Murder on the Links is the third episode of series six of Agatha Christie's Poirot. It was broadcast on 11 February 1996. The feature-length episode was based on the Agatha Christie novel by the same name and it was dramatized by Anthony Horowitz and directed by Andrew Grieve.
Synopsis[]
While Poirot and Hastings are enjoying their holiday in France, they are approached by Paul Renauld who fears for his life. The next day, his wife is found gagged and bound and the businessman himself lies dead on a nearby golf course. Poirot wagers the arrogant Giraud who is in charge of the case that he shall be the first to solve the crime.
Cast[]
- David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
- Hugh Fraser as Arthur Hastings
- Bill Moody as Giraud
- Damien Thomas as Paul Renauld
- Sophie Linfield as Marthe Daubreuil
- Katherine Fahey as Bernadette Daubreuil
- Jacinta Mulcahy as Bella Duveen
- Bernard Latham as Lucien Bex
- Ben Pullen as Jack Renauld
- Diane Fletcher as Eloise Renauld
- Terence Beesley as Stonor
- Andrew Melville as Dr Hautet
- Henrietta Voigts as Leonie
- James Vaughan as Adam Letts
- Ray Gatenby as a Station Master
- Randal Herley as the Judge
- Peter Yapp as a Lawyer
- Terry Raven as a Tramp
- Margaret Clifton as a Concierge
- Tim Berrington as a Golfer
- Howard Lee as a Golfer
- Joseph Morton as a Policeman
- Christopher Hammond as a Policeman
- Belinda Stewart-Wilson as a Dubbing Secretary
- Richard Bebb as a Newsreader
- Laurence Richardson as a Golfer
Comparison with Original Novel[]
Spoiler warning: A spoiler is announced! The following section contains details about the plot of Murder on the Links and its adaptation.
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
- The adaptation begins with a long flashback detailing the making of a broadcast on the Beroldy murder trial. Poirot later returns to London, sees the documentary and consults the broadcaster.
- The setting of the main story is changed from Merlinville-sur-mer in the twenties to Deauville in 1936.
- In the book, Hercule Poirot is invited by Paul Renauld while in the adaptation Poirot is on holiday with Hastings in Deauville and the hotel they are staying is owned by Paul. It is in the hotel that Paul and Poirot meet.
- Paul Renauld's murder takes place only 10 years after the Beroldy murder (instead of 20 in the book) and as a result the character of Jack Renauld is changed to a stepson, with a strong motive to kill him. Arnold Beroldy’s profession changes slightly, and Georges Conneau changes to George Connor.
- The characters of Dulcie and Bella Duveen were merged. In this adaptation, Hastings does not meet Bella on the train. Rather he meets her in France where she is engaged as a singer in the hotel. The final scene shows them kissing by the beach.
- Because Dulcie Duveen is not present in the adaptation, Marthe is killed by Renauld's secretary. Hastings does not couple with Dulcie at the end.
Spoilers end here.
Tropes and themes[]
- Poirot and his food – Poirot chastises Hastings for booking a hotel for its magnificent golf course rather than because of a good chef, but finds upon arrival that the food is excellent nonetheless
- Animosity between the official investigator and the detective – here, Inspector Giraud mocks Poirot's methods, does not let him properly question some of the suspects and finally suggests a wager: his pipe against Poirot's moustache, depending on who is the first to solve the case
- Hastings smitten by (and imparting confidential information to) a charming young lady
Filming Locations[]
- Deauville Train Station, 14800 Deauville, France - Poirot and Hastings arrive at Deauville
- Hotel Barrière Le Normandy Deauville, 38 Rue Jean Mermoz, 14800 Deauville, France - as Hotel du Golf exteriors
- Mentmore Towers House, Buckinghamshire LU7 0QE - interiors of hotel
- Manoir Chalet Villa Le Pré la Bruyere, Hennequeville (49.3841006N 0.1064344E, What3words "stoops.bottleneck.influxes") - Villa Geneviève
- 18 Impasse de la Mer, 14360 Trouville-sur-Mer (49°22'49.4832"N 0°5'48.75"E What3words: "tissue.plotting.thriving") - Villa Marguerite. This was "Petit Manoir", formerly belonging to a famous actress Mme Gabrielle Rejane
- Résidence Hôtel de Paris, 17 Rue de Paris, 14360 Trouville-sur-Mer - the Prefecture of Police. The red/white archway is at the junction of Rue de Paris and Rue Carnot.
- New River Head (former Metropolitan Water Board Headquarters Building), 173 Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, London, UK - staircase inside the Prefecture.
- Les Planches de Deauville & promenade, 14800 Deauville, France
- The Pompeian Baths - Hastings meets Bella while going for a swim. Later they are seen walking through this Art Deco structure after lunch at a cafe.[1]
- The boardwalk - the cycle race starts and ends here.
- Hall of l'hotel des Roches Noiges, 89 Rue Général Leclerc, 14360 Trouville-sur-Mer (49.3723297, 0.0841225 What3words: "guarded.piper.apricot") - Hastings has tea with Bella here after meeting her for the first time at Planches de Deauville.
- La Villa Mauresque Et L'Escalier Du Serpent, Trouville-sur-Mer (49°22'06"N 0°04'59"E) - Bella's residence
- Bd Léon et Robert Morane, Trouville-sur-Mer, Normandie, France