Poirot - Hickory Dickory Dock

Starring:David Suchet, Philip Jackson (II), Pauline Moran, Paris Jefferson, Jonathan Firth, Damian Lewis, Gilbert Martin, Elinor Morriston, Polly Kemp, Jessica Lloyd, Sarah Badel, Rachel Bell, Granville Saxton, David Burke, Bernard Lloyd, Terry Duggan, Mark Denny, Tony Kirkwood, Peter Glancy, Andy Linden
Director: Andrew Grieve
Studio: Acorn Media
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
When a series of bizarre thefts at a boarding house leads to murder, it takes Hercule Poirot all of his ingenuity to solve a series of interlocking mysteries and unmask the killer. This feature-length Poirot mystery shows why David Suchet is the definitive screen version of Agatha Christie's dapper Belgian sleuth. With his fastidious habits and thick French accent it would be easy to turn Poirot into a caricature, but Suchet makes him funny without diminishing the detective's brilliance. Poirot's peculiarity is a perfect disguise, and when he sets out for the murder scene in his immaculate clothes--like a shiny black beetle bustling through the drab, brown London streets--there is little doubt that the crime will soon be solved.

Amazon.com

When a series of bizarre thefts at a boarding house leads to murder, it takes Hercule Poirot all of his ingenuity to solve a series of interlocking mysteries and unmask the killer. This feature-length Poirot mystery shows why David Suchet is the definitive screen version of Agatha Christie's dapper Belgian sleuth. With his fastidious habits and thick French accent it would be easy to turn Poirot into a caricature, but Suchet makes him funny without diminishing the detective's brilliance. Poirot's peculiarity is a perfect disguise, and when he sets out for the murder scene in his immaculate clothes--like a shiny black beetle bustling through the drab, brown London streets--there is little doubt that the crime will soon be solved.

Hickory Dickory Dock reaches its climax, naturellement, with the detective and his suspects gathered tensely in a drawing room. Although the story suffers from some clumsily introduced clues (Christie suffers here in comparison with writers like P.D. James), the denouement works well, keeping us guessing while allowing the more astute viewer to spot the killer before Poirot makes his announcement. --Simon Leake

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre Adaptation of Christie Novel.......2006-04-27

I guess if you haven't read the novel and like TV-movie whodunits this may do to kill two hours of your time, but having read the novel I was really disappointed with this adaptation.

The story has Hercule Poirot investigating a series of petty thefts and eventually murders in a student hostel run by his secretary's sister. However, whereas the Agatha Christie novel featured a cast of multicultural students (African, Indian, West Indian) as part of the suspects, the hostel population is strictly Anglo-Saxon in the TV-movie adaptation. They've also added a silly subplot in which the Chief Inspector is staying with Poirot (leading to a rather tasteless joke about bidets) and also Miss Lemon, Poirot's secretary, hangs around during the investigation without really having anything to do.

Also, Agatha Christie generated suspense in this particular storyline by not letting the reader know the connection between the thefts and the murders right away. In the adaptation, you know from the opening scenes why the killings are being done and they've added some undercover agents to the story. As the Amazon reviewer points out, the clues are also clumsily presented in the TV-movie. However, unlike what the reviewer points out, the fault is the adaptator's, not Christie's.

I know changes must be done to adapt a novel to TV, but I thought all the changes made here only made the story seem clumsily plotted. And, although the leading actor makes a good Poirot, I though the rest of the acting was consistently bad and cartoonish. The TV-movie also suffers from some really cheesy sound and visual effects (the most annoying being a cute mouse that pops out during the whole movie).

But as I said, if you like TV-movie whodunits, you're probably not as picky and may enjoy it. (Evidently the other reviewers did.) I thought it was pretty crappy. At the risk of sounding cliched: "The novel was much better than the film."

Enchanted from the Start.......2003-03-05

Both my sister and my mother have read almost every mystery that Agatha Christie ever wrote, but I never thought to start. Then I sat down one evening to watch television with them, and I was at once enchanted. It was an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot on A&E. The David Suchet Poirot films (both full length movies and short films) come from this series. I enjoyed that first show so much that I watched the series religiously until it went off the air.

I started reading some of Agatha Christie's mysteries this year, and I firmly believe that David Suchet is the best portrayal of Hercule Poirot that ever was. I have seen other notorious actors, such as Peter Ustinov and Tony Randall, play the part, but they do not achieve the full embodiment of the persona (both physical and psychological) that David Suchet does.

HICKORY DICKORY DOCK isn't an immediately predictable film. I honestly did not know who the killer was until Poirot revealed the truth. This is not one of those mysteries where you can tell what the detective or the police or the killer will do before they even do it; this film left me completely on the edge of my seat. HICKORY DICKORY DOCK has a storyline that does not follow some predetermined, overused mystery plot; it is creative and exciting. Additionally, the historical accuracy is extreme, right down to the shoes.

I highly recommend any of the David Suchet Poirot films to anyone searching for an interesting, exciting mystery to watch.

Another Triumph for Suchet's Poirot.......2002-04-11

When a series of petty thefts at a student hostel turns into a case of murder, it is up to the great Hercule Poirot to solve the baffling crime. However, he soon finds himself involved not only in a case of murder, but smuggling and political doings as well. Not only that, he foolishly invites the rather sloppy Inspector Japp to stay with him, while Japp's wife is away, which make for a rather rough time ala the "Odd Couple." HICKORY DICKORY DOCK is another in the BBC/Mystery series featuring the wonderful David Suchet cementing his claim as the definitive Poirot. Phillip Jackson adds a nice touch of earthy humor as his foil, Chief Inspector Japp. David Burke, best known as Dr. Watson in the Jeremy Brett SHERLOCK HOLMES series, appears in an extended cameo as a dying politician. Once again, great care and intelligence is lavished on this production that would make Agatha Christie proud. Another winner for Poirot fans and a film I highly recommend.

Another Triumph for Suchet's Poirot.......2002-04-11

High quality - but curiously dull.......2002-03-29

I really enjoyed the novel and was expecting to enjoy the movie version, but I found it curiously dull as compared to many of the other adaptations. No Captain Hastings and a mouse. This mouse, while cute, appeared far too often - crawling around the clock, arriving in rooms at the precise moment they were murdered, even acting as a catalyst in the climactic scene. The real interesting aspects of the book, and much of its humor, came from Dame Agatha's casting of these motley group of students. As a product of her time, she had used racial epithets in her earlier works that American publishers changed because they were offensive. She changed though. Watching her evolve with the times, and reflect those times in her novels provides a fascinating look at the social evolution of the 20th century. She has a lesbian couple in "A Murder is Announced" and in Hickory Dickory Dock - she had Ram Lal - an Indian student, very political yet polite and the extremely charming and affable Akibombo from Africa. However, these were the two characters that were cut from the adaptation. They did not have large dramatic parts which made them more expendable, but they added warmth and humor to the assemble that made the book very charming. The group of students in the movie seemed simultaneously dull and unattractive personality-wise although they were supposed to have a lot of camaraderie as young folks all living under the same roof. The mystery itself was secondary in this story - so not top-shelp Christie who-done-it in my opinion. The humor and interest in the movie are the trials and tribulations poor Japp endures as Poirot's house-guest. Miss Lemon has a larger part this time, and is a constant presence. And finally - the trying-not-to-be-horrified looks Japp and Poirot try to suppress as each tries to impress the other with their native cuisine is priceless. Too few and far between though - unless you're a huge Christie fan, I would suggest exploring the other movies first.

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