HALLOWE'EN PARTY
UK, 2010, 93 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Zoe Wanamaker, Deborah Findlay, Julian Rhind- Tutt, Amelia Bullmore, Mary Higgins, Sophie Thompson, Georgia King, Ian Hallard, Timothy West, Fenella Woolgar, Macy Nyman, Richard Breislin, David Yelland, Paul Thornley, Eric Sykes, Phyllida Law, Vera Filatova.
Directed by Charles Palmer.
This is one of the later feature films in the television series of Agatha Christie mysteries with David Suchet as Poirot. The novel was published in the late 1960s and draws on the American traditions of Halloween which, at that time, were not so well-known or used in the United Kingdom.
Rather than exotic locations (although there is a mention of Athens), this mystery is firmly focused in a village, the setting is confined to a home, a mansion, the stylised garden, the local church, the woods.
At a Halloween party while the children are playing, a young girl boasts that she has seen a murder. She is then found murdered herself. The local police, initially not very sympathetic to Poirot, think that it was a passing stranger. Mrs Ariadne Oliver, played again by Zoe Wanamaker, is present at the games, confined to bed later with a cold, make your usual humorous comments, especially puzzling about the solution to her latest murder mystery.
Poirot suggests that it is important to look at the victims and their stories which will lead to the solution of their murders. The housekeeper to the local minister (Timothy West) gives Poirot the list of those who have died – and there is investigation as to each of the three deaths, one ultimately a suicide, two probable murders.
As always, there is a range of suspects, the hostess of the party, Deborah Findlay in a powerful performance as Mrs Drake, the neighbour and her daughter, the organist at the church, Mrs Drake’s son and daughter. Poirot meets on the train coming to the village, a gardener, Michael Garfield (Julian Rhind-Tutt) who becomes much more involved.
In fact, the plot is quite complicated, and not just one killer but two collaborating.
The screenplay was adapted by actor-writer, Mark Gattis, who also adapted Cat among the Pigeons, writing a number of the episodes of Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch (where he himself played Mycroft Holmes).
1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? The television series? With David Suchet as Poirot?
2. A later Agatha Christie novel? From 1969? The presence of Halloween celebrations in the UK? The American traditions? Costumes? Trick or treat?
3. The English village setting, the house, the woods, the stylised garden? The musical score?
4. The setting, the people from the village, the children and the games, the adults? Mrs Drake hosting and commanding? Her son and daughter? Judith Butler and Miranda? Reverend Cottrell and his participation? The spirit? The American tradition? In an English village?
5. Joyce, her age, telling stories, claiming to have seen a murder, not recognising it till later? Her being disbelieved? Ignored? Discovered dead, drowned? Leopold, his not liking his sister? The relationship with their mother? Her resignation to God’s will? Discussions with Reverend Cottrell?
6. The discovery of the body? The police inspector, thinking it was a stranger? His reaction to Poirot? The mystery with the next murder? His asking for Poirot’s collaboration? The documents and the forgery of the codicil?
7. The presence of Ariadne Oliver? Participating in the games? Her cold and taking to bed? The encounter with is Mrs Drake and the breaking of the vase? Phoning Poirot? Her presence, sharing in the investigations from bed? Her puzzles about her own novel and the solving of the mystery?
8. Poirot, the scene of the crime? The issue of whether there were many other deaths in the town? His visit to Mrs Goodbody (and her presence disguised as a witch at the party, and her not being liked)? The three deaths, the school teacher, Mrs Drake’s aunt, the young man? The flashbacks, the characters, and explanations?
9. Poirot on the train, the encounter with Michael Garfield, the pleasant conversations? Poirot’s admiration for his garden? Garfield, the older women disliking him? His presence in the garden, perfection, not many visitors? His background in witchcraft customs from the village?
10. Mrs Drake, commanding personality, hospitable, demanding, her disliking her son and daughter, the flirtatious daughter, the snobby son and his reading? Her interviews with Poirot? The episode with the broken vase? The alleged opening of the library door? Seeing Leopold?
11. Judith Butler, congenial, hosting Poirot, disliking Garfield? The love for her daughter and protecting her? Miranda, the touch of the fey, going out into the gardens? The encounter with Garfield, the story of the sacrifice? The revelation about his being her father?
12. Miss Whitaker, the playing the organ, presence in the church? Her presence at the games? The background story of her relationship with the teacher? The lesbian intimations? Her discovery of Leopold’s body, talking with Poirot, her sad memories, the teacher’s suicide and leaving the note? Miss Whitaker destroying the note so that the teacher could be buried in holy ground?
13. The lawyer, the documents, the aunt and her will, the codicil, her visit to Reverend Cottrell, Olga as her maid, leaving the house and property to her? Her disappearance, the Reverend Cottrell is mission, explanation to Poirot, his regrets?
14. Poirot and the solution? By going back to look at the victims and their stories?
15. The assembly, the explanation, Mrs Drake and her infatuation with Garfield, their plotting together, the murdered man and his forging the document? Are Getting the house and money? The murder of the young man? The killing of Olga? The story of Mrs Drake and the death of her husband? The shock for her son and daughter?
16. Garfield away in Athens, the situation at the party, Mrs Drake killing Joyce? Plotting with Garfield? The death of Leopold? The plan for the death of Miranda? Mrs Drake and her denials, her melodramatic emotional collapse, Garfield’s despising her?
17. The sadness of the deaths? Poirot walking with Judith and Mrs Oliver? The pumpkin? The Halloween story?
