Iain-215 Of the three TV movies to feature Ustinov's Poirot in the eighties, this is easily the best in my opinion. There are three negatives to get out of the way first; firstly the action is updated to the eighties but this is not much of a problem in this film - 'Dead Man's Folly' is an English country house murder and once we have arrived at Nasse House we could almost be in any decade from the forties onwards. The only real intrusion from the eighties is the character of rock music promoter Eddie South (French playboy Etienne de Sousa in the novel). Secondly there is some quite broad comedy which is occasionally irritating - particularly the large group of amateur investigators scurrying around after the police with notebooks (why are Mrs Oliver and Amanda Brewis allowed to take part in the interviews?). Lastly there is the irredeemably wet and drippy portrayal of Hastings by Jonathan Cecil to be endured - but his role is not an especially important one thankfully! Happily there are also many positives. The setting for Nasse House and it's grounds is beautiful and the film is generally well shot. Ustinov himself seems happier and more natural in this movie than he was in 'Thirteen At Dinner' - his own delivery of the lines is smoother and there is less of the sometimes annoying rambling and add-libbing from the earlier film. He is also surrounded with (on the whole) a very good supporting cast. Jean Stapleton is lovely as an American Mrs Oliver and there are good performances also from Tim Piggot Smith and Susan Wooldridge. I actually liked Nicolette Sheridan as Hattie - the character is supposed to be theatrically vague and empty headed and she carries this off rather well. The best supporting performance of all however is undoubtedly Constance Cummings who just IS Mrs Folliat - this is a completely natural and unforced performance worthy of the 'big screen'.The adaptation is supremely faithful to the book even in the minor details and seems to flow more smoothly than 'Thirteen At Dinner' which often seemed choppy. Altogether I enjoyed this very much and will certainly be watching again.

benbrae76 There has been (so far) only one definitive screen Poirot and that is David Suchet. As much as I admired the art of the late Sir Peter Ustinov, he was always completely miscast in this role. He was nothing like the character that Agatha Christie envisaged, i.e. an over-fastidious dapper little man who had a mincing walk, a bald egg-shaped head and a dark waxed moustache. Peter's rotund shape, with crumpled clothes and a crumpled moustache to match, would make her, and indeed Poirot himself, turn in their graves. However, Ustinov, as he usually does in this role, and probably deliberately, hams it up (likewise the entire cast) with enthusiastic gusto, but again I suspect, not entirely as Miss Christie would have imagined it.Jonathon Cecil plays Capt Hastings as if he was a complete moron. Although not blessed with the same "little grey cells" as his companion, Hastings was not written as a fool, and in fact had supposedly been in Military Intelligence, which (although suggested in the film), is not a place for idiots.Overall this movie (as with all Ustinov's portrayals of the character) is to Poirot, as burlesque is to the legitimate theatre, but so what? It's enjoyable to watch, and that's what entertainment is all about.

James Beauchamp Now, it may come as a surprise to most people when you see the rating that I have given this TV-movie (10 out of 10), especially when you read most of the other comments on this movie. But I will explain, and you'll see that there is some method to my madness.Firstly, I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan, especially of the Hercule Poirot mysteries. I had read the book Dead Man's Folly and had enjoyed it immensely, thus making me search out this movie. When I discovered that it was Peter Ustinov who was starring as Poirot I was over the moon, as I consider him by far the best Poirot. In my opinion, Ustinov is the definitive Poirot.I managed to find the movie and then watch it. It was excellent. Ustinov was brilliant as the detective gifted with "the little grey cells". It was not as good as Evil Under The Sun or Death On The Nile, however my mark reflects the closeness of the movie to the text. I couldn't believe how close the movie was. As I was sitting there watching the film I was uttering the lines in my mind from how they were seen in the book. It was a terrific film and deserves every bit of my 10 marks.

JackStallion I love Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot. Forget all those other phonies who've tried to fill his shoes! Including that ridiculous Murder on the Orient Express, or that laughable David Sachet! His sly, lovable demeanor rivals any of the great actors playing detectives- Peter Falk as Columbo, etc. He has a wonderful way of gaining the confidence and trust of each of his suspects, while probing them for information. You never really know who he suspects, and that's the fun of the mystery. He guides you through the maze like true detective. I have seen each of his delicious portrayals as the great, Belgian detective several times, and they just get better with age.