Three Act Tragedy (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode)

Three Act Tragedy is the first episode of series twelve of Agatha Christie's Poirot. It was directed by Ashley Pearce with screenplay by Nick Dear and was broadcast on 3 January 2010. The feature-length episode is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.

Synopsis
When a vicar chokes to death on a cocktail while attending a party held by actor Sir Charles Cartwright, Poirot initially dismisses the idea of murder... but reconsiders when another guest dies in the same manner.

Comparison with Original Novel
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read) Except for a number of minor differences, the adaptation is fairly faithful to the original novel.


 * The characters of Mr Satterthwaite and Angela Sutcliffe have been eliminated. Also absent is Colonel Johnson.
 * The investigations carried out by Satterthwaite in the book are conducted by Poirot himself.
 * Robin Babbington is not dead but has gone to live in an ashram in India.
 * Miss Milray's mother was still alive in the book and was interviewed by Sir Charles Cartwirght and Egg. Here she had died a month before.
 * Most of the main characters are present at the denouement. In the novel, it was a private affair with only Sir Charles, Egg and Satterthwaite. In the original, Poirot allowed Sir Charles to walk away, perhaps believing he was going to commit suicide. Here, Superintendent Crossfield is present at the denouement. He is the one who produces the evidence of Sir Charles' passport. Crossfield follows Sir Charles off stage, presumably to arrest him.

Cast

 * David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
 * Martin Shaw as Sir Charles Cartwright
 * Kimberley Nixon as Egg
 * Art Malik as Sir Bartholomew Strange
 * Suzanne Bertish as Miss Milray
 * Anastasia Hille as Cynthia Dacres
 * Ronan Vibert as Captain Dacres
 * Kate Ashfield as Miss Wills
 * Jane Asher as Lady Mary
 * Anna Carteret as Mrs Babbington
 * Nigel Pegram as Reverend Babbington
 * Tom Wisdom as Oliver Manders
 * Michael Hobbs as Coroner
 * Jodie McNee as Annie
 * James Hurran as French Boy (was a girl Marcelle in novel)
 * Tony Maudsley as Superintendent Crossfield
 * Prue Clarke as Matron
 * David Yelland as George
 * Kimberly Stewart as Doris (uncredited)
 * Uncredited actress as Marcelle
 * Uncredited actor as Lord Cardigan
 * Uncredited actres as Lady Cardigan

Tropes and themes

 * The Art Deco 1930s:
 * Exteriors of Crow's Nest (St Anne's Court)
 * Interiors of Crow's Nest (Eltham Palace)
 * Interesting scenery:
 * Devon coast, Pudcombe Cove
 * Poirot's quirks
 * matchmaking Egg to Oliver Manders
 * he knocks and fixes a flickering light in the train carriage

Filming Locations

 * Eltham Palace, Court Road, Eltham, London
 * Art deco style interiors as Sir Charles Cartwright's sitting room.
 * Exterior used as frontage of Strange's sanatorium
 * Gardens for grounds of Crow's Nest
 * Knebworth House, Hertfordshire
 * Exteriors of Melfort Abbey
 * St Ann's Court, Chertsey, Surrey
 * Exteriors of Crow's Nest bulding
 * Pudcombe Cove, Devon
 * As the Cornish coastline
 * Viaduct of Chamborigaud, France
 * Villa Maria Serena, 21 Promenade Reine Astrid, Menton, France - as Hotel Majestic
 * St John the Baptist Church, Church Rd, Little Marlow, Marlow
 * All Saints Church, Church Ln, Bisham, Marlow