Hercule Poirot is up to snuff when he solves the mystery of the murder (or murders?) in "Hallowe'en Party." David Suchet is still in top form in his semi-retirement when his friend, mystery writer Ariadne Oliver (played by Zoe Wanamaker), reaches out for help. This story was a relatively late novel by Agatha Christie, first published in the U. S. in 1969, and then in the U. K.
The plot here surrounds a girl at a Hallowe'en Party that Ariadne was attending. The children are playing games and bobbing for apples, and one of the girls says she had witnessed a murder once, but didn't realize what it was at the time. At the end of the party, she is found dead - drowned in the apple-bobbing tub.
This is one of the superb Poirot mysteries in which one can go back and see clues that were shown early in the film. And the twists and turns in this one still fool and wonderfully surprise mystery buffs like me. I like the occasional touches of history in these stories and films. One here is of people at one point listening to Pres. Franklin Roosevelt's talk on the radio.
When Poirot's valet, George, comments on Halloween customs, Poirot takes exception to the English festivities. He says, "George, at this time of year in Belgium, it is the custom to light the candles in memory of the dead, not to tell the stories macabre."
My favorite line is when Poirot says, "Old sins cast long shadows, madame." This is a superb mystery and film that Christie and Poirot buffs will especially like, and that all others should enjoy as well.