The Case of the Missing Will is the fourth episode of series 5 of the ITV British television drama series Agatha Christie's Poirot featuring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, first broadcast on 7 February 1993 in the UK. It was partly based on the Agatha Christie short story of the same name and directed by John Bruce with dramatisation by Douglas Watkinson.
Synopsis[]
Andrew Marsh, a rich, terminally ill man, asks Poirot to be executor of his new will, in which he intends to leave the whole estate to his ward Violet Wilson. However, he is murdered before he can write it – and it seems that his old will has also disappeared.
The TV film is very different from Christie's original story. Some names have been retained but the characters essentially play different roles.
Comparison with Original Story[]
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
This adaptation is vastly different from the original story. The will here is not hidden by Andrew Marsh. Instead of being sceptical about education for woman, here, Andrew Marsh is proud that Violet is about to graduate. He wants to makes a new will leaving everything to Violet, with Poirot as executor, but he is murdered before he can put this to paper. The "missing will" in this adaptation is the old will made many years before which did not include a bequest to Violet. This was missing from the solicitor's office. Who stole it and why? Poirot is determined to uncover Andrew's killer. At the same time, he also has the challenge of seeing that Andrew's last wishes are complied with.
Cast[]
- David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
- Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings
- Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
- Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon
- Beth Goddard as Violet Wilson
- Rowena Cooper as Sarah Siddaway
- Richard Durden as Dr Martin Pritchard
- Mark Kingston as Andrew Marsh
- Susan Tracy as Phyllida Campion
- Gillian Hanna as Margaret Baker
- Terrence Hardiman as John Siddaway
- Jon Laurimore as Walter Baker
- Edward Atterton as Robert Siddaway
- Neil Stuke as Peter Baker
- Stephen Oxley as Doctor
- Scott Cleverdon as President
- George Beach as Undergraduate
- Simon Owen as Robert as a child
- Glen Mead as Peter as a child
- Stephanie Thwaites as Violet as a child
- Pat Gorman as London Man (uncredited)
Filming Locations[]
- Various scenes in Cambridge
- St John's College, St John's Street, Cambridge
- Trinity Lane, Cambridge
- Trinity Street, Cambridge - arrival at Cambridge
- All Saints Passage, Cambridge - Violet waiting for Poirot
- Newton's Apple Tree, Trinity College - Poirot gets out of car after arrival
- Debating chamber of Cambridge Union Society - the debate
- St John's College Chapel Cloisters - Violet and Robert consult Phyllida
- The Bridge of Sighs, St John's, Cambridge
- 56 Trumpington Street, Cambridge - office of J.H.C. Siddaway, Solicitor
- Little Thakeham, West Sussex - Crabtree Manor
- Smithfield Market, Grand Avenue, London - as Liverpool Street Station Underground
- West Wycombe Park
- Temple of the Winds - Hastings and Poirot pass this on the way to Crabtree. It is also the place where Andrew Marsh's body is found.
- Normansfield Theatre, Langdon Down Centre - Violet's graduation ceremony (same location used in After the Funeral (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode))
- Long Grove Hospital, Prospect House, Epsom, Surrey - hospital where Miss Lemon looks up records
Research notes[]
- On Andrew Marsh's death certificate, the address of Crabtree Farm is stated as Knapwell, Cambridgeshire (an actual location).
- The date of death is 15 June 1936.