"Agatha Christie: Poirot" The Hollow (2004)

Director:

Simon Langton

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
Nick Dear (screenplay)

TV Series:

"Agatha Christie: Poirot" (1989)

Original Air Date:

26 April 2004 (Season 9, Episode 4)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

Poirot stumbles on the murder scene of philandering Dr. John Christow at a country estate as his mistress, his hostess, and his wife (with a revolver) stand over him.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Detective | Country Estate | Revolver | Former Lovers

Cast

David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Jonathan Cake	...	John Christow
Megan Dodds	...	Henrietta Savernake
Sarah Miles	...	Lady Angkatell
Edward Fox	...	Gudgeon
Claire Price	...	Gerda Christow
Lysette Anthony	...	Veronica Cray
Tom Georgeson	...	Inspector Grange
Edward Hardwicke	...	Sir Henry Angkatell
Caroline Martin	...	Midge Hardcastle
Jamie de Courcey	...	Edward Angkatell (as Jamie De Courcey)
Ian Talbot	...	Victor Simms
Angela Curran	...	Frances Simms
Lucy Briers	...	Beryl Collins
Dale Rapley	...	Sergeant Coombes
Teresa Churcher	...	Elsie Patterson
Harriet Cobbold	...	Simmons
Andrew Watson	...	Young Officer
Paula Jacobs	...	Mrs. Pearstock

Directed by
Simon Langton

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(novel "The Hollow")
Nick Dear		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michele Buck	....	executive producer
Phil Clymer	....	executive producer: Chorion PLC
Delia Fine	....	executive producer: A&E Television Networks
Leila Kirkpatrick	....	line producer
Margaret Mitchell	....	producer
Emilio Nunez	....	supervising producer: A&E Television Networks
David Suchet	....	associate producer
Damien Timmer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Christopher Gunning

Cinematography by
James Aspinall		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andrew McClelland

Casting by
Maureen Duff
Gail Stevens

Production Design by
Michael Pickwoad

Art Direction by
Richard Hogan

Set Decoration by
Mark Rimmell

Costume Design by
Sheena Napier

Makeup Department
Carol Cooper	....	makeup designer
Rupert Simon	....	makeup artist
Sian Turner	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Fiona McGuire	....	executive in charge of production
Kate Stannard	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Crabtree	....	first assistant director
Danny Pruett	....	second assistant director
Jessica Hurles-Laws	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mike Fowlie	....	prop master
Kenneth Hambling	....	construction manager (as Ken Hambling)

Sound Department
John Downer	....	supervising sound editor
Tony Jackson	....	sound recordist
Billy Mahoney	....	dubbing mixer
Sarah Morton	....	dialogue editor
Mike Reardon	....	sound maintenance
Charlotte Gray	....	sound trainee (uncredited)
Nigel Squibbs	....	assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Ray Donn	....	stunt double: David Suchet

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Boorer	....	grip
Michael Green	....	focus puller
Peter Harris	....	best boy
Mike Miller	....	camera operator
Phil Penfold	....	gaffer
Larry S. Prinz	....	gaffer (as Larry Prinz)

Casting Department
Claire Saunders	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tamar Zaig	....	assistant costume designer
Jason Gill	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Chris Beeton	....	telecine colorist
Anya Dillon	....	assistant editor
Simon Giblin	....	on-line editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Nuala Alen-Buckley	....	production accountant
Diane Chittell	....	production coordinator
Simon Giles	....	title designer
Mariette Masters	....	publicist
Phoebe Masters	....	assistant coordinator
Gina Nocero	....	senior publicist: A&E
Caroline O'Reilly	....	script supervisor
Patrick Smith	....	picture publicist
Tom Stourton	....	location manager
Karen Thrussell	....	script editor
Derek Wax	....	script executive
Emily Chittell	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Elton Farla	....	unit medic (uncredited)
Lawrence Stevens	....	floor runner (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leonie Barker	....	wardrobe mistress

Other crew
Mark Albela	....	location manager
Daren Thomas	....	location runner

Production Companies

• Granada Television (as A Granada Production)
• A&E Television Networks (in association with)
• Agatha Christie (in association with) (as Agatha Christie Ltd {a Chorion Company})
• Chorion (uncredited)

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (2004) (UK) (TV)
• A&E Television Networks (2005) (USA) (TV)
• A&E Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• New Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Malavasi Editore (2005) (Italy) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting (uncredited)
• Molinare Studio  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Pepper Post Production  post-production facilities (uncredited)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Granada Television

Trivia:

When Henrietta doodles, she always sketches a stylized tree that she calls Yggdrasil. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is a giant ash tree that represents Viking cosmology, with the branches standing for different parallel worlds. "Heaven" is at the top and Hel is at the bottom. The world we experience is on one of the middle branches.

Quotes:

Henrietta Savernake: What happens if you meet a criminal who is cleverer than you are yourself?
Hercule Poirot: This is not the highest probability, mademoiselle.

Movie Connections:

Version of Kiken na onnatachi (1985)

Melancholy but excellent

Excellent work all around especially by the actress who played the wife Gerda (Claire Price) as well, of course, as David Suchet. I did really figure out whodunit but that is beside the point. The ending, which I won't divulge (someone describes it on the Board in answer to someone else's question if you are interested.) I found really sad. Despite Agatha Christie's reputation for writing cardboard characters, I thought these really well-rounded by and large.

The pacing of the story was good and I enjoyed seeing Sarah Miles as Lucy and Edward Hardwicke (Cedric's son I believe in addition to being a well-known Dr. Watson.)) as her husband.