The Lost Mine (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode)

The Lost Mine is the third episode of series 2 of the ITV British television drama series Agatha Christie's Poirot featuring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, first broadcast on 21 January 1990 in the UK. The episode is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story of the same name and was directed by Edward Bennett with dramatisation by Michael Baker and David Renwick.

Synopsis
The director of Poirot's bank, Lord Pearson, consults the Detective after the disappearance of Mr Wu Ling who was to sell the bank a map leading to a Burmese mine abundant with silver.

While the main premise of the original story, the recovery of the map of a lost mine, is retained, there are extensive changes to the backgrounds of various characters. Miss Lemon has been added and Chief Inspector Japp takes over as the role of Inspector Miller.

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
 * Anthony Bate as Lord Pearson
 * Colin Stinton as Charles Lester
 * Barbara Barnes as Mrs Lester
 * James Saxon as Reggie Dyer
 * Vincent Wong as Chinaman (most likely the impersonator of Wu Ling)
 * Richard Albrecht as Lobby Clerk
 * John Cording as Inspector Jameson
 * Gloria Connell as Miss Devenish
 * Julian Firth as Bank Teller
 * Peter Barnes as Wilkins
 * Hi Ching as Chow Feng
 * Ozzie Yue as Restaurant Manager - see Mr Ho
 * Chris Walker as First Officer (as Christopher Walker)
 * Joe Frazer as Second Officer
 * Daryl Kwan as Oriental Gentleman (most likely the person mistaken at the bank for Wu Ling)
 * Susan Leong as Chinese Tart
 * Ian Boo Khoo as Chinese Street Boy (uncredited)
 * Lee Richards as Car Surveillance Policewoman (uncredited)
 * Uncredited actress as Miss Boreham

Tropes and Themes

 * The game of monopoly
 * Investment in stocks and shares - Hastings gives a lot of advice to Miss Lemon but it is Poirot's advice which proves correct at the end.
 * Modern tools in solving crimes
 * vehicular surveillance with radio control (arrest of Dyer)
 * use of wirephoto to send photographs (Burmese authorites wire Wu Ling's photo to Scotland Yard)

Filming Locations

 * Various streets in London such as Ezra Street, Bethnal Green dressed up as Chinatown. Chinatown itself was not actually used.
 * Bloomsbury Square, London as the hotel where the Chinese businessman signs in as Mr. Wu Ling.