Review - DEAD MAN'S FOLLY (1986)
This is the darkest of the six films in which Peter Ustinov plays Hercule Poirot. It is one of three made for tv films. He appeared in three others, which were commercially released theatrical films.
Here he is surrounded by a stellar cast, with Tim Pigott-Smith, Constance Cummings and Jean Stapleton. The plot involves a murder game at an English estate, headed by crime writer, Ariadne Oliver, during which the make believe victim is actually murdered, followed of course by yet another murder. The plot is full of holes, literally. One involves burying an earlier murder victim under an area where a folly (summer house) is built. Obviously, Christie had no knowledge of construction or she would have known that the builders would have unearthed the body when laying the foundation for the folly. Also, if you have secrets, involving a murder or two, why would you host a weekend party playing at detective work, especially with a famous crime writer and the most famous detective in the fictional world as guests? As I said, the plot is full of holes.
Ustinov is his usual best as Poirot, one of his finest characterizations. Stapleton is, well, Stapleton, playing the hare-brained Ariadne as a toned down Edith Bunker. Amusing, but a bit over the top as a celebrity totally lacking social graces. Constance Cummings as the sad, guilt-ridden matriarch and Pigott-Smith as the tightly controlled lord of the estate give the best performances apart from Ustinov.
Worth watching for the acting, but not for the plot.
This is the darkest of the six films in which Peter Ustinov plays Hercule Poirot. It is one of three made for tv films. He appeared in three others, which were commercially released theatrical films.
Here he is surrounded by a stellar cast, with Tim Pigott-Smith, Constance Cummings and Jean Stapleton. The plot involves a murder game at an English estate, headed by crime writer, Ariadne Oliver, during which the make believe victim is actually murdered, followed of course by yet another murder. The plot is full of holes, literally. One involves burying an earlier murder victim under an area where a folly (summer house) is built. Obviously, Christie had no knowledge of construction or she would have known that the builders would have unearthed the body when laying the foundation for the folly. Also, if you have secrets, involving a murder or two, why would you host a weekend party playing at detective work, especially with a famous crime writer and the most famous detective in the fictional world as guests? As I said, the plot is full of holes.
Ustinov is his usual best as Poirot, one of his finest characterizations. Stapleton is, well, Stapleton, playing the hare-brained Ariadne as a toned down Edith Bunker. Amusing, but a bit over the top as a celebrity totally lacking social graces. Constance Cummings as the sad, guilt-ridden matriarch and Pigott-Smith as the tightly controlled lord of the estate give the best performances apart from Ustinov.
Worth watching for the acting, but not for the plot.