films, Poirot is somewhat sharp with people, in this film with Hastings after a car breaks down. He mellowed much more in the following films.)

As soon as the father and mother of the boy who is abducted appear, it seems pretty evident that the father will be the villain, a very unpleasant husband towards his wife, arrogant with Poirot, insultingly aggressive to Chief Inspector Japp. He wants Poirot’s help because he has a message that his son will be abducted at midday the next day. He complains that the police have done nothing – although Inspector Japp comes down with a squad of police to prevent the abduction.

Mr Waverley describes himself as a squire of the land, with an ancestral home which is being renovated, but he has run out of money. He dismisses most of his staff, suspicious of them. His wife becomes ill the night before the kidnapping.

We suspect that Mr Waverley is responsible for the abduction, has concocted the whole event along with his long-time butler and the butler’s niece.

No murders, not as much excitement as in other episodes, but Poirot realising what has happened.

1. The popularity of the television series of Agatha Christie mysteries with Poirot played by David Suchet?

2. Poirot and the block of flats, his office, Miss Lemmon and her filing system, Hastings and his interest in cars, the visit of Mr Waverley, while responding, visiting Chief Inspector Japp, Waverley insulting him because of the lack of police response to the messages?

3. Hastings driving to the home, Poirot on the train, the conversations with Mr Waverley, Mrs Waverley, the boy playing with his nurse?

4. The formality of the dinner, the mother upset, the boy going to bed? Poirot awakening in the night, Mrs Waverley and her illness? Her being confined to bed the next
day?

5. Some humour about English breakfast, the fish and rice, going to the cafe for the proper breakfast? Hastings driving, the two singing, the car breaking down, Poirot walking through the fields?

6. Japp and the police, guarding the house, the clock put forward, the intrusion of the tramp, the message? The boy disappearing during the upset?

7. Poirot, the puzzle, the interview with the butler, the issue of the priest’s hole? Poirot, Hastings, the tunnel, Poirot working out what happened, demanding that Waverley take them to the boy, the role of the butler, his niece minding the boy? Waverley wanting money for the renovations and his status from his wealthy wife?

8. Poirot, solving mysteries? Hastings accompanying him? On the verge of more telling and mysterious stories?