Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collection 9 [DVD]

Many years' ago I read all of Dame Agatha Christie's Poirot books. I have recently added Collection 9 to the Complete Collection. All 11 Series of my Poirot DVD's, and I am now satisfied that the passion I feel for the little Belgian detective can go no further. David Suchet was born to portray this over-fastidious and brilliant detective on screen. A wonderful writer, plus a brilliant actor, spells BLISS! 08 February 2016 Since posting my previous review, I have just finished reading David Suchet's book 'Poirot and Me'. It is about his involvement with the filming of the Poirot series. He tells the reader how as a character actor, he embraced the challenge of playing Poirot on screen,reading all of the seventy stories written byDame Agatha Christie, and paying particular attention to how she described Poirot's idiosyncrasies. To help David remember them he made a list of what he referred to as 'my dossier of characteristics', it ended up five pages long and detailed ninety-three different aspects of Poirot's life. I have always enjoyed watching David Suchet's portrayal of Poirot due to the authenticity of his performances. Since reading his book I can now understand the reason why. He has been a replica of the Belgian detective for the last 25 years'. This book is well worth reading. He mentions briefly aspects of his private life, his early life in the theatre, also the film work that has come his way over the years'. Dame Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot and David Suchet, to you all, au revoir and merci beaucoup!

This collection contains the final five films of the Poirot books - Elephants Can Remember, The Big Four, Dead Man's Folly, The Labours of Hercules and Curtain. As ever the standard and high quality is maintained. Perhaps the only disappointment is that it was necessary to make some fundamental changes to the storyline of The Big Four. This is perhaps not surprising as at times the original book reads more like a spy story than a typical detective novel, but it has to be said that the denouement in the film was rather underwhelming. Any disappointment with this was more than compensated for by the excellence of the other four films. I was interested to see how they would attempt The Labours of Hercules which was originally a collection of 12 short stories and the results did not disappoint. They managed to weave at least four of the stories into the intricate plot as well as make reference to some of the others. Of course, Curtain: Poirot's Last Case was a very bitter-sweet affair and was brilliantly tense and claustrophobic.The box set also includes an interview with David Suchet as well as the excellent documentary on 25 years of Poirot that was shown on TV.

Now the Poirot cases have been completed - I would have hated the thought of leaving the series unfinished. Again wonderful entertainment. I just subtracted one star as the packaging is a little below the standard of the former issues (a bit too economical for a final issue). I also would have liked a small insert (booklet) with a retrospective on the series. Anyway, nothing to dull Poirot's sparkle...

Spot on

This set contains five full films of Hercule Poirot detecting : The Labours of Hercules, The Big Four, Dead Man's Folly, Elephants Can Remember and Curtain, With this package, David Suchet completes the filming of all Poirot short stories and full novels that were written by Agatha Christie. They are of course, simply superb. After 25 years of the role, David Suchet just lives the role. However do watch the films in an order that places Curtain last. The script of Curtain was written by Christie in order to kill off her character and was placed in trust to be released after her death in order to stop others using her detective. By setting it 20 years after any cases that might be written in the interim, Christie avoided any obvious errors in writing. However this was a challenge for David Suchet who dieted for nine months in order to lose the 35 pounds required to look as described : a little shrivelled old man tied to a wheelchair by arthritis. The extra interviews alone make this set worth buying as Suchet bids farewell to his alter ego and the cast disperses. Just Brilliant !!

I watched each of the final episodes with some sadness, as these are to be the last of films made by what I regard as such magnificent artists. I absolutely love David Suchet's interpretation of Poirot. The supporting cast is always superb as well. The gorgeous English country side and engrossing portrayals of Christie's great novels and short stories have all been done with incomparable taste and splendor that only the British seemed to have mastered. I enjoyed some episodes more than others, but it is always a delightful pleasure to immerse myself and imagine for a moment that I am there and part of the story somehow. Engrossing, delightful, incomparable, magnificent, a sheer pleasure and joy are some of the words I would use to describe not only this final series but every episode of the series. David Suchet and those with whom he collaborated on this life's work should be extremely proud of their accomplishment. If only America could produce such quality (I'm an American)!

I chose this rating instead of 5 Stars because I do prefer the original Poirot versions. This Collection is beautifully done but the stories are changed and not the real Agatha Christie Poirot. I really purchased this Collection just to get Curtain. I know it will not be the same a the original Curtain but that seems to be no longer available and "beggars can't be choosers" However I do have to praise Amazon UK for how quickly I received it. IO arrived February 28th long before the earliest date I was l was likely to receive it. For that I give you 5 Stars Plus..

Great episodes of Poirot. What else?. To all fans, this box is great.