DEATH IN THE CLOUDS

UK, 1992, 103 minutes, Colour.
David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Sarah Woodward, Shaun Scott, Cathryn Harrison, David Firth, Amanda Royle, Richard Ireson, Jenny Downham, Eve Pearce, Roger Heathcote, Guy Manning, Gabrielle Lord, John Bleasedale..
Directed by Stephen Whittaker.

Death in the Clouds is one of the earliest of the 23-year, 80 film series on television with David Suchet as Poirot. While there are some sequences in England, most of the action takes place in Paris, attractively photographed, sets and decor of the mid 1930s, glimpses of Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower, art galleries, the streets – and a tennis match at Roland Garros featuring the English champion Fred Perry.

The action sets the tone for a murder – although Cathryn Harrison as Lady Horbury, extraordinarily haughty and objectionable, seems a good candidate for murder. She is unfaithful to her husband, taking up with an actor whom she bosses, in debt to a local woman for a considerable amount of money, Gisele. And, the death in the clouds in the plane journey from Paris to London is Gisele.

Chief Inspector Japp comes to Paris, Philip Jackson having more screen time because Captain Hastings is not present in this film. He is amusing as he takes over the French Inspector’s office and phone. And there are some jokes about his British taste for food. He works with Poirot, critical of the French, Poirot pointing out some effective detecting.

On the plane journey from Paris, Poirot sleeps, trying to avoid his anxiety. Later, he tests out his theories, with a blowpipe, on an unsuspecting passenger group.

Sarah Woodward as Jane Gray, the flight stewardess, takes the place of Captain Hastings and helps Poirot in his investigations, taking him to the tennis, falling in love with a charming dentist.

Eventually, Poirot gathers everyone together, as always, and what seems to be an insoluble case, as explained, especially using the list of the contents of the passengers’ cases and the murdered woman having two spoons with her cup of coffee.

1. The popularity of Agatha Christie mysteries? The television series? With David Suchet as Poirot? This film as one of the earliest of the full-length features?

2. The French settings, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower, Art Gallery, the streets, the hotels, Roland Garros? Sets and decor and the feel of the period? The musical score?

3. Poirot in Paris, his not liking Montmartre, the conversation with Jane Gray, the encounter at the Art Gallery, his explanation of surrealism? The invitation to the tennis? His politeness, observing the characters, especially Lady Horbury? At the hotel, her insulting him as a Frenchman? His observations of her interactions with Gisele?

4. Lady Horbury, haughty attitudes, snobbery, looking down on the French? The strained relationship with her husband? The board and tennis? Her comments on his friendship with Venetia? The story about her relationship with the actor? Talking with Gisele, visiting the apartment, the audience not hearing what she said? Elise observing?

5. Jane Gray, charming, the encounters with Poirot, meeting Norman Gale? The tennis? His taking her out? Her work as a flight attendant?

6. Lady Horbury, Venetia, on the plane, the demanding attitudes, her maid and Poirot seeing her at the hotel? On the plane? The discovery of the Gisele was on the plane? Norman Gale and the pleasant conversations with Jane?

7. The other passengers, Dupont and his father’s explorations in Africa? Daniel Clancy and his absentmindedness, mystery writer, speaking about his character determining what he wrote?

8. The steward, Jane, their work throughout the flight? Poirot sleeping?

9. The discovery of Gisele dead, Norman with his dentist background offering to help, the experience of the wasp, Dupont killing it? The red herring about the South American pipes, the discovery in Clancy’s room, his research and not writing the novel? The wound in Gisele’s neck?

10. The police, the interrogations, Lady Horbury and her demands, to get on the plane? The examination of the contents and the listings – important of that information to the solution of the case?

11. Chief Inspector Japp arriving, his having more time on screen in this film? Taking over the French police office and phone? Very British – and his food? The interrogations, on the plane, Poirot series? Finding where the pipe was bought? The loud American – and the actor?

12. Poirot asking Jane to help him, getting information, accompanying him? And the time with Norman? Norman impersonating the journalist and confronting Lady Horbury and the actor?

13. Lady Horbury disappearing, her husband coming to talk with Poirot? In Paris, at the casino, her gambling, her losses? The newspaper and the photo? Poirot accosting her, the conversation at the cafe?

14. Dupont, asking Jane who Poirot was, wanting to ask him for a donation for his exhibition?

15. The interrogation of the steward, the information about the two spoons?

16. Gisele’s daughter, the French police, her visit, the story of her marriage, her being found dead on the train? Her mother disowning her, her going to Canada, returning to England, taking a place as a maid for lady Horbury, marrying Norman, his murdering her for the money?

17. Norman’s plan, Poirot gathering everyone together, everybody’s responsibility, the pipe in Poirot’s seat (and the comedy of testing this out with unsuspecting passengers)? Norman as dentist, his white coat, his disguise, to the toilet, the wasp and the empty matchbox, taking the teaspoon, killing Gisele so that her daughter would inherit?

18. Jane, her sadness, Poirot reassuring her that Norman loved her in fact? And the finale with Japp for a French meal with Poirot?