User Reviews

Poirot has been sent for a rest by his doctor, and he has chosen to stay at the Grand Metropolitan Hotel in Brighton. A theatrical producer, Ed Opalson, and his wife, actress Margaret, are staying there as well. Opalson has purchased a valuable string of pearls that he will use in his new play about -- what else, a jewel theft.

Naturally, the jewels disappear. At first, Poirot is encouraged by Hastings to turn it down, which he does. However, when the detective continues to be taken as "Lucky Len," who is part of a newspaper contest where the person who can find Len wins ten pounds, getting rest is difficult. So, why not take the case? This is a fun episode with more than a touch of flamboyance: the play itself, the pearls, Lucky Len, it all adds up to a highly entertaining episode. I love it when Poirot has Hastings to bounce off of, as he does here. Actually my favorite episodes have the old gang on hand: Hastings, Miss Lemon, and Japp.

In this episode of Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie's super sleuth is on doctor's orders to relax for a couple of weeks. His case load has been wearing him down. But, we viewers all know that keeping Poirot down is like trying to tie down a greased pig. He would appreciate such a metaphor.

Well, with Captain Hastings, Poirot visits a coastal area along the British Riviera. But when the famous pearls of a theater director go missing, Poirot is there to solve the crime. All of his frequent companions are in this segment. An added comedic sidetrack in this episode has people identifying Poirot as the character in a newspaper contest.

This story is taking place in the late 1930s. So, it seems strange that the theater producer, Ed Opalsen (played by Trevor Cooper) would wish his wife, "good luck," as she goes on stage. By the early 1920s, the acting profession didn't say that, but instead wished a performer well by saying, "Break a leg."

Here are some favorite lines from the story.

Hercule Poirot, "This holiday, Hastings, already I begin to have second thoughts."

Margaret Opalsen, "I bet you guessed who'd stolen the pearls by the second interval, Monsieur Poirot." Hercule Poirot, "Not at all, madam. It was a question that ceased to occupy my mind long before the very first."

Miss Lemon, "I thought this was meant to be a holiday, Captain Hastings. I'll talk to you later."

Hercule Poirot, seeing a familiar face, goes over to the man and says, "You are Lucky Len of the Daily Echo, and I claim my 10 guineas." Lucky Len, "You're right. I was Lucky Len. But I'm sorry. I got fired this morning." Hercule Poirot, "Fired? Why?" Lucky Len, "Too many people were recognizing me. The paper decided it must be my face. It's too common." He looks much like Poirot, especially with an identical mustache. Poirot, frowning, says, "Common?" Lucky Len, "That's what they say. Bit of a cheek, if you ask me. But, there you are." Poirot, "They are wrong, mon ami. You have a face that is most distinguished. You have no need to work for this newspaper. You have a face of a great man." Lucky Len, "You think so?" Hercule Poirot, "Oh yes. I know it."

I never tire of watching Agatha Christie's Poirot. All the actors are so wonderful. In this episode it was great to watch Sorcha Cusack. I just like her very much.

I may be biased as I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and of the Poirot adaptations, but alongside The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman, The Chocolate Box and Wasp's Nest, Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan is one of my personal favourites of the short story Poirot adaptations. I agree that some of the clues are a little obvious in the sense that you wonder how you could've missed them first time if re-watching, but there is so much to love. Not just the typically outstanding performance of David Suchet as Poirot and Hugh Fraser a great contrast as Hastings, but also the splendid scenery, costumes and photography and evocative atmosphere. Add to that a haunting and memorable score, intelligent and funny dialogue, fun support from Phillip Jackson and Pauline Moran and a story that is simple but absorbing from beginning to end, and you have a fun and simply wonderful Poirot mystery. All in all, well worth watching. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Producer Mr Opalsen acquires an exquisite pearl necklace worn by a famous Russian actress in 1908, it is to be used in his new stage play, a tale in which a jewel robbery occurs. A worn out Poirot is in town, and investigates when it gets stolen.

The lucky Len story running through the episode is really funny, Poirot's reactions to each wannabe winner is fun.

Another one of those episodes where we get an unknown man walking with a distinctive walking cane. They literally did that to death.

It isn't one of my favourite episodes I'll be honest, that is to say I still find it very enjoyable, it's very well written, it has the usual fantastic production values, I especially love the scenes at the Theatre. It's beautifully acted, and it's rather humorous too.

Not tremendously intriguing, but still engaging and amusing. A more light hearted watch. 7/10

Hercule Poirot is suffering from fatigue so his doctor recommends he leave London and have a holiday. Him and Hastings go to Brighton, staying in the Grand Metropolitan Hotel. In a nearby room are Ed Opalson, a highly successful play producer, and his wife, Margaret. Mr Opalson's latest play is showing in Brighton and one of the features of it is that his wife gets act in it while wearing a very expensive, and world-famous, set of pearls. Mr Opalson has used the pearls to publicize his play. Then, during the party after the play, the pearls are stolen from the Opalsons' hotel room.

A Poirot/Agatha Christie rarity in that nobody is murdered. The crime here is a robbery, and that only. Quite short too. After the non- murder novelty has worn off, however, the story is overly simple, and not that difficult to solve. Yes, there are a few red herrings but it is pretty straightforward stuff.

On the plus side, we do have the whole gang - Poirot, Japp, Hastings and Lemon - in this episode.

Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan is a fun mystery which really benefits from its humour and the 50 minutes running time which does not feel too flabby.

Poirot's doctor have told him that his little grey cells have been working overtime and they need to take a rest. So Poirot and Hastings arrive at a seaside hotel and stay opposite to the room of a theatrical producer who has just purchased an invaluable pearl necklace which will be used in his latest play.

When the necklace is stolen, at first Poirot is reluctant to take on the case but later springs into action. As Poirot checked in at the hotel he noticed that a man with a limp and cane had also checked in earlier and was going up the stairs rather oddly.

The producer used Poirot's presence to drum up publicity for his play and Poirot could not help thinking if the producer was involved somehow in stealing his own jewellery. A chance remark of an Oscar Wilde play allows Poirot to put the puzzle together.

This was simply an enjoyable episode. It was amusing to see Poirot get mixed up with 'Lucky Len' the newspaper character hanging about the seaside and whom he finally meets at the end of the episode.

As far as I can see, this fifth season of Poirot is the last one that has a "normal" season structure of episodes screened weekly over a few months; after this it appears that each season is made up of several one-off feature length episodes which were screened often many months apart. I'm not sure what the reason for the change but the fifth season is a little bit off – although I'm not entirely sure why, and must note that I did still enjoy it as a whole. Generally the season has everything that I have enjoyed thus far about the series; good humor, good performances, locations and sets well done and generally a professional air to the whole thing. Okay I find each passing season tends to downplay the more obvious comedy and laughs that the earlier seasons had, but it is more a matter of balance than anything else.

The problem I had with this season was that the cases tended to be the more flamboyant rather than accessible. They still mostly work but I was surprised by how many times in the season we had supernatural elements, whether they be curses, hypnosis, spiritualists and the like. It isn't that these things are the foundation for those narratives, but they felt out of place in a show I have enjoyed for following the logic and observations of Poirot rather than jumps. Likewise some of the plots didn't really develop in a way that it was necessarily easy to go along with – I do like the drawing room reveal aspect, but I like to be close behind rather than as surprised as the people in the room. Generally everything still works but there are one or two slightly weaker episodes in here.

The production standards remain very high though and of course the performances are strong from the main cast. Suchet is a bit tighter than in previous seasons but still can deliver the slightly pompous comedy when he gets the chance, I continue to love him in this role. He is well supported by Fraser, who is always fun, and Jackson, who doesn't quite have the material of Fraser but still. Moran I can take or leave but she does have some nice moments in this season. The supporting cast each week produces some familiar faces but doesn't ever feel like deliberate cameos which distract or detract.

Season 5 isn't as strong as previous seasons but it still delivers enough of the usual good fare to do more than work for fans. It will be interesting to see how (if at all) the change to more of a feature-film approach to the show affects it in terms of content and approach, and I look forward to watching through those.