Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8 DVD (2010)

Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8

2010

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

from 291 members

Episodes Comprise: The Clocks: Poirot (David Suchet) arrives in Dover to help Lieutenant Colin Race determine if Sheila Webb is responsible for the murder of a middle aged man found stabbed at 10 Wilbraham Crescent. Could there be a connection with the recent discovery of a German mole within the Navy? Three Act Tragedy: Martin Shaw guest stars as a world renowned actor alongside David Suchet in Three Act Tragedy, a new Poirot film. Shaw (George Gently, Judge John Deed) takes on the role of Sir Charles Cartwright, a retired actor who relishes the opportunity to assist Poirot with his investigations after the death of a guest at his home. Poirot visits Cornwall to attend a dinner hosted by his friend, the retired actor Sir Charles Cartwright. But when an amiable local Reverend chokes to death on his cocktail Poirot cannot see how murder could have been committed. With the exception of Sir Charles's doctor friend Sir Bartholomew Strange and the enigmatic Miss Egg Lytton Gore, any one of the eclectic mix of guests might have taken the glass - the inquisitive playwright, vulnerable ex-jockey, celebrated dressmaker, faithful housekeeper or young suitor of Miss Lytton Gore's. When, weeks later, Sir Bartholomew Strange chokes to death at a dinner party he is hosting with many of the same guests, Poirot and Charles are not surprised to discover that Strange was poisoned. The motives seem plentiful - could a missing butler, mysterious telephone message or secret tunnel be the key to solving the case? Halloween Party: In this new mystery, Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) is reunited with his good friend Ariadne Oliver, (Zoë Wanamaker - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone). Crime writer Ariadne attends a children's Hallowe'en party where young Joyce Reynolds boasts about witnessing a murder. The Woodleigh Common locals, including her stepmother (Sophie Thompson - Doc Martin), refuse to take her seriously. The girl is renowned for telling tall tales, and it is Hallowe'en after all. However, when Joyce is found drowned in an apple-bobbing bucket that very same evening, Ariadne asks Poirot to investigate. There are many suspects - any one of the guests could have slipped out during a game of Snapdragon. Then, in a shocking development, Joyce's younger brother Leopold is also found drowned. Amid rumours of a curse on the village, Poirot knows it is only a matter of time before the killer strikes again and he sets out on a quest for the truth. Murder On The Orient Express: This eagerly anticipated adaptation of Agatha Christie's best-loved murder mystery is a star-studded production. Directed by BAFTA winner Philip Martin (Wallander), David Suchet returns as eccentric Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Travelling from Istanbul to London on the famous Orient Express, Poirot is approached by ruthless businessman Samuel Ratchett, (Toby Jones - Frost/Nixon), who offers him $10k to watch his back. Poirot refuses, but when Ratchett is stabbed to death he vows to find the killer. Aided by amateur sleuth Dr Constantine, (Samuel West - Desperate Romantics), Poirot assembles an extensive list of suspects, including Ratchett's manservant Edward Masterman, (Hugh Bonneville - Bonekickers), elderly Princess Dragomiroff, (Dame Eileen Atkins - Cranford), and pushy Mrs Hubbard, (Barbara Hershey - The Mountain). The stakes are raised when the train gets stuck in a snowdrift. Cut off from civilization, Poirot's skills are tested to the limit. What was Ratchett frightened of? More importantly, is the assassin still on the train?

Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8 details

Format:	15 DVD
Starring:	David Suchet, Olivia Grant, Anna Skellern, Martin Shaw, Kimberley Nixon, Zoë Wanamaker, Amelia Bullmore, Sam Crane, Toby Jones, David Morrissey
Directors:	Charles Palmer, Ashley Pearce, Philip Martin
Genres:	Drama, Television - Factual, History
Studio:	SPIRIT ENTERTAINMENT

DVD 4 discs

Name	Discs
Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8 - Murder On The Orient Express	15 Disc 1
Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8 - Three Act Tragedy	15 Disc 2
Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8 - The Clocks	15 Disc 3
Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8 - Hallowe'en Party	15 Disc 4

DVD Information

Rental release:	03 Jan 2011
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8

Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8

By a customer from North Yorkshire , 04 Feb 2011

[Highly rated reviewer]

Collection 8 is a mixed bag. 'The clocks' is fantastic, a great Poirot mystery, the best on the disk. Different twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat!

However 'Murder on the Orient Express' is not good. As a huge Poirot fan i was expecting a treat but was disapointed. It has a slow pace (far too slow). None of the elegance of the train was shown, far too much emphasis was put on Poirots (and other characters) own personal emotional battles and not enough on crime solving and the usual passionate pursuit of the culprit. I think David Suchet is a very good Poirot, indeed the best to play the role, but for 'Murder on the Orient express' go for a different adaptation!

Haloween Party and Three Act Tragedy are good episodes.
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It's Poirot, but not as we know it

By RodgerTheDodger (31 reviews) , 26 Nov 2011

Collection 8 is not up to the standard of previous series. The Director has a rather strange love of things taking place in the dark as much as possible and the whole thing comes across as a not entirely successful attempt at 'Poirot in the style of Film Noir'. However, in spite of this it is enjoyable to watch and slickly made. If they do a Collection 9, then I hope they revert to the style of Collection 8, which was glorious.
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Some excellent episodes

By a customer , 20 Jul 2011

Loved Three Act Tragedy and The Clocks. The other episodes were weaker and stopped me from giving it a five star rating. Watch if a Poirot fan.
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Poirot collection 8 - dredging the Poirot cannon

By SheldonmeetsMrT (7 reviews) , 03 May 2011

This disc covers several weaker instalments in the Poirot canon. Halloween Party is beautifully made but leaves a sour taste in the mouth: the final reveal is not simply infeasible but weak and ludicrous. Christie isn't Shakespeare and a revision of the central plot driver would have improved otherwise we end up with rather stale cheese dressed up as period drama. Similarly, the Clocks is a well made adaption but would have been better if more liberties had been taken with the plot. It cries out to be made in the style of the earlier stories and for the presence of Japp and Hastings. On balance, Halloween - is not worth watching while the Clocks is at best a mere diversion.
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Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 8

By a customer from North Yorkshire , 04 Feb 2011

[Highly rated reviewer]

Collection 8 is a mixed bag. 'The clocks' is fantastic, a great Poirot mystery, the best on the disk. Different twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat!

However 'Murder on the Orient Express' is not good. As a huge Poirot fan i was expecting a treat but was disapointed. It has a slow pace (far too slow). None of the elegance of the train was shown, far too much emphasis was put on Poirots (and other characters) own personal emotional battles and not enough on crime solving and the usual passionate pursuit of the culprit. I think David Suchet is a very good Poirot, indeed the best to play the role, but for 'Murder on the Orient express' go for a different adaptation!

Haloween Party and Three Act Tragedy are good episodes.
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- (2) Yes |
- No (0)
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