Agatha Christie's Poirot - The Complete Series 1-12 [DVD]

Description

David Suchet stars as Agatha Christie's enigmatic, eccentric and extremely intelligent Detective Hercule Poirot. From England to the Mediterranean, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, Captain Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp and Miss Lemon, Poirot pits his wits against a collection of first class deceptions. Agatha Christie's Poirot - Complete Collection (Collections 1-8) includes all 65 episodes from series 1 to 12.DVD ExtrasDavid Suchet on the Orient Express documentaryDavid Suchet investigates the mystery, history and romance of the Venice-Simplon Orient Express. David goes behind the scenes to meet the people who keep the fantasy on track. Relax into the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, and find out what inspired the classic Murder on the Orient Express.Murder on The Orient Express - Behind The ScenesA behind the scenes look at the filming of Agatha Christie's Poirot's Murder on the Orient Express--including interviews with David Suchet, the cast and crew. Episodes Include: The Adventure of Clapham Cook, Murder in the Mews, The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly, Four and Twenty Blackbirds, The Third Floor Flat, Triangle at Rhodes, Problem at Sea, The Incredible Theft, The King of Clubs, The Dream, Peril at End House, The Veiled Lady, The Lost Mine, The Cornish Mystery, The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim, Double Sin, The Adventure of the Cheap Flat, The Kidnapped Prime Minister, The Adventure of the Western Star, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, How Does Your Garden Grow?, The Million Dollar Bond Robbery, The Plymouth Express, Wasp's Nest, Tragedy at Marsden Manor, Double Cue, The Mystery of the Spanish Chest, The Theft of the Royal Ruby, The Affair at the Victory Ball, The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge, ABC Murders, Death in the Clouds, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, The Underdog, Yellow Iris, The Case of the Missing Will, The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman, The Chocolate Box, The Dead Man's Mirror, The Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan, Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Hickory, Dickory Dock, Murder in the Links, Dumb Witness, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Lord Edgware Dies, Murder in Mesopotamia, Evil Under the Sun, Five Little Pigs, Sad Cypress, Death On the Nile, The Hollow, The Mystery of the Blue Train, After the Funeral, Cards On the Table, Taken at the Flood, Mrs McGinty's Dead, Cat Among the Pigeons, Appointment with Death, Third Girl, Murder On The Orient Express, Three Act Tragedy, The Clocks, Hallowe'en Party Review: Suchet IS Poirot, mon ami, and this is Belgian, not French! - SUCHET IS THE MAN! Oh yes, he appears to be an actor, but is he really? He is far more than that! During my long investigation, mon ami, I discovered that he is also a Producer and a Director. How do I know? Well, this is a fact contained in this tiny marvel that is the "Agatha Christie's Poirot" Full Collection. They should have named it "David Suchet's Poirot", since he is the only true and so far, the most elaborate Poirot ever brought to the screen. David Suchet is a master actor, not just your everyday actor. He studied the character from scratch, since Agatha Christie never really gave him life. She just used him in her Novels as one of her characters, and except for giving him some general physical traits, she never went deeper than that. Hence "David Suchet's Poirot". And what a Poirot it is! It shines like a wonderful diamond, carefully cut and displayed. The Boxed collection is divided in Six booklets of 4 DVDs each and includes all the episodes and TV movies aired from 1989 to January 2006. Yes, my friend, 2006. Considering that it is still being produced as I am writing this, the next two being "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" and "Dead Man's Folly", this does not represent as yet the definitive collection, but rather what has been filmed and produced to this day. This alone is enough reason to buy it. It is a masterpiece! A Jewel in the Crown of British film-making. The only other collection that I know which is as good as this one, in the Agatha Christie's selection is Margaret Rutherford's "Miss Marple". Despite the fact that Margaret Rutherford was not at all as described by Agatha Christie, she managed nevertheless to make the role hers and hers alone. Alas, she died before she could film more wonderful translations in the series. Who knows, if she had lived another decade, if there had been other incarnations of Miss Marple? In any case David Suchet is alive and kicking and I am glad he still continues to incarnate the Belgian Sleuth. What an eclectic thespian he is, and what a master of disguise. All episodes are flamboyant and highly entertaining. Filled with Poirot's mannerisms and idiosyncracies they are never dull or boring, but rather gripping and at times, even funny. Image quality on these DVDs is as sharp as technology permits nowadays and the sound, at least for all the episodes filmed prior to 2002, is in Digital Mono, but crystal clear and even rounded a bit up for ambiance. All the episodes and TV movies after 2002 are in 1:78 anamorphic ratio and sport an outstanding Stereo Sound. I seem to have even spotted a hint of 5.1 channeling in the last two TV movies, but perhaps it was due to my hearing playing tricks on me. All in all this is a most recommendable Collection and don't let yourself been thrown off by the price. It is cheaper than you may think, for such a masterpiece. Included with the latest episodes are also a few extras. Mind you, nothing mind blowing, but not too bad. There are some interviews with the cast and a few crew members, as well as a very insightful "reveleation" by David Suchet himself. I can only recommend it, mon ami. Bon, et maintenant I must go and study my next case, because writing reviews is not, as you British might say, my cup of tea, and to me this is intolerable idleness. So, vite, vite, allez, buy this collection. Poirot is waiting for you in here and cannot come to you, mon ami, and if you want to know how he proceeds to solve his cases, you must make an effort and decide by yourself what is right for you. In any case, don't miss out just because you are shy, my friend. Review: A wonderful collection - David Suchet excels as Poirot. He simply IS Poirot - such is the supreme quality of his acting. The various interviews that come with this set of DVDs are also very good; in one of them Suchet explains how he developed the character of Poirot e.g. the voice, the dress etc. Very insightful. The support cast in the earlier episodes is also brilliant: Hugh Fraser as Capt Hastings is a loveable duffer. I recently read how one of the better-known scriptwriters for some episodes in the series, Anthony Horowitz, mischievously made Hastings exclaim 'Good Lord!' or 'My word!' in as many episodes as possible. I now laugh every time I hear Hastings blurt out these exclamations. Philip Jackson as James Japp captures the dourness of the Chief Inspector and it's lovely to see the warm friendship that develops between him and Poirot over the course of the series. And, finally, Pauline Moran excels as the pedantic, librarian-like, Miss Lemon. The cameraderie that develops between the four characters (Poiriot, Hastings, Miss Lemon & Japp) is a joy to watch. My only complaint about the series is that from around season 9 onwards it becomes darker and lacks the light humour of the earlier episodes. I think this is mainly because the characters of Hastings, Japp & Miss Lemon no longer make an appearance - instead, Poirot takes on an elderly butler and deals with a succession of chief inspectors. But such is the quality of this ITV production that I can no longer watch other actors portraying Poirot. For example, Peter Ustinov played Poirot in a film adaptation of 'Death on the Nile' in the late 70s. This film was screened on TV a few months ago in the UK, but I had to switch it off after 20 mins as Ustinov jarred as Poirot. He just isn't a patch on Suchet's Poirot. Ultimately, you realise just how good Suchet is after watching another actor in Poirot's polished, patent leather shoes. If you want to be entertained with quality TV then it doesn't get much better than Poirot. Buy the DVD set for those cold, grim winter nights that are fast approaching. You won't regret it. In fact, I've just seen that seasons 11 & 12 are now available on DVD via desertcart and have bought them too!