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.
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.