by Charles L. P. Silet

The first time Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot appeared on film was in 1931 in Alibi, in an adaptation of Michael Morton's stage version of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926). He was played by tall, dark and handsome matinee idol Austin Trevor. In spite of his physical unsuitability, Trevor played the dapper detective in two more films, Black Coffee (1931), an adaptation of Christie's first play, and Lord Edgware Dies (1934) based on the 1933 novel.

On April 1, 1962, Poirot made his next outing: his debut television appearance which took place in the United States on CBS. Well-known character actor Martin Gabel starred in a half-hour General Electric Theater presentation entitled Hercule Poirot, which was an adaptation of the short story 'The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim'.

Poirot returned to the cinema after a thirty-year hiatus with The Alphabet Murders (1966.) based on The ABC Murders. Directed by Frank Tashlin, who was best known for his Jerry Lewis comedies and Bugs Bunny cartoons (!), the film starred American actor Tony Randall as Poirot, an odd bit of casting that some critics found curiously satisfying and others found lacking in charm. Robert Morley played Captain Hastings as rather more of a bumbling, Watson-like assistant than usual. An earlier version of the film, with Zero Mostel cast as Poirot, had been scrapped because of Christie's vehement objections to a bedroom scene involving her Belgian detective.

Poirot, played by Albert Finney, next appeared in Murder on the Orient Express (1974) in what many critics feel is the most accurate representation of the detective on film. Heavily made up and sporting brilliantined hair and little moustaches, Finney looked the part and captured the combination of fussiness and cunning that fans of the novels had come to envision. The all-star cast included John Gielgud, Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael York, Anthony Perkins and Ingrid Bergman. Gorgeous period sets and costumes contributed to the film's immense popularity, and the picture deservedly won three British Film Awards and six Oscar nominations.

In more recent years veteran British actor Peter Ustinov assumed the role of Poirot in a number of lavish, period films shot in various exotic locations including: Death on the Nile (1978), Evil Under the Sun (1982), and Appointment with Death (1988). He also appeared three times in television films: Thirteen at Dinner (1985) the American title for Lord Edgware Dies, Dead Man's Folly (1986), and Murder in Three Acts (1986).

Ustinov's Poirot, was, perhaps, a little heavier and a little more comic than Christie intended. Of his performances, Death on the Nile is believed to be the best, with Ustinov's enjoyable Poirot flanked by such stars as Bette Davis, David Niven, Angela Lansbury, and Maggie Smith. Evil Under the Sun probably ranks next with Ustinov again supported by some fine acting by Colin Blakely, Maggie Smith, James Mason and Diana Rigg.

Starting in 1989, LWT (London Weekend Television), UK began airing the highly praised Agatha Christie's Poirot starring the superlative actor David Suchet in lavishly produced television films. The long-running series also starred Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings, Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon. After a five-year hiatus, the year 2000 brought two new productions starring David Suchet, Lord Edgware Dies and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and in 2001 Evil Under the Sun and Murder in Mesopotamia. In 2003 Granada International/A&E Network /Agatha Christie Ltd announced an exciting new co-production venture starting with four stunning adaptations of classic Poirots; Five Little Pigs, Sad Cypress, Death on the Nile and The Hollow. Followed in December 2005 on A&E by another four big titles: The Mystery of the Blue Train, After the Funeral, Cards on the Table and Taken At The Flood! Attracting big name writers and all star casts these slick new films won instant recognition and confirmed that Christie still taps into the heart of popular culture.

Poirot Films on Screen

Alibi (1931)
Black Coffee (1931)
Lord Edgware Dies (1934)
The Alphabet Murders (1966)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Death on the Nile (1978)
Evil Under the Sun (1982)
Appointment with Death (1988) 

More information on Poirot films on the big screen can be found at 'Christie on Screen'

Poirot Films on TV
TV movies starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot
Thirteen at Dinner (1985)
Dead Man's Folly (1986)
Murder in Three Acts (1986)

Information on the long running Poirot TV Series follows in 'Poirot TV Series'

Biography
Charles P. Silet teaches courses in film and contemporary literature at Iowa State University and writes extensively on the mystery field. His collection Talking Murder: Interviews with 20 Mystery Writers was published by Persea Books in 1999. ISBN: 0865380961.