ELEPHANTS CAN REMEMBER

UK, 2013, 95 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Zoe Wanamaker, Greta Scacchi, Iain Glenn, Vincent Regan, Alexandra Dowling, Vanessa Kirby, Ferdinand Kingsley, Danny Webb, Ruth Sheen.
Directed by John Strickland.

This is one of the last of the full-length feature films and the television series of Poirot and Agatha Christie mysteries, featuring David Suchet as Poirot. It is also a good opportunity for a stronger appearance of Mrs Ariadne Oliver, Zoe Wanamaker, not just writing her own stories but actually investigating a mystery and collaborating with Poirot.

A mystery is created instantly with a sedate couple on the cliffs of Dover, shots ringing out, their both being dead. This is 1925 and the action goes to 1938. Mrs Oliver is approached at a function by a bumptious Mrs Burton- Cox (Greta Scacchi) who does not want her musician son (Ferdinand Kingsley, Ben Kingsley’s son) marrying Mrs Oliver’s goddaughter (Vanessa Kirby), daughter of the dead couple on the Dover cliff.

While Mrs Oliver gives all the information to Poirot, she begins an investigation, questioning those who remember the couple who had served in India, were happy, their deaths inexplicable. In the meantime, Poirot is invited to investigate the murder of an elderly doctor who specialised in hydrotherapy. The two seem unconnected but gradually a clue is given and, with Agatha Christie’s skill in complexity, all the deaths are quite connected.

There is a strong cast including Iain Glenn as the son of the murdered doctor, Vincent Regan as the police inspector, Alexandra Dowling as the doctor’s secretary (Poirot feeling that she is not from Boston because she pronounces Z in the Canadian pronunciation – and even says a boat instead of about).

An enjoyably complicated plot, the murderer of the doctor the least person who might have been suspected!

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? The television series? With David Suchet as Poirot? One of the final films in the 24 year series? Poirot older?

2. The Dover settings? The cliffs, the clifftop, the sea, homes? The London settings, offices, the Willoughby Institute, the interiors, the hydrotherapy? The musical score?

3. The impact of the opening, the middle-aged couple, walking on the cliffs peacefully, the shots, their deaths? The return to the image of their deaths? Suicide pact? Murder? On whose initiative? The 1925 setting? Action going to 1938?

4. Mrs Oliver, her award, her presence in so many stories with Poirot? Her writing novels? Investigations and theories? Mrs Burton- Cox approaching her, dominating, wanting her to intervene with her goddaughter, the goddaughter intending to marry Mrs Burton- Cox’s son? Mrs Oliver’s reaction? Taking it to Poirot? His declining to follow through? Advising her to do nothing? On the contrary, her going to Dover, revisiting various connections? The old nanny, her old friend, the cook, the various reminiscences, the clues, Mrs Oliver’s notebook?

5. Memory, the reference to elephants, Mrs Oliver checking with all the elephants to see what they remembered? Poirot’s final comment that human beings can forget?

6. Dr Willoughby, his contacting Poirot, the death of his father, in the hydrotherapy bath? Poirot taking on the case? Meeting Inspector Beale, their past collaborations? The nature of the investigations, the interviews? Dr Willoughby and his alibi, going home, the strained relationship with his wife? His secretary? Her coming from Boston, her going home on the night? The questions about Dr Willoughby and the Institute, the use of hydrotherapy, his not having used it in the recent past?

7. Mrs Oliver, the various pieces of information, the dead woman her schoolfriend, being the godmother to her daughter, the gradual revelations of their story, their life in India, idyllic, the revelation of the twin sister, Dorothea, her attack on her children, her going to the institution, her release, staying with the couple, disappearing before their deaths? The general, dictating his memoirs, Zellie, her devotion to the family, Celia and her love for her, the background of Desmond and his infatuation with her? The revelation of her caring for Marie? Sending her to Canada and protection?

8. Celia and Desmond, hoping to marry? Celia and the story of her parents, Mrs Oliver as her godmother, their discussions, her meeting Poirot, the initial suspicions? Wanting to know the truth about her parents? Desmond, the music, his being attacked? His visit to Poirot? His being adopted, the story of his actress mother, the large bequest on her death? The role of Mrs Burton- Cox, are using the money, wanting the marriage stopped? The revelation that Desmond had been to Dr Willoughby?

9. Marie, wanting to tell the truth, the affair with Dr Willoughby? Giving him an alibi? Desmond telling Poirot he had been sent to Dr Willoughby? The revelations about Dorothea? The bringing of the two cases together?

10. Poirot and his visit to Paris, the discussions with Zellie, the revelation of the truth, her coming to England?

11. The revelation of the truth? Dorothea and her sister, Dorothea pushing her over the cliff, her husband promising revenge, the story that Dorothea had disappeared, her taking her sister’s place? The background of Dorothea, the attempts on her children’s life, jealousies, at the Willoughby Institute? The staging of the suicide pact? The clue of the dog not recognising Margaret? The general confronting Dorothea, shooting her, shooting himself? Zellie knowing the truth?

12. The murder of the older Dr Willoughby? The revenge motive for his treatment? Poirot confronting Marie, her giving Dr Willoughby the alibi, an alibi for herself, driving him? Her murdering his father? Her saying she came from Boston, Poirot tricking her about March 17 (feast of Saint Patrick), her not knowing, her pronouncing the Z, Canadian, the fact that
she was Dorothea’s daughter?

13. Celia, Desmond, glad to see Zellie, the truth, the marriage? And a final outburst from Mrs Burton-Cox?

14. Mystery solved? The prominence of Mrs Oliver in the story? Elephants can remember – humans can forget?