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Acorn Media has released another superb Blu-ray collection, Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 6, which includes four feature-length episodes in their original 1995-96 U.K. broadcast order.
The four episodes are on two discs, with a total running time of 428 minutes. The video resolution is 1080p with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The sound is crisp and clear, in Dolby Digital 2.0, with SDH subtitles available. Originally filmed in 16mm, the episodes have been re-mastered for Blu-ray and high definition, and look spectacular on a large-scale hi-def television. Details like the weave of the fabric of Poirot’s suit and background set details pop in a way they never did in their original television broadcast.
[All Hercule Poirot wants for Christmas are a heated apartment and some delicious Belgian chocolates]
The four episodes are:
“Hercule Poirot’s Christmas” Both Poirot and Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) have their Christmas holidays interrupted by a very curious murder at a rich man’s estate. Past indiscretions and South African diamonds provide the clues that the great detective needs to unravel to find the perpetrator of the violent crime. Mark Tandy costars as the local chief of police, Superintendent Sugden.
“Hickory Dickory Dock” Poirot’s secretary Miss Lemon’s (Pauline Moran) sister enlists the detective’s help with a series of thefts at a hostel where she is a housekeeper. Poirot soon discovers that something more sinister than kleptomania is afoot, and must find the villain of the piece before the bodies begin to pile up too high. To further complicate matters, while his wife is out of town Japp moves in with Poirot and almost starves when confronted by the little Belgian’s idea of home cooking. Jonathan Firth and Damian Lewis costar as students at the hostel.
“Murder on the Links” On holiday in Deauville, France, Poirot and Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) become involved in a local case of abduction and murder. Poirot races to solve the case before his arch-enemy, the abrasive Giraud of the Sûreté (Bill Moody) can. The two make a wager regarding who will solve the crime first. If Giraud loses, he must give up his famous pipe. If Poirot loses, he must shave off his moustache. Poirot can not let that happen. Hastings, meanwhile, falls for a woman named Bella Duveen (Jacinta Mulcahy), who has secrets of her own.
[Bob the fox terrier helps Captain Hastings and Poirot solve a murder]
“Dumb Witness” A fox terrier named Bob proves to be an invaluable witness in the murder of his beloved master, Emily Arundel (Ann Morrish). Also trying to assist Poirot on the case are two sisters, Julia and Isabel Tripp (Muriel Pavlow and Pauline Jameson), Miss Arundel’s neighbors, who look for answers from “the other side.”
David Suchet has proved himself to be the ultimate portrayer of Dame Agatha Christie’s most famous detective, the Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot. The impeccably mustachioed Poirot utilizes his “little grey cells” to determine the responsible party in each of these entertaining mysteries. The production values, as always with the series, are top-notch, with beautiful Art Deco surroundings and impeccable costumes. Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 6 is a very worthy addition to Christie canon, enabling fans of Suchet and Poirot to enjoy these mysteries again and again.
