Agatha Christie often wound her mysteries around the real events and history of the times in which they took place. And, so it is with this story and film, "The Affair at the Victory Ball." After the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, the Royal Albert Hall held a thanksgiving service attended by royalty; and then a Victory Ball on Nov. 27. English poet and author Alfred Noyes had been invited to the ball. He wrote a poem, "The Victory Ball," that The Saturday Evening Post published in 1920. His poem describes wounded young men from the war looking over the celebration, which seems to have no thought of those who had died.
In the years after that, a victory ball was held at different venues and became less a memorial of war and more of a masquerade party. Such is the event in this story. This serves as an unusual setting for Christie's Hercule Poirot. But, the master sleuth is up to the task. After some newspaper publicity that notes he is baffled by the case, he unmasks the demon over the air waves of the BBC.
As the title suggests, the intrigue and crime take place at the masquerade ball. Because Poirot and perennial sidekick Captain Hastings attend the ball, the film has some little scenes in which Poirot overhears or sees someone who will play in the mystery. This episode involves illegal drugs, and Poirot expounds on cocaine as the real demon. A second watch of this episode many years after its initial airing was just as interesting and enjoyable as the first.
This TV episode from Mystery Theater (BBC in England to PBS in America), has some poignant gems and philosophic shots as well as occasional snippets of humor. My favorite line is when Hastings appears in his costume as Sir Percy Blakeney, and recites the first line of Sir Percy's short poetic pun from "The Scarlet Pimpernel." "They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere." (The rest of the poem as Sir Percy recites it reds, "Is he in heaven or is he in hell? That damned elusive Pimpernel."
Here are some more favorite lines from this mystery. James Ackerley (played by Andrew Burt), "Are you sure I can't persuade you to ¬¬¬¬¬¬ recount some of your juicier cases on the radio?" Hercule Poirot, "Alas, no. You see, monsieur, murder - real murder is not an entertainment."
Hercule Poirot, "Because the devil himself dances among us, but we do not see him."
Hercule Poirot, "Chief Inspector, you really ought to look to your elocution." Inspector Japp, "Swat me, there's nothing wrong with my lingo." Poirot, "You see. That is exactly the kind of expression... that brings the language into disrepute."
Hercule Poirot,"I shall lend to the chief inspector my personal copy of the English as she should be spoken."
In the years after that, a victory ball was held at different venues and became less a memorial of war and more of a masquerade party. Such is the event in this story. This serves as an unusual setting for Christie's Hercule Poirot. But, the master sleuth is up to the task. After some newspaper publicity that notes he is baffled by the case, he unmasks the demon over the air waves of the BBC.
As the title suggests, the intrigue and crime take place at the masquerade ball. Because Poirot and perennial sidekick Captain Hastings attend the ball, the film has some little scenes in which Poirot overhears or sees someone who will play in the mystery. This episode involves illegal drugs, and Poirot expounds on cocaine as the real demon. A second watch of this episode many years after its initial airing was just as interesting and enjoyable as the first.
This TV episode from Mystery Theater (BBC in England to PBS in America), has some poignant gems and philosophic shots as well as occasional snippets of humor. My favorite line is when Hastings appears in his costume as Sir Percy Blakeney, and recites the first line of Sir Percy's short poetic pun from "The Scarlet Pimpernel." "They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere." (The rest of the poem as Sir Percy recites it reds, "Is he in heaven or is he in hell? That damned elusive Pimpernel."
Here are some more favorite lines from this mystery. James Ackerley (played by Andrew Burt), "Are you sure I can't persuade you to ¬¬¬¬¬¬ recount some of your juicier cases on the radio?" Hercule Poirot, "Alas, no. You see, monsieur, murder - real murder is not an entertainment."
Hercule Poirot, "Because the devil himself dances among us, but we do not see him."
Hercule Poirot, "Chief Inspector, you really ought to look to your elocution." Inspector Japp, "Swat me, there's nothing wrong with my lingo." Poirot, "You see. That is exactly the kind of expression... that brings the language into disrepute."
Hercule Poirot,"I shall lend to the chief inspector my personal copy of the English as she should be spoken."