User Reviews

I own the DVD boxset of "The Agatha Christie Hour" for several years already now, but I've always been quite reluctant to start watching, for the sole and simple reason the series exist of very atypical Christie stories. By atypical I mean they aren't convoluted murder mysteries with grotesque and unpredictable denouements. Well, in at least 6 or 7 of the thus far 9 episodes I saw, I'm very glad to have been proven wrong! They may not be whodunits, but these tales are nevertheless vintage Agatha Christie stories, with fascinating plots, intriguing characters, and darkly twisted humor.

"Jane in search of a job" is another marvelous example. The plot, and particularly the main twist, may not be super-original or difficult to predict, but Agatha's story is vividly written and Elizabeth Garvie's performance is very enthusiast. Together, these two strong ladies make this a highly entertaining short film!

Jane is a financially struggling single girl in London, who suddenly sees an opportunity to earn a lot of money by playing the doppelganger of a foreign Duchess. In her new job, there's a real risk of getting kidnapped by terrorist organizations, but the biggest dangers may be closer than she thinks. Very light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek short story, warmly recommended.

Hey, this one is a treat, all tongue-in-cheek and clueless bounding along come right. No one would spot this as Christie from her later, more lengthy and serious works, but this one displays the marvelous range of the prolific writer. It's a fun tale, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't imagine picking at it. Not quite cricket, it would seem. Jane is a plainer Jane than most Christie heroine film depictions, but she did quite nicely, being an accomplished actress. Andrew Bicknell let his earnestness be known to protect this innocent, the thugs were central casting, and the "high brow" posers quite entertaining in their convincing-come-revealing transition. Jolly good fun -- which is exactly what is was written to be. Amen.

There is some amateurish direction, fruity overacting and the heroine is certainly a bit dim.

The story of Jane. Down on her luck and a lack of cash. She answers a newspaper advertisement that intrigues her.

Jane finds herself doubling for an Austrian Grand Duchess, even though they do not look alike. Despite the vast cash offered, Jane acknowledges that she might step into danger.

It is a good job that the handsome young man in the neighbouring flat who is training to be a policeman smells a rat in this plan and comes to Jane's rescue.

The series if called The Agatha Christie Hour. So it goes without saying that the Grand Duchess is up to no good.

This is an amiable story with a young Amanda Redman playing Grand Duchess. It is not particularly exciting and at times I was reminded of that sketch from French & Saunders where they parodied period dramas such as the House of Eliot.