Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Film, TV or Theatrical Adaptations

Film, TV or Theatrical Adaptations

The story was adapted for television in 1994 in a special episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot (Fourth wise man bringing wisdom) starring David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. The adaptation is generally faithful to the novel, although some characters have been left out. Chief Constable Colonel Johnson, who features in the novel, is replaced in the television adaptation by regular Poirot character Chief Inspector Japp. Stephen Farr is also missing, and his romantic interests in Pilar are given to Harry. Hilda and David Lee were also deleted in the movie. The exterior scenes were filmed in Chilham, Kent and the Chilham Castle was used as Gorston Hall.

Cast:

• David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
• Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
• Mark Tandy as Superintendent Sugden
• Vernon Dobtcheff as Simeon Lee
• Simon Roberts as Alfred Lee
• Catherine Rabett as Lydia Lee
• Eric Carte as George Lee
• Andree Bernard as Magdalene Lee
• Brian Gwaspari as Harry Lee
• Sasha Behar as Pilar Estravados
• Olga Lowe as Stella
• Ayub Khan-Din as Horbury
• John Horsley as Tressilian
• Scott Handy as Young Simeon
• Liese Benjamin as Young Stella

The story was also adapted for the French television in a four-parts series entitled "Petits Meurtres en famille", broadcast by France 2 in 2006 and 2009, with the notable replacement of Poirot by a duet of newly created characters. Mathew Prichard himself, grandson of Agatha Christie, was quoted by Télérama as calling it the best TV adaptation he had seen.