Three Act Tragedy
- Episode aired Jun 19, 2011
- Not Rated
- 1h 34m
When a vicar chokes to death on a cocktail while attending a party held by actor Sir Charles Cartwright, Poirot initially dismisses the idea of murder but reconsiders when another guest dies... Read allWhen a vicar chokes to death on a cocktail while attending a party held by actor Sir Charles Cartwright, Poirot initially dismisses the idea of murder but reconsiders when another guest dies in the same manner.When a vicar chokes to death on a cocktail while attending a party held by actor Sir Charles Cartwright, Poirot initially dismisses the idea of murder but reconsiders when another guest dies in the same manner.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCartwright's sitting room in Cornwall is actually Rolf Engstromer's entrance hall at Eltham Palace. The same room (and indeed the exterior) stood in for Wode Hall when the same production company made their version of "Death On The Nile" in 2004.
- GoofsIn train scene with Egg, Poirot and Sir Charles, the reflection in the window as they go through the tunnel is not a true reflection, i.e. the back of her head, but the actual scene laid over the window i.e. NOT a reflection at all.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Miss Wills: I can see now I should have gone to the police. Don't judge me too harshly.
Hercule Poirot: Ah, Mademoiselle, I investigate; I do not judge.
Miss Wills: Just had a terrible thought.
Hercule Poirot: Hm?
Miss Wills: If anyone could have drunk the poison cocktail... golly, it could have been me!
Hercule Poirot: [chuckles] And there is a possibility even more terrible, Mademoiselle... it could have been me.
- ConnectionsReferences Appointment with Death (2008)
- SoundtracksArabeske Op. 18 in C major
Music by Robert Schumann
The direction is occasionally a little flat though also with some inspired touches of over-theatricality and I was very disappointed that Jane Asher wasn't given as much to do as she deserves, yes her character is quite small but still.
What I did love about Three Act Tragedy were the production values. True, it has a glossier and more cinematic(dare I say) feel than some of the older episodes, but I thought the photography was very good and the scenery, costumes and lighting were breathtaking. The music is lovely too, haunting yet elegant and beautiful too. The dialogue is well-done, very poignant in the denouncement, and the pace while deliberately slow to start with(the book starts slow as well) is fine. The story still remains interesting and when it comes to the adapting it is fairly faithful and not as bland as the Peter Ustinov film, which still had its good points.
The acting is very good and the characters are written very well overall. David Suchet is outstanding, no surprise he always is, but it was Martin Shaw I enjoyed the most. His character was always one of the book's main merits and Shaw's performance was gleefully enjoyable with a commanding voice and well-judged mannerisms. He like the dialogue is very moving at the end. Overall, a solid episode in the twelfth series and an above decent adaptation. 8/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 7, 2011
Details
- Release date
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- Filming locations
- Eltham Palace, Court Road, Eltham, London, England, UK(Interior: Sir Charles Cartwright's home)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 34 minutes
- Color