The Adventure of 'The Western Star' (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode)

The Adventure of the Western Star is the ninth episode of series 2 of the ITV British television drama series Agatha Christie's Poirot featuring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, first broadcast on 4 March 1990 in the UK. The episode is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie's short story of the same name and was directed by Richard Spence with dramatisation by Clive Exton.

Synopsis
The famous Belgian film star Marie Marvelle consults Poirot (who is a great admirer of hers) about a series of letters threatening that her celebrated diamond 'The Western Star' will soon be stolen.

The adaptation is fairly faithful to the original story with some minor changes and embelishments.

Comparison with Original Story
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)

Cast

 * David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
 * Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings
 * Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
 * Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon
 * Barry Woolgar as Inspector Dougall
 * Struan Rodger as Henrik van Braks (as Straun Rodger)
 * Rosalind Bennett as Marie Marvelle
 * Oliver Cotton as Gregorie Rolf
 * Alister Cameron as Lord Yardly
 * Caroline Goodall as Lady Yardly
 * Stephen Hancock as Mullings
 * Ian Collier as Sergeant
 * Bruce Montague as Hoffberg
 * Julian Gartside as Hotel Receptionist
 * Bill Thomas as Steward
 * Jill Goldston as Street Seller (uncredited)
 * Uncredited actor as Mr Bennett (Poirot's barber)

Tropes and Themes

 * The Art Deco 1930s
 * Shoreham airport (Brighton City Airport) terminal. Used to represent Croydon. Why not Croydon itself? Was it because Shoreham is an Art Deco design while Croydon is neo-classical?
 * Lavish scenery
 * Dorney Court - used as Yardly Chase
 * The chase scene - Japp and his men chase Gregory Rolf to Croydon and then through the airport terminal onto the tarmac.
 * Poirot's quirks
 * He is with his barber, Mr Bennett. He complains that after his last cut his, the left sideburn was 3 mm longer than the right.
 * His cooking. Here he cooks a dish of veal marinated in white wine, brandy and seasoned with fennel.

Filming Locations

 * Shoreham Airport (Brighton City Airport) terminal
 * Dorney Court, Buckinghamshire.
 * Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen St, London.
 * Sandy's Row, London.
 * Artillery Passage, London.

Research notes

 * There is a close up of Poirot's name card in this episode.
 * His address is 56B Whitehaven Mansions, Sandhurst Square, London W1
 * His telephone number is TRA 8137