Search - Agatha Christie's Poirot: Collector's Set Volume 11 on DVD

11 down, 1 to go

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 01/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Only one to go! This is Set 11 of the Acorn Media "Poirot" 12 box series that will include all the shorter Poirot episodes we enjoyed so much on PBS way back when and later (in much mutilated form) on A&E. Starring the "definitive" Hercule Poirot, David Suchet, this series includes (I believe) all or most of the Poirot short stories penned by Agatha Christie, three to a VHS box, while the longer tales are available on VHS and DVD with running times of about 110 minutes.
The three episodes in Set 11 are pretty good. "The Third Floor Flat" brings a murder very close to Poirot's very own flat, just below it in fact. The solution is not very satisfactory and comes a little too early; but the setting more than makes up for it all. "Triangle in Rhodes" (1937) bears a strong resemblance to "Evil Under the Sun" (1941), and the solution to the former is more credible. Hastings is absent from this episode and the scenery is gorgeous. Be sure to see "Evil" with Ustinov as Poirot and Diana Rigg as the victim for comparison purposes. Hastings (Hugh Fraser) is back in "Problem at Sea," in which some of the characters are more interesting as believable humans than in most of the Poirot tales. You might guess not only the guilty party but even the modus operandi early on; and while Poirot's forcing a confession from the murderer is a little overdone, this is (correct me if I'm wrong) the only Poirot story in which he is strongly criticized for being "cruel."
A very good set, despite small story faults."

Poirot at his best!

J. Okal | 11/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hercule Poirot is one of the greatest mystery solvers of all time. If you are a Poirot fan, this is a must-have DVD!"

The English Abroad

F. Behrens | 02/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The "Poirot" Box Set #11 contains "The Third Floor Flat," "Problem at Sea," and "Triangle at Rhodes." The first episode is set largely within Hercule Poirot's apartment building, Whitehaven Mansions; the other two take place very far from home, in Egypt and in Rhodes, Greece. I didn't care for "The Third Floor Flat"; its ending was far too predictable. "Triangle at Rhodes" is much more intriguing, a story about a "love triangle" that is not quite what it appears to be. The location shots and the décor in this episode are absolutely gorgeous. Like the previous reviewer, I did notice parallels between this story and that of "Evil Under the Sun," an excellent "Poirot" novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed "Triangle at Rhodes." In "Problem at Sea," Poirot and Hastings investigate a murder aboard a cruise ship bound for Alexandria. The episode features interesting characters and an uncanny denouement. Though "The Third Floor Flat" is only average, the two "abroad" episodes are well worth the price of the whole box set."

Closed-captioned ?

J. Okal | Atlanta, GA USA | 05/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In contrary to the item description, the received DVD (cover showed the 2005 edition) was NOT closed-captioned, and there was no indication of closed-captioning on the DVD cover or on DVD. So be aware if this feature is important to you."