"The Third Floor Flat" is one of the more intriguing Hercule Poirot mysteries. For this episode of the BBC and PBS television series, Agatha Christie's super sleuth doesn't need to go far from home. The crime occurs right in his digs - the Whitehaven Mansions.
This episode has more than the usual build-up, and Poirot solves the murder very quickly - although he doesn't let on to others right away. This talk also is an excellent one to trace back the clues to discover how Poirot became suspicious of the culprit. It's all there plain as day, but as always, with Poirot so interested in every detail, only his little grey cells are capable of arranging the pertinent details for the conclusions.
All of Poirot's company are present - Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon and Chief Inspector Japp. Japp comments to his Bobbies when they arrive at the apartment building to be extra careful because they are on the home grounds of the sharp detective, Hercule Poirot.
And, the story has some humor, as we come to expect. Here are some favorite lines.
Miss Lemon, "It's only been tree weeks since your last case." Hercule Poirot, "Three weeks is an eternity to a brain like mine. Without the constant stimulation, my little grey cells will starve to death. Already you can see I am suffering the effects."
Captain Hastings pulls up in his convertible and honks the horn. Hastings, "How's the cold, old boy?" Hercule Poirot, "... I wouldn't be surprised if riding in tat care was responsible for my present malady." Hastings, "She's much too much of a lady to give anyone a cold. She's running like a bird since I fitted the hew gaskets" Poirot, "Birds do not run, Hastings. When you were little you should have paid more attention to your lessons in biology."
Captain Hastings, "You're really in a bad way, aren't you?" Poirot, "Well, my friend, as one approaches the end, one begins to see life as it truly is."
Hercule Poirot, "You see, Hastings? I am still a force to be calculated."(sic)
Hercule Poirot, "Hasting, my friend. Poirot is as magnanimous in defeat as he is modest in victory." Chief Inspector Japp, "Oh, yes." Poirot, "In view of the fact that you are going to need every penny you can get to restore this beautiful machine to health, I have decided to pay up and be content."
This episode has more than the usual build-up, and Poirot solves the murder very quickly - although he doesn't let on to others right away. This talk also is an excellent one to trace back the clues to discover how Poirot became suspicious of the culprit. It's all there plain as day, but as always, with Poirot so interested in every detail, only his little grey cells are capable of arranging the pertinent details for the conclusions.
All of Poirot's company are present - Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon and Chief Inspector Japp. Japp comments to his Bobbies when they arrive at the apartment building to be extra careful because they are on the home grounds of the sharp detective, Hercule Poirot.
And, the story has some humor, as we come to expect. Here are some favorite lines.
Miss Lemon, "It's only been tree weeks since your last case." Hercule Poirot, "Three weeks is an eternity to a brain like mine. Without the constant stimulation, my little grey cells will starve to death. Already you can see I am suffering the effects."
Captain Hastings pulls up in his convertible and honks the horn. Hastings, "How's the cold, old boy?" Hercule Poirot, "... I wouldn't be surprised if riding in tat care was responsible for my present malady." Hastings, "She's much too much of a lady to give anyone a cold. She's running like a bird since I fitted the hew gaskets" Poirot, "Birds do not run, Hastings. When you were little you should have paid more attention to your lessons in biology."
Captain Hastings, "You're really in a bad way, aren't you?" Poirot, "Well, my friend, as one approaches the end, one begins to see life as it truly is."
Hercule Poirot, "You see, Hastings? I am still a force to be calculated."(sic)
Hercule Poirot, "Hasting, my friend. Poirot is as magnanimous in defeat as he is modest in victory." Chief Inspector Japp, "Oh, yes." Poirot, "In view of the fact that you are going to need every penny you can get to restore this beautiful machine to health, I have decided to pay up and be content."