The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1990)

The greatest movie ever made..!

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' is the first Poirot story. However as this is the feature length story marking the beginning of the the third season, it almost serves as a prequel.The action moves to 1917, the great war is still raging. Lieutenant Hastings has been wounded and also maybe shell shocked. He is invited by an old friend John Cavendish (David Rintoul) to stay at his vast estate, Styles Court to recuperate. Along the way Hastings is told that John's mother has married Albert Ingelthorpe (Michael Cronin) who is 20 years younger than her. The motive for the marriage can only be money.In the nearby village Hastings encounters a man who he once met, Hercules Poirot who is a Belgian refugee.Later that night John's mother dies, it is poison. Hastings has no option but to call in Poirot, the man who he once helped in an investigation.The obvious culprit is Albert Ingelthorpe who is silent about his whereabouts and who also purchased some poison for a dog. However Poirot is convinced that Ingelthorpe might have a watertight alibi even though he has motive compared to others in the household.A generation of schoolchildren at the time might have been confused that PE teacher, Mr Baxter from Grange Hill cannot surely be the baddie. As we have gone back in time Suchet's Poirot has more hair. Unfortunately little is done make Hastings and Japp look younger.As I have said about the previous early episodes of Poirot, the art and set decoration is sumptuous. There are just some wonderful scenes with a huge hanging painting as some people walk down the stairs of some government building. There are short scenes which require period detail, costumes, sets and extras. Money was thrown into this series.However it did feel a bit overlong and the reasons that Poirot deduced to catch the culprit was rather weak. It is a locked room mystery but one where the killer has written down the incriminating evidence.

While recovering from injuries received during the War, Lieutenant Hastings is invited to visit an old friend in his mother's, Mrs. Inglethorp, country estate. The household is in a state because of the mother's recent marriage to a strange man 20 years her junior. One night, Mrs. Inglethorp is taken ill and dies. The cause of death - poisoning. The family suspects the new husband, but he wasn't at home on the night of the murder. Looking for help in solving the mystery, Lieutenant Hastings calls on a war refugee from Belgium living in the village. He's an odd bird, but a great detective named Hercule Poirot.The Mysterious Affair at Styles isn't one of the great Christie works, but it's fun enough with interesting characters and a "nice" murder. I say it's not great because there are two things that really bug me (at least in this presentation of the story). First, the murderer makes the most illogical mistake imaginable. Why did he leave the incriminating piece of evidence where it could be found? Second, Poirot makes an awful lot of suppositions that just happen to be right. He's more clairvoyant here than usual.But none of that matters much when the rest of the episode is so good and fun. It's a real hoot watching Poirot march his fellow Belgian refugees through the streets of a small English village. They look like penguins on parade. It's also a treat to see Hastings and Poirot renew an old friendship. It's a really nice moment. And, it's also a joy to watch Japp and Poirot working together on their first English case. The only thing missing was Miss Lemon. I only wish they would have filmed The Mysterious Affair at Styles first. It would have nicely set-up everything to follow. For someone new to the series, I'd suggest going straight to S3E1 to start. Overall, a 7/10 from me.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles(the book to introduce the quintessential detective) is not my favourite Agatha Christie novel, but it was a great read with memorable characters, fine atmosphere and a carefully-constructed plot. This adaptation of the book is not my favourite episode of the wonderful Agatha Christie:Poirot series, but it is ever bit as compelling as the book and more.The characters are still memorable, Poirot is still the clever and eccentric detective we know and love, Hastings is appropriately naive and Japp is still amusing. Supporting cast wise, Albert especially is very shifty. The plot is very clever and careful, with the odd logical lapse, and sticks fairly faithfully to that of the book. And the atmosphere is also there, not haunting as it is in Hickory Dickory Dock, One, Two, Buckle My Buckle or The ABC Murders, but a lot of scenes left an impression, especially Emily Inglethorp's death scene and the final solution.On its own terms, The Mysterious Affair at Styles works wonders. The adaptation is shot in a very sumptuous visual style with interesting camera-angles, luxurious costumes and breathtaking scenery and evoking of the period. The music is not the best there is in these adaptations, but it is still beautiful and haunting as it should be, the dialogue is thoughtful and intelligent with the odd spot of humour and the direction is very well done making this episode I feel one of the better-directed early episodes.The cast are also magnificent. David Suchet is an outstanding Poirot and nails everything about the detective down to the appearance, accent and mannerisms. Hugh Fraser gives one of his better performances of the series and Phillip Jackson is a joy. The supporting cast are high-calibre across the board, with Michael Cronin, Robert Calf and Gillian Barge particularly standing out.In conclusion, a fine adaptation and one of my favourites of the series. 9/10 Bethany Cox

David Suchet is the quintessential Hercules Poirot, and it was a joy to see his portrayal of the famed detective's first case. After a slow start, the "funny little man" makes his first appearance on the screen. Of course, the character as portrayed by Suchet was still being developed, so there are a few minor differences, but nothing that would be annoying.As was mentioned before, the period sets, clothing and props were delightful. The mannerisms of the upper crust are always fun to watch in Poirot, as they seem completely oblivious to the real world.I highly recommend this program to fans of the series.