Agatha Christie Hour
The Agatha Christie Hour was a ten episode program, based on ten short stories written by Agatha Christie. It dealt with widely diverging themes.
Some of the stories were fairly wide ranging romances, covering both juvenile romance and more mature romance. Several of the stories dealt with the supernatural, and a couple were charmingly lighthearted youthful adventures.
The Agatha Christie Hour was set in the England of the nineteen twenties and thirties, and much care was taken to present it as authentically as possible, with great attention to detail. It featured many of Britain's best actors.
EPISODE ONE:The Case of the Middle Aged Wife (7th September 1982)
Synopsis: Adapted from a short story in 'Parker Pyne Investigates' by Agatha Christie.
When Maria Packington's husband George starts a somewhat one-sided affair with his young blonde secretary Nancy, Maria turns to Mr. Parker Pyne for professional advice and assistance.
Mr. Parker Pyne, who runs an agency specialising in making unhappy people happy again, utilises the services of the young and handsome Claude Luttrell. Claude, who is a hardened gigolo, romances Maria and they spend many evenings dining and dancing at London's new nightclub, 'The Aphrodite' and in doing so the tables are very neatly turned on George who soon becomes jealous of Claude. For the first time in years he realises what a beautiful woman Maria is, but he is not the only one. Quite unexpectedly Claude, the hardened lounge lizard, finds himself falling in love with the newly glamourous Maria Packington.
Cast: Peter Jones (George Packington) - Linda Robson (Edna) - Gwen Watford (Maria Packington) - Maurice Denham (Parker Pyne) - Kate Darning (Nancy Purvis) - Angela Easterling (Miss Lemon) - Brenda Cowling (Miss Draper) - Monica Grey (Beautician) - Rupert Frazer (Claude Luttrell) - Nicholas Cook (Eric) - Nick Curtis (Crooner) - Malcolm Hebden (Waiter).
EPISODE TWO: In a Glass Darkly (14th September 1982)
Synopsis: Adapted from the a short story in 'Miss Marple's Final Cases' by Agatha Christie.
Matthew Armitage visits Badgeworthy, the home of the Carslake family, and experiences a strange and frightening vision in a mirror in his bedroom of a man with a scar strangling Sylvia Carslake.
When introducted to his friend's sister, he recognises her as the same girl. After his friend's death in the war, he marries the girl....
Cast: Nicholas Clay (Matthew) - Shaun Scott (Neil Carslake) - Elspet Gray (Mrs Carslake) - Kenneth Midwood (Hobbs) - Valerie Lush (Mrs Hobbs) - Emma Piper (Sylvia Carslake) - Paul Williamson (Mr Carslake) - Jonathon Morris (Alan Carslake) - Brian Anthony (Charles Crawley) - Sarah Jane Bickerton (Lucy Jerrard) - David Cook (Captain Mountjoy) - John Golightly (Commanding Officer) - John Wheatley (Barton) - Eileen Davies (Nurse) - Marjorie Bland (Charlotte Hardy) - Nicholas Prevost (Derek Wainwright) - Elizabeth Benson (Mrs Armitage).
EPISODE THREE: The Girl In The Train (21st September 1982)
Synopsis: After his allowance has been cut off by his Uncle William, young George Rowland decides to catch a train down to Rowland's Castle since it is a village which happens to bear his name and he has nothing better to do.
As George sits in the train at Waterloo Station, a young woman appears, begging him to hide her from a mysterious enemy. George complies and finds himself mixed up in the affairs of the young and beautiful Grand Duchess Anastasia of Catonia.
Entrusted with a small, sealed package George embarks on his quest , only to find true love and romance at the end of it, plus the forgiveness of an uncle who turns out to have a heart after all.
Cast: Osmond Bullock (George Rowland) - Matyelok Gibbs (Miss Garstang) - James Grout (William Rowland) - Ernest Clark (Rogers) - Sarah Berger (Elizabeth) - David Neal (Prince Osric) - Jo Warne (Flower Seller) - Richard Bartlett (`the King') - Roy Kinnear (cabbie) - Bill Treacher (Station Porter) - Glyn Baker (Karl) - Harry Fielder (Guard) - Cherith Mellor (Receptionist) - Ronald Pember (Jarrold) - Debbie Farrington (Maid) - Arthur Blake (Sturm).
EPISODE FOUR: The Fourth Man (28th September 1982)
Synopsis: Three medical men on the night train to Scotland discuss the case of a French peasant girl Felice Bault. The fourth man on the train knows the truth about her death.
Cast: John Nettles (Raoul Letardeau) - Michael Gough (Sir George Durand) - Frederick Jaeger (Count) - Geoffrey Chater (Canon Parfitt) - Alan MacNaughton (Sir Campbell Clark) - Fiona Mathieson (Felicie Bault) - Cy Town (Porter) - Prue Clarke (Annette Ravel) - Barbara Bolton (Mademoiselle) - Eric Richard (Stage Manager) - Christopher Wren (Annette's Assistant) - Stuart Fell (Juggler).
EPISODE FIVE: The Case of the Discontented Soldier (5th October 1982)
Synopsis: Adapted from a short story in Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie.
Major John Wilbraham is newly retired from the British Army in Kenya. He lives in the English countryside in a wisteria covered cottage with only his faithful Cocker Spaniel for company.
One day he sees Mr. Parker Pyne's advertisement in 'The Times' - "Are you Happy? If not, consult Mr. Parker Pyne". Seeking adventure and romance, he decides to do just that.
Events snowball from here on, and fairly quickly the rather shy major meets the equally shy Freda Clegg and an adventure follows, involving buried treasure, maps written in Swahili, crooked lawyers, thugs, maidens in distress and imprisonment in a water filling cellar.
Cast: William Gaunt (Major John Wilbraham) - Veronica Strong (Madeleine de Sara) - Angela Easterling (Miss Lemon) - Maurice Denham (Parker Pyne) - Patricia Garwood (Freda Clegg) - Lally Bowers (Mrs Ariadne Oliver) - David Smee (Head Waiter) - Jason Norman (Charlie) - Barbara New (Mrs Benson) - Paul Dadson (Neville) - Karen Mount (English Rose) - John Kearney (Postman) - Lewis Fiander (Mr Reid) - Peter Brayham (First Thug) - Terry Plmmer (Second Thug).
EPISODE SIX: Magnolia Blossom (12th October 1982)
Synopsis: The beautiful Theo is happily married to her ambitious husband Richard. But her loyalty is severely tested when she meets a man who falls deeply in love with her. Happiness is there for the taking. But she is torn between lover and husband.
Cast: Brian Oulton (Bates) - Ralph Bates (Vincent Easton) - Jeremy Clyde (Richard Darrell) - Ciaran Madden (Theo Darrell) - Jack May (Colonel Jaggers) - Alexandra Bastedo (Clare Hamilton) - Charles Hodgson (Minister) - Graham Seed (Charles Willerby) - Phillip Cade (Bobby Dorkins) - Sarah Jane Varley (Vanessa) - Jane Laurie (Imogen) - Jennifer Croxton (Martita) - Keith Marsh (Ticket Inspector) - Derek Fuke (Taxi Driver).
EPISODE SEVEN: The Mystery of the Blue Jar (19th October 1982)
Synopsis: Adapted from a short story in 'The Hound Of Death And Other Stories' by Agatha Christie.
On the golf links young Jack Hartington hears a woman's voice crying "Murder! Help! Murder!"
Jack races in the direction of the voice and comes upon Felise Marchaud, a young Frenchwoman living in a cottage nearby. She is sceptical about his remarks and claims not to have heard anything.
Several days later under almost identical conditions Jack hears the cry again, and then starts to doubt his sanity.
At Felise's suggestion, Jack enlists the aid of Dr. Lavington, a psychiatrist, who finds that the supernatural events surrounding the cottage seem to have some connection with a blue jar purchased some months previously by Jack's Uncle George.
Jack is persuaded by his new friends to fetch the blue jar, which turns out to be Ming and priceless beyond value.
Cast: Michael Aldridge (Dr Lavington) - Hugh Walters (Mr Dodds) - Robin Kermode (Jack Hartington) - Isabelle Spade (Felise) - Derek Francis (Uncle George) - Glynis Brooks (Agnes) - Ivor Roberts (Mr Hubble) - Philip Bird (Marchaud) - Robert Austin (Police Sergeant) - Tara Ward (Portia).
EPISODE EIGHT: The Red Signal (26th October 1982)
Synopsis: Adapted from a short story in 'The Hound of Death and Other Stories' by Agatha Christie.
Dermot loves his best friend's wife and has to suffer the misery and frustration that such a conflict of loyalties produces. The tension created by this human triangle is heightened by a premonition and a prediction of death - but whose?
Cast: Richard Morant (Dermot West) - Joanna David (Claire Trent) - Carol Drinkwater (Violet) - Michael Denison (Johnson) - Rosalie Crutchley (Mrs Thompson) - Alan Babel (Sir Alington West) - Christopher Cazenove (Jack) - Hugh Sullivan (Milson) - Ewan Roberts (McKern) - David Rolfe (Charlson) - Michael Mellinger (Guido) - Christopher Wren (Benson) - Bob Keegan (Inspector Verrall) - Andrew McCulloch (Cawley).
EPISODE NINE: Jane in Search of a Job (9th November 1982)
Synopsis: Jane lacks the vital commodity that buys the essential things in life - money. She is prepared to run almost any risk to get it, much to the concern of Nigel, the aspiring policeman who wants to protect the object of his affection.
Jane Cleveland owes rent on her London flat, but she is out of work and is desperate for the money. When she is offered the role of 'double' to the Grand Duchess Olga, the adventurous Jane is only too pleased to accept.
However, all is not as it seems. Jane is thrown into a world of intrigue and deceit. It is fortunate that Jane's new boyfriend is attending Hendon Police College and has an observant and quick eye.
Cast: Elizabeth Garvie (Jane Cleveland) - Hetty Baynes (Holly de Witt) - Andrew Bicknell (Nigel Guest) - Amanda Redman (Pauline, Grand Duchess of Ostravia) - Count StreptitchJAY, Tony Jay (Count Streptitch) - Stephanie Cole (Princess Anna) - Geoffrey Hinsliff (Colonel Kranin) - Josie Kidd (Miss Thristle) - Neville Phillips (Mr Delemain) - Helen Lindsay (Lady Anchester) - Roy McReady (Mr Bissell) - Richard Tate (Manfred) - Tex Fuller (Chauffeur) - Mac Andrews (Footman) - George Waring (Station Sergeant) - Martin Chamberlain (Police Sergeant) - Robert McBain (Police Superintendent)
EPISODE TEN: The Manhood of Edward Robinson (16th November 1982)
Synopsis: Adapted from a short story in 'The Listerdale Mystery' by Agatha Christie.
Romantic dreamer and aspiring stockbroker Edward Robinson is engaged to practical and prosaic Maud Lithinglow. When he wins five hundred pounds in a competition he secretly purchases his heart's delight, a white Riley sportscar.
At Christmas time he motors alone down to Brighton where he meets Lady Noreen Elliot, who is similarly engaged to an unadventurous partner.
For one glorious, heady evening Edward mixes it with the Bright Young People, becoming involved in the theft of a priceless diamond necklace and dancing at The Cafe de Paris with Lady Noreen.
In the course of one evening Edward becomes a man, instead of a mouse, and when morning arrives it is a different Edward who confronts Maud with his new car, expensive engagement ring and marriage plans.
Cast: Cherie Lunghi (Lady Noreen Elliot) - Sally Anne Law (Millie) - Margery Mason (Mrs Lithinglow) - Ann Thornton (Maud) - Julian Wadham (Gerald Champneys) - Nicholas Bell (Jeremy) - Patrick Newell (The Major) - Tom Mannion (Herbert) - Frank Duncan (Grosvenor) - Nicholas Farrell (Edward Robinson) - Rupert Everett (Guy) - Fiona Hendley (Poppy) - Rio Fanning (Barman) - Simon Green (Sebastian) - Georgina Coombs (Diana) - Bryan Coleman (Lord Melbury).
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Description cobbled from several sources.
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