Massud Shaïtana

In Cartes sur table, the French Télévisions film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Cards on the Table, for the Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie TV series, Massud Shaïtana is a very close parallel of Mr Shaitana in the original story.

Like the Shaitana in the original story, he is a collector of fine and expensive works of art. He meets commissaire Laurence at an exhibition and offered to show him his "collection" of people who had committed murders but had gotten away with it. Shortly thereafter, four people turned up unexpectedly at Laurence's office. Laurence is surprised at first but surmised that Shaïtana had summoned them. Laurence then had Shaïtana arrested for causing a nuisance but he asks for a chance to prove his point. Laurence agrees, and so sets up a dinner and bridge party just like in the original story. He is then killed in the same circumstances.

The only difference in this adaptation is that Shaïtana knows each of the four murder "suspects" personally. Dr Emile Barillon is his personal doctor. Madame Hélène Nevers plays bridge with him. Paul Coupet is planning a safari for him. Elise Schlumberger was a lady's companion and looked after a friend of his. At the time of the dinner, Elise was staying in Shaïtana's house. He even supplied a dress and jewellery for her to wear during the dinner.