Lord Edgware Dies (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode)

Lord Edgware Dies is the second episode of series seven of Agatha Christie's Poirot. It was broadcast on 19 February 2000. The feature-length episode was based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name and it was adapted by Anthony Horowitz and directed by Brian Farnham.

Synopsis
The glamorous Jane Wilkinson is strongly suspected of murdering her husband, the fourth Baron Edgware, so that she could re-marry. However, the actress has a perfect alibi, so Poirot and the police must begin looking for the murderer elsewhere.

Comparison with Original Novel
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read) This adaptation is fairly faithful to the original story, with some minor changes:


 * Adding Miss Lemon, who originally was not featured, into the episode. Here, she (and not Japp) is the one who goes to gather information about the gold case of Carlotta Adams.
 * The letter inside the case is "P." and not "D." this time, so Jenny Driver is changed to Penny to make her a plausible suspect.
 * Omitting the character of the Duchess of Merton. Hastings and Poirot's visit to the Duke of Merton are not featured here, where it is the Duke of Merton himself who goes to Jane Wilkinson's apartment and introduces himself to Poirot.
 * Miss Carroll's character is different from the one in the original story. Here she is given the name "Joyce". In this adaptation, she had a motive for killing Lord Edgware, but did not wear pince-nez.
 * Lucie Adams, Carlotta's sister, is staying in England during the events of the episode rather than in America.

Cast

 * David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
 * Hugh Fraser as Captain Arthur Hastings
 * Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
 * Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon
 * Helen Grace as Jane Wilkinson
 * John Castle as Lord Edgware
 * Fiona Allen as Carlotta Adams
 * Dominic Guard as Bryan Martin
 * Fenella Woolgar as Ellis
 * Deborah Cornelius as Penny Driver
 * Hannah Yelland as Geraldine Marsh
 * Tim Steed as Ronald Marsh
 * Lesley Nightingale as Miss Carroll
 * Christopher Guard as Alton
 * Iain Fraser as Donald Ross
 * Virginia Denham as Alice
 * Tom Beard as Duke of Merton
 * John Quentin as Sir Montagu Corner
 * Janet Hargreaves as Lady Corner
 * Aliza James as Lucie Adams
 * Mark Brignal as Addison
 * John Hart Dyke as Thompson
 * Jonathan Aris as Receptionist
 * Rory Firth as Pageboy
 * Nicola Michaels as Airport Clerk
 * Gary Ross as PC Roberts (uncredited)

Filming Locations

 * Debenham House - Lord Edgware's house
 * Addisland Court - Carlotta Adam's residence
 * Shoreham Airport - standing in for Croydon, where Poirot welcomes Hastings back and scene of final chase of Alton
 * Highpoint II, Lubetkin's Penthouse - Jane Wilkinson's residence. The rooftop terrace is where she meets Poirot and Hastings.
 * Mount Street Gardens, London - Poirot and Jane Wilkinson take a walk in the park, entering from the S. Audley Street entrance.
 * Duke's Road, London - Poirot and Hastings visit Penny Driver's shop.
 * Burlington Arcade, London - Miss Lemon takes the snuffbox to try to find information on it.