Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Affair at the Victory Ball

January 5, 2022 10:42 AM - Season 3, Episode 10

Poirot is invited to a masquerade ball and is advised to come as someone famous - so he decides to go as himself. While he is there, he is called on to solve the murder of Lord Cronshaw, who was killed at the crowded party without anyone seeing. A fragment of a costume helps him to unmask the killer.
posted by Carillon (3 comments total)

Certainly moralizing, but I thought the central mystery pretty compelling. Always fun too to see a masquerade ball, plus the framing device of a radio play was charming.
posted by Carillon at 10:43 AM on January 5, 2022

This episode reminds me how period Christie’s thing with harlequins was - they really were this big cultural idea for a long time that vanished almost completely. I have mild clown dislike and the harlequin outfits always creep me out. Oh and the set dressing in this episode for the not wealthy hanger on couple - they’re clearly living in a crowded shabby tiny apartment, but the wife has tried to mask that with decorations, it’s a lovely character note. The set dresser for Poirot was very very good, both for the 1930s details and the extra character notes.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 2:51 PM on January 5, 2022

Col. Hastings is such a gentleman.

My favorite line: “[Ackerley’s] with the BBC but he’s quite a decent chap, drives an Alvis.

This was one of Nathaniel Parker’s early roles; ten years later he starred in the long running Inspector Lynley series. The mews flat in Knightsbridge goes for between £2-£4 million today.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:59 PM on January 6, 2022