The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode)

The Adventure of Johnnie Waverly is the third episode of series 1 of the ITV British television drama series Agatha Christie's Poirot featuring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, first broadcast on 22 January 1989 in the UK. The episode is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story of the same name and was directed by Renny Rye with dramatisation by Clive Exton.

Synopsis
Country squire Marcus Waverly and his wife Ada ask Poirot to help before their son Johnnie is kidnapped. Surprisingly, the kidnappers had sent a note beforehand stating the exact time the kidnapping was to take place.

The TV adaptation is very faithful to the original story but with the addition of Miss Lemon, Captain Hastings and Chief Inspector Japp as characters. Poirot is brought into the case earlier, before the kidnapping has taken place.

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
 * Geoffrey Bateman as Marcus Waverly
 * Julia Chambers as Ada Waverly
 * Dominic Rougier as Johnnie Waverly
 * Patrick Jordan as Tredwell
 * Carol Frazer as Jessie Withers
 * Sandra Freeman as Miss Collins
 * Robert Putt as Rogers
 * Patrick Connor as Hughes
 * Phillip Manikum as Sergeant
 * Jona Jones as Constable
 * Jonathan Magnanti as Policeman
 * Samantha Beckinsale as Barmaid

Tropes and themes

 * Poirot's enjoyment of good food. He is disappointed with the meagre breakfast at Waverly Court, goes to a pub and orders a full English breakfast with great relish. In Yellow Iris he seems to dislike the idea of a full English breakfast.
 * Hasting's hobbys
 * Cars - he has been accepted for the 24 Hours for Le Mans race. He excitedly tells Ada Waverly about this. Later, his car runs out of petrol at the worst possible moment. Poirot prefers to use the train to return to London at the end.

Filming Locations

 * Wrotham Park, Barnet, Hertfordshire - Waverly Court
 * The Bull and Butcher, Turville, Henley on Thames - where Hastings and Poirot have breakfast
 * Horsted Keynes Station - Poirot decides to return to London by train