Agatha Christie, a Master Writer, Invents Inspector Hercule Poirot, a Master Detective

Soon after attending her brother's funeral, Cora Gallaccio turns up dead, leaving Hercule Poirot to unravel the clues behind the murder, and the motive. After the Funeral is a very complicated mystery that underscores Agatha Christie's ability to hold your attention as Poirot unravels two murders.

This made-for-TV movie is based on one of the 41 murder mystery novels involving the proper, obsessive little Belgian inspector Hercule Poirot.

The character of Poirot (played to perfection by David Suchet) was created by the famous British author Agatha Christie, whose books only have been outsold by Shakespeare and the Bible.

Agatha Christie wrote her first Poirot novel in 1920 at the age of 30 and her last Poirot novel in 1975, 55 years later and a year before her death in 1976.

In After the Funeral, Cora Gallaccio turns up dead the day after attending her brother?s funeral. As the plot unfolds, it turns out that her brother was also murdered, and all 6 primary relatives appear as excellent suspects.

I love the Hercule Poirot series of movies and have seldom been disappointed in the works of Agatha Christie and David Suchet who brings her work to perfection in his characterization of Poirot.

In watching these murder mysteries involving Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie makes sure that nearly everyone is seen as a logical suspect and spreads clues around like chocolates in a candy shop.

The game for me is to try and figure out who the killer is before it is all explained by Poirot at the end of each murder mystery.

I am never able to figure it out, much less all of the actual details of how, when and why, which is exactly why Hercule Poirot generally gets at least 3 stars in my review.

The other reason is David Suchet who polishes the role of Hercule Poirot without ever going out of character or missing a cue. Suchet was born to play this role and makes Hercule character unforgettable to viewers around the world.

Any Hercule Poirot presentation by David Suchet is a good look and a good movie. Perhaps the only greater mystery than why Hercule Poirot is as he is, is how Agatha Christie managed to be so creative that no one ever figures out who did it before Poirot, and, in the process, keeps us attracted to the action like a bee to pollen.

Here are two more mysteries in the series:

Hercule Poirot: Dumb Witness ? 4 Stars (Excellent)

Poirot (David Suchet) receives a letter from Emily Arundell (Ann Morrish), a wealthy woman who believes someone is trying to kill her, and before Poirot can consult with her, she dies. Two of her nieces and one nephew would stand to inherit a fortune, but a late change in her will gives all of her wealth to her companion and friend, Miss Lawson.

The Dumb Witness turns out to be Arundell's clever terrier dog, and Hercule Poirot could not solve this murder without the help of the terrier, who cannot talk but does act out in a way that leads Poirot to the killer. "This dog is very clever," says Poirot, "he must be Belgian."

Hercule Poirot: Peril at End House ? 3 Stars (Good)

Poirot's vacation trip to Cornwall becomes a business trip when the charming Nick Buckley casually mentions that she has narrowly escaped death three times in three days. Poirot (David Suchet) is not so sure about the presumed accidents and, sure enough, Nick's cousin Maggie is shot dead while getting a coat. Poirot, of course, sorts it all out in the end.

This mystery is a classic for me as it includes the regulars from the A&E series: Poirot's sidekick Captain Arthur Hastings (Hugh Fraser), Chief Inspector Japp from Scotland Yard (Philip Jackson) and Poirot's secretary Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran).

The hapless Miss Lemon absolutely adores Hercule, but he who misses nothing that is going on, never gives a hint that he even recognizes her unspoken romantic interest. Hercule usually puts stamps into a collector's book or counsels himself on the art of exercising his gray cells.

Copyright ? 2007 Ed Bagley

Ed Bagley is the Author of Ed Bagley's Blog, which he Publishes Daily with Fresh, Original Articles on Internet Marketing, Jobs and Careers, Movie Reviews, Sports and Recreation, and Lessons in Life intended to Delight, Inform, Educate and Motivate Readers. Visit Ed at . . . http://www.edbagleyblog.com/MovieReviewArticles.html

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