Thirteen at Dinner
Actress Jane Wilkinson wants a divorce, but her husband, Lord Edgware, refuses. She convinces Hercule Poirot to use his famed tact and logic to make her case. Lord Edgware turns up murdered, a well-placed knife wound at the base of his neck. It will take the precise Poirot to sort out the lies from the alibis - and find the criminal before another victim dies.
Insights
Plot Summary
Hercule Poirot is invited to a lavish party hosted by a wealthy industrialist, Roger Haggard, aboard his yacht. As the guests gather for dinner, a toast is made to the host's impending death, and shortly thereafter, Haggard collapses and dies. Poirot must then unravel the mystery amongst the assembled guests, each with their own secrets and motives.
Critical Reception
Thirteen at Dinner was a made-for-television film that received a generally positive reception for its faithful adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Lord Edgware Dies" and Peter Ustinov's portrayal of Hercule Poirot. While not a theatrical blockbuster, it was appreciated by fans of the detective genre and Christie's work.
What Reviewers Say
- A solid, if somewhat straightforward, adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel.
- Peter Ustinov effectively embodies the quirky Belgian detective.
- The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, keeping viewers engaged.
Google audience: Audience reception information for this television film is not readily available through typical Google user review aggregations.
Awards & Accolades
None notable.
Fun Fact
This film is part of a series of Agatha Christie adaptations starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, though it was made for television rather than cinema.
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