Poirot (TV Series) The Affair at the Victory Ball (1991) User Reviews

Poirot unmasks the demon of the masguerade ball

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 13 February 2018]

Agatha Christie often wound her mysteries around the real events and history of the times in which they took place. And, so it is with this story and film, "The Affair at the Victory Ball." After the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, the Royal Albert Hall held a thanksgiving service attended by royalty; and then a Victory Ball on Nov. 27. English poet and author Alfred Noyes had been invited to the ball. He wrote a poem, "The Victory Ball," that The Saturday Evening Post published in 1920. His poem describes wounded young men from the war looking over the celebration, which seems to have no thought of those who had died.

In the years after that, a victory ball was held at different venues and became less a memorial of war and more of a masquerade party. Such is the event in this story. This serves as an unusual setting for Christie's Hercule Poirot. But, the master sleuth is up to the task. After some newspaper publicity that notes he is baffled by the case, he unmasks the demon over the air waves of the BBC.

As the title suggests, the intrigue and crime take place at the masquerade ball. Because Poirot and perennial sidekick Captain Hastings attend the ball, the film has some little scenes in which Poirot overhears or sees someone who will play in the mystery. This episode involves illegal drugs, and Poirot expounds on cocaine as the real demon. A second watch of this episode many years after its initial airing was just as interesting and enjoyable as the first.

This TV episode from Mystery Theater (BBC in England to PBS in America), has some poignant gems and philosophic shots as well as occasional snippets of humor. My favorite line is when Hastings appears in his costume as Sir Percy Blakeney, and recites the first line of Sir Percy's short poetic pun from "The Scarlet Pimpernel." "They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere." (The rest of the poem as Sir Percy recites it reds, "Is he in heaven or is he in hell? That damned elusive Pimpernel."

Here are some more favorite lines from this mystery. James Ackerley (played by Andrew Burt), "Are you sure I can't persuade you to ¬¬¬¬¬¬ recount some of your juicier cases on the radio?" Hercule Poirot, "Alas, no. You see, monsieur, murder - real murder is not an entertainment."

Hercule Poirot, "Because the devil himself dances among us, but we do not see him."

Hercule Poirot, "Chief Inspector, you really ought to look to your elocution." Inspector Japp, "Swat me, there's nothing wrong with my lingo." Poirot, "You see. That is exactly the kind of expression... that brings the language into disrepute."

Hercule Poirot,"I shall lend to the chief inspector my personal copy of the English as she should be spoken."

A solid Poirot mystery

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 21 April 2012]

The Affair at the Victory Ball is not one of the better Poirot adaptations, though I do quite like the short story. As with all Poirots it is very well made and evocative in its atmosphere, everything from the scenery to the photography looks gorgeous. The score is hauntingly beautiful, the writing is intelligent with some tension and drollness and the story is always interesting and very clever with the final solution every bit as surprising as it was in the short story. The cast I also can't fault, David Suchet was born to play Poirot and Hugh Fraser and Phillip Jackson are just as entertaining. The episode was a good length, but I did think it was a little rushed with characters introduced quickly and you are in danger of missing something. A second viewing I do think is needed. Overall though, it is very solid and enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox

A murderer is unmasked

[grantss · 8/10 · 11 August 2016]

Poirot and Hastings attend the Victory Ball, a costume party. (Poirot goes as himself...). During the ball the body of Viscount Cronshaw is found - he has been stabbed to death. That same evening the body of another of the party goers, Coco Courtney, is found in her flat. She died of a cocaine overdose. The next day the newspapers are painting Poirot as a failure, for being at the murder scene but not being able to solve the case. This makes Poirot even more determined to find the killer.

Intriguing murder mystery, with a few good twists and one decent red herring. Quite visually sumptuous as well - the ball scenes are full of great colour and costumes and hark back to a lost era.

Good ending too - the radio broadcast was a nice touch.

Poirot meets the BBC

[kaberi-893-642316 · 8/10 · 14 June 2016]

My favorite part of this episode was the connection to radio, which was not in the original story. The story itself is routine; a man is found murdered at a large costume party, and the woman who is initially suspected is found dead herself a short time later. One senses that somebody is going to have disguised themselves as someone else, etc. But, from the first words Poirot speaks in the opening scene, I said to myself, "Wait, Poirot is narrating his own story? He's never done that before." I enjoyed the various references to radio plays throughout the episode, and especially liked the very last scene. As many times as Christie was criticized for the peculiar way she had Poirot speak English, at least he had a good excuse for not speaking BBC English. Japp, on the other hand...

featuring one of my favorites!

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 18 October 2014]

What a total delight to see Inspector Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) on this Poirot episode, looking so young and handsome.

In this 1991 episode, Poirot attends the Victory Ball, a costume party. Since you're supposed to go as someone famous, he attends as himself. Six people go as characters from classic Italian commedia dell'arte, which includes Arlequino, Il Capitano, Pulcinella, that crowd.

When one of them is found dead, Poirot and Inspector Japp endeavor to find the murderer. A second death follows. Poirot announces the denouement on live radio.

Very good, lively episode with Poirot his usual smart and funny self. David Suchet is so good that it's very jarring to see him when he's not Poirot, he's so different. He's complete perfection, and manages to make what could be a very stuffy, arrogant character a warm one.

Enjoyable and entertaining.

Hard to follow but rewarding

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 28 May 2008]

Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are invited to the Victory Ball, a costume party where everyone is dressed as someone famous from the past or present (Poirot appears as "himself"!). When a man dressed as Harlequin is found stabbed to death, Poirot's reputation takes a blow ("Masked murderer eludes famous Belgian detective", read the newspapers' headlines the following morning), and he is determined to restore it by reconstructing the events of that night to find out what really happened.

Because most of the characters are introduced rather rapidly, and spend a lot of time half-hidden under masks and elaborate costumes, this episode is pretty hard to follow on the first viewing. In my opinion, you'll need to see it at least twice to get the most out of it. It does reward you, however, with a fairly clever story and an atmospheric verbal recreation of the crime(s) by Poirot on a live radio program. (**1/2)

Certainly one of the best TV shows of 1991

[jgcorrea · 8/10 · 13 March 2020]

As per the following, personal list:

1. Twin Peaks (30 episodes overall) 2. Prime Suspect 3. Strauss Dynasty 4. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: The Illustrious Client 5. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: The Problem of Thor Bridge 6. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: The Boscombe Valley Mystery 7. The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax 8. Poirot: How Does Your Garden Grow? 9. Poirot: The Affair at the Victory Ball 10. Law & Order: The Torrents of Greed: Parts 1 + 2

"I shall lend to the Chief Inspector my personal copy of 'The English as She Should be Spoken'."

[bensonmum2 · 6/10 · 9 August 2015]

Poirot and Hastings attend a masquerade party where one of the revelers is (quite naturally) murdered. With plenty of suspects and plenty of clues, Poirot must solve the case to ensure his reputation.

There are a few problems I have with The Affair at the Victory Ball that keep me from rating it any higher. But, I'll start with the positive. This has to be among the best looking episodes in the series. The period detail was never better. The acting is what I've come to expect - very good. The mystery here is quite nice. I honestly had no idea which way things were going to go until the very end. And there are some very funny moments. One of my favorites is the line I've included in the title. Funny stuff.

As for the problems - I'll keep this to three. First, and most importantly, as others have pointed out, part of The Affair at the Victory Ball can be confusing. Characters are introduced rapid-fire style. And with their costumes and masks, it's impossible to keep up with who's who. Second, a key clue is found clutched in the dead man's fist. What medical examiner or Scotland Yard Inspector wouldn't have found this? It's not until the next day that Poirot has the man's hand opened to reveal its secret. Finally, things feel a little rushed. There's a lot here to pack into 50 or so minutes. This one might have been better with another half hour.

Nathaniel Parker guest stars

[safenoe · 8/10 · 20 July 2020]

A decade before Nathaniel played Inspector Lynley, he guest stars in this BBC-centric episode of Poirot. It's a lot of fun seeing the original cast, and the in-joke about Poirot's accent on the radio show was superb!

Poirot takes on the press in the hunt for a killer.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 13 November 2015]

Hastings manages to convince Poirot to attend The Victory Ball, a fancy dress celebration with some notable and stylish guests, among them the glamorous, but troubled Radio star Coco Courtney. Among the glitz and the glamour, murder.

It boasts some wonderful performances, Haydn Gwynne and Nathaniel Parker both shine, they add a certain something to the episode. Very fun performance from Sarah Crowden who plays the receptionist at the BBC.

There are several gorgeous costumes, as a production it is particularly fine. The scenes at the ball are glorious.

I did like Poirot's annoyance at discovering the drugs, 'such foolishness, young people must realise life is not to be gambled with like the roulette wheel,' how true.

Very watchable, some big characters and an intriguing mystery, 7/10

The Affair at the Victory Ball

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 23 February 2018]

Poirot and Hastings attend the Victory Ball. A costume party where people dress up as someone famous. Others have gone dressed as classical Italian characters. Poirot has arrived as himself.

The dead body of Viscount Cronshaw is discovered, the press is having a field day as the murder took place under the nose of Poirot.

Later the police break into Cronshaw's girlfriend flat, an actress called Coco Courtney. Her body is found, due to a cocaine overdose.

The featured building in this episode is BBC's Broadcasting House. The climax takes place in a live radio broadcast led by Poirot has he brings the clues together live to the nation.

I really did like how Poirot put all miniature pieces together including a daring move to catch the murderer in an off handed way.

Masques and Masks.

[rmax304823 · 7/10 · 9 May 2014]

This is kind of enjoyable for a number of reasons that are unimportant but add up to something greater than its parts. One thing is its educational content. The plot isn't simply a matter of intrigues in a dysfunctional family or anything so familiar. The mystery is focused on a Victory Ball at a mansion. The guests are all costumed as celebrated figures. Hastings goes as the Scarlet Pimpernel. Poirot goes as himself.

The mystery centers on the murder of two of the half-dozen characters dressed and masked in the costumes of Commedia dell'arte, a kind of Italian troupe improvising antics on 17th-century stages. Maybe no one else cares but I've been interested in the ways in which this now defunct bit of alien theater has left behind fragments that we can identify today -- Harlequin Romances, harlequin glasses, pirouettes, Punch and Judy, the words "pants", "zany", and "burlesque," and a movie titled "Scaramouche." Picasso painted the characters. The Marx brothers modernized them.

The young man playing Pierot is found murdered in one of the rooms, a butter knife through his heart (!), a ripped-off costume button in his clenched hand, an empty cocaine box on his chest, and a monogrammed handkerchief next to his body. (The possibility of fingerprints is dismissed at once; Agatha Christie had no more interest in fingerprints than Conan-Doyle did.) A multitude of clues -- too many, in fact, for anyone to piece together except you-know-who.

Another minor element that adds relish to the viewing is the occasional bit of subdued humor, and, man, it IS subdued. I mention in passing that the detective is once referred to as "Mister Poy-rot." Poirot and Japp more or less reconstruct the crime on a live BBC radio show, during which Poirot reveals the murder and the motive. The solution depends partly on the same trick that Gregory Peck used to demonstrate the innocence of a murder suspect in "To Kill A Mockingbird," but it was surely a case of independent invention.

After the show, as Poirot, Japp, and Hastings are leaving the studio, someone rushes up and tells them that the station has been flooded with phone calls of delight regarding the night's performance. Poirot smiles slightly with satisfaction, until the messenger adds that the only complaints were about someone's lurid accent and mangling of the language. An irritated Poirot immediately blames Japp for using terms like "this lot" and "you lot" and, before mincing out the door, promises to send Japp his copy of "the English, as she should be spoken." Well, it may lose some of its impact in print, but it's an amusing incident on the screen.

Measures up to the high standard set by the others in the series.

[jamesraeburn2003 · 7/10 · 1 August 2023]

Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings (played by David Suchet and Hugh Fraser) attend a lavish society costume party, the Victory Ball, during the course of which one of the guests, Viscount Cronshaw (played by Mark Crowdy), is murdered. On the following day, another guest from the ball, the actress Coco Courtney (played by Hadyn Gwynne), is found dead in her flat as a result of a drug overdose. Poirot finds an ornate tin monogrammed with the initial 'C' on the body of Cronshaw, which contains cocaine. Chief Inspector Japp (played by Philip Jackson) suspects that Cronshaw was a drug addict, but Poirot suspects that it was Coco who was addicted to cocaine and Cronshaw, whose many charities included the League of Drug Addiction, had found out. Taken her supply from her and was going to expose her supplier. Then, fearful of discovery, the dealer killed Cronshaw and then Coco by giving her a lethal dose of uncut cocaine to prevent his being caught by the police. Poirot re-examines Cronshaw's body and finds a pompom ball from one of the fancy dress costumes clenched in his fist. It seems that whoever has a pompom ball missing from their outfit is the drug dealer and double murderer. However, there are a few more twists and turns to the mystery before Poirot finally unmasks the culprit live on radio on the BBC's National Programme...

All in all, The Affair At The Victory Ball, measures up to the standard of the others in this well-loved series: first rate production values, a strong feeling for the 1930's period, dramatization (Andrew Marshall) and fine acting all round. As expected, the actors are chosen once again on the basis of their suitability to play Agatha Christie's characters as opposed to their big-name status. The plot holds one's attention and the plot twists and turns play fair with the audience leading to a dramatic denouement. On this occasion, the great detective exposes the guilty party live on a national radio programme much to the delight of an excited BBC radio producer, James Ackerley (played by Andrew Burt), whose lifelong ambition has been to meet Poirot and get him to recount his most baffling cases on air. Yet, in a humorous twist, it doesn't quite go according to plan. David Suchet remains the definitive Poirot and the chemistry between him and his sidekick, Captain Hastings (played, as ever, with charm by Hugh Fraser), is a joy to watch. There is an amusing scene where they arrive at the ball and the latter says: "I don't think they'll let you in because you are supposed to be in fancy dress as someone famous." Poirot, dressed in his usual attire, including his patent leather shoes, replies "Exactly!" Referring, of course, to himself as a famous sleuth. He is proud of the fact that he is in the public eye, but not in an unpleasant and pompous way.

Stamps OR Ego

[ygwerin1 · 7/10 · 20 November 2023]

The aristocracy loves to play games, from birth they learn to dress up, something that they never appear to grow out of.

Snobbery and the sense of entitlement is, by no means confined to these shores.

Americans can more than hold their own, when it comes to self aggrandisement.

This episode revolves around murder at the Masked Ball, of one of the prominent persons present.

Poirot has been prevailed upon by Hastings to attend, after his pronounced ego is appealed to.

A subsequent murder occurs within a short timeframe of the first, of another well heeled party guest.

Chief Inspector Japp has a well attuned critical faculty, such that it is patently obvious why, he achieved such a prestigious rank.