Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb

February 9, 2022 9:40 AM - Season 5, Episode 1

It's 1935, and a team of international archaeologists in Egypt have broken the seal of the tomb of King Men-Her-Ra for the first time in 3000 years. Moments later, the leader of the group, Sir John Willard, drops down dead of a heart attack. Poirot is called upon to consider whether he is the victim of the tomb's legendary curse or whether there is a more mortal explanation for his death.
posted by Carillon (3 comments total)

Pretty nice integrating the mummys curse into an episode on top of how uncomfortable Poirot always is with camp accommodations. Pretty crazy motive, I am definitely curious how that would have stood up in court.
posted by Carillon at 9:59 AM on February 9, 2022

This very short story was published a year after the discovery of King Tut's intact tomb by Howard Carter and Lord Carnavon (his death the next year prompted the rumors of an ancient curse) (however the team was meticulous in their excavation and documentation which took ten years).

It didn't feel like a short story though. Lots of characters (introduced very fast at the beginning) and filmed on desert locations and lavish sets. Beautiful props. The gift of the cat to Miss Lemon at the end was entirely due to the scriptwriter.

I did make the connection of wearing gloves to the suicide's note and realised the doctor had the best means to go on a murder spree but the motivation remained obscure.

Years ago I read Christie's memoir, Come Tell Me How You Live, which described her life accompanying her archeologist husband on digs in the Middle East and I remember it being a fascinating read.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:12 PM on February 10, 2022

Disappointed by the looting at the end of the episode. Men-he-ra's grave goods belong in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, not in Miss Lemon's flat!
posted by cyanistes at 2:51 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]