The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor isn't my personal favourite but it is one of them. It is very atmospheric and has some funny little things too("Doctor, there is a gentleman outside who seems to be suffering from Hercule Poirot" is one of the funniest moments in a Poirot episode). Plus it is very well made with beautiful production values and fluid photography, almost film-noir-like, and the music is very good. As is the writing and the story is never less than compelling. The direction is good enough, while the acting especially from David Suchet who is yet to give a bad performance as Poirot is excellent. So all in all, a fine episode and one of the best. 9/10 Bethany Cox
13 Reviews
a fun episode and a real mystery
blanche-24 September 2014
From 1991, "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor" is an excellent Poirot, with he and Hastings headed to meet a man who has a case for them to solve. When they arrive at the hotel where they are to meet him, they learn he has a case all right -- his own. He's written a book, has written his characters into a corner and wants Poirot to help him come up with an ending. Poirot is livid.
However, a real case does appear, that of the death of the owner of Marsdon Manor, Jonathan Travers. He was suffering from an ulcer and is found dead. His wife, Susan, insists that he died of fright and that the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a young woman who was killed there. In fact, Mrs. Maltravers is terrified and keeps seeing her sitting in a tree. It looks like a good case for Poirot.
Really delightful, with Poirot visiting himself in the local wax museum and also visiting a doctor to learn about the late man's condition. When he announces his name to the receptionist, she tells the doctor, "Doctor, there is a gentleman outside who is suffering from Hercule Poirot." With Suchet as Poirot, there is no such thing as suffering.
However, a real case does appear, that of the death of the owner of Marsdon Manor, Jonathan Travers. He was suffering from an ulcer and is found dead. His wife, Susan, insists that he died of fright and that the grounds are haunted by the ghost of a young woman who was killed there. In fact, Mrs. Maltravers is terrified and keeps seeing her sitting in a tree. It looks like a good case for Poirot.
Really delightful, with Poirot visiting himself in the local wax museum and also visiting a doctor to learn about the late man's condition. When he announces his name to the receptionist, she tells the doctor, "Doctor, there is a gentleman outside who is suffering from Hercule Poirot." With Suchet as Poirot, there is no such thing as suffering.
A good combination of spooky and silly
kaberi-893-64231611 June 2016
Like many of the Poirot episodes, this came from a short story, and the writers needed to invent a number of details in order to fill things out. In this case they chose to add details both spooky and silly. On the spooky side, the wife of the dead man seems to be obsessed with the ghosts that allegedly haunt the house. The atmosphere is made darker through the effective use of both the soundtrack and an especially sinister looking cedar tree. On the other hand, comic relief comes in by way of a local innkeeper who invites Poirot and Hastings to have a look at the mystery novel he's in the middle of writing. Add in a painting and a local wax museum (where a room with statues of Poirot and Charlie Chaplin provides an excellent backdrop for the amusing final moments of the episode) and you have all the elements of a charming case for our favorite detective to solve.
One of my all time favourites
Sleepin_Dragon8 October 2018
I would list the Tragedy at Marsdon Manor as one of my favourite Poirot episodes. It has so much to it, so many wonderful ingredients in the mix, great characters, great location, humour, a supernatural element, and of course we see Poirot's ego take a small beating.
I can't fault the story at all, it's so clever, so detailed, you wonder how the murderer could possibly have done it, and what possible motive they'd have had. I love the ending, the way it's put together and played out. Poirot is at his very best, his grey cells are put to good use as he discovers the flaw in the evidence.
It's visually very appealing, the house and location work look superb. I especially enjoyed the scenes where the villagers are receiving gas mask training, the authenticity is exceptional.
Terrific performances, Geraldine Alexander is fantastic, no stranger to quality Agatha Christie dramas of course, how her character differs here to the soft Gwenny in Sleeping Murder.
I loved Poirot's scenes with the Hotel owner, that whole conversation about kippers and Grimsby is hilarious, you can see David Renwick's influence on the writing, truly very funny.
One of my favourites. 10/10
I can't fault the story at all, it's so clever, so detailed, you wonder how the murderer could possibly have done it, and what possible motive they'd have had. I love the ending, the way it's put together and played out. Poirot is at his very best, his grey cells are put to good use as he discovers the flaw in the evidence.
It's visually very appealing, the house and location work look superb. I especially enjoyed the scenes where the villagers are receiving gas mask training, the authenticity is exceptional.
Terrific performances, Geraldine Alexander is fantastic, no stranger to quality Agatha Christie dramas of course, how her character differs here to the soft Gwenny in Sleeping Murder.
I loved Poirot's scenes with the Hotel owner, that whole conversation about kippers and Grimsby is hilarious, you can see David Renwick's influence on the writing, truly very funny.
One of my favourites. 10/10
Christie goes supernatural....
dbdumonteil31 December 2006
There are Christie's works (essentially short stories) which deal with supernatural.Some of her best novels ,although "rational", have a "horror and fantasy " side: "And then there were none" "Peril at end house" "five little pigs" ....
"Tragedy at Mardson Manor" is a delight for Christie's fans :it features a good dose of humor (the innkeeper who calls Poirot cause there are murders in his village : actually he is writing a novel),a mansion which may be haunted ,a young woman in distress,and even a man who rises from the dead ,à la "les Diaboliques" .
Poirot(David Suchet) is in top form,his interpretation of the painting is brilliant.And last but not least ,in the wax museum ,when he hears his colleagues go into raptures over a statue,he is as vain as ever ...until he realizes they're speaking of Charlie Chaplin's one.
"Tragedy at Mardson Manor" is a delight for Christie's fans :it features a good dose of humor (the innkeeper who calls Poirot cause there are murders in his village : actually he is writing a novel),a mansion which may be haunted ,a young woman in distress,and even a man who rises from the dead ,à la "les Diaboliques" .
Poirot(David Suchet) is in top form,his interpretation of the painting is brilliant.And last but not least ,in the wax museum ,when he hears his colleagues go into raptures over a statue,he is as vain as ever ...until he realizes they're speaking of Charlie Chaplin's one.
"One hundred and twenty-five miles, Hastings, we come on a wild gooseberry hunt."
bensonmum23 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Poirot and Hastings are summoned by a man who says he needs help with a murder. Poirot is outraged when he discovers there is no real crime, only a writer trying to finish a mystery novel. But before Poirot and Hastings can catch the train, an unusual death does occur in the small village. At first, the death appears to be the result of natural causes. But Poirot notices things that don't seem natural and begins investigating a murder.
What a nice episode! I know that I've read the short story on which The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor is based, but fortunately, I couldn't remember anything about it. I say fortunately because I was treated to a lovely mystery with red herrings, ingenious clues, supernatural elements, and possible insanity. And when Poirot makes the final reveal, I was guessing wrong the whole time. Very well done. Sure, there is a cheat or two in the clues, but nothing that ruined things. The acting is good. The highlight for me has to be Geraldine Alexander - a very fine performance. I often talk about period details in these little reviews and you won't find an episode better than this one. The livestock market in the town square was a nice touch. Marsdon Manor is beautifully filmed, both inside and out. And the bits of comedy in The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor are often very funny. I really got a kick out of Poirot's reaction to being tricked into making a journey to solve a murder under false pretenses. Overall, this one easily deserves an 8/10.
What a nice episode! I know that I've read the short story on which The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor is based, but fortunately, I couldn't remember anything about it. I say fortunately because I was treated to a lovely mystery with red herrings, ingenious clues, supernatural elements, and possible insanity. And when Poirot makes the final reveal, I was guessing wrong the whole time. Very well done. Sure, there is a cheat or two in the clues, but nothing that ruined things. The acting is good. The highlight for me has to be Geraldine Alexander - a very fine performance. I often talk about period details in these little reviews and you won't find an episode better than this one. The livestock market in the town square was a nice touch. Marsdon Manor is beautifully filmed, both inside and out. And the bits of comedy in The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor are often very funny. I really got a kick out of Poirot's reaction to being tricked into making a journey to solve a murder under false pretenses. Overall, this one easily deserves an 8/10.
Beauty and the Rooks.
rmax30482325 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
The elderly head of Marsden Manor, suffering from a stomach ulcer, is not a happy man. Oh, his wife, another slender blond, much younger than he, is okay, but these damned crows or rooks or blackbirds are nesting in a supposedly haunted cedar tree not far from his mansion. He angrily shoots them with a small-caliber rifle filled with bird seed.
Owning that little bird gun was his second mistake. His first was marrying that delicate blond and believing that she could care about anything but his fortune.
Miss Lemon must have been on vacation but Japp and Hastings tag along as Poirot solves the mystery, which looks at first like no mystery at all but just a perforated ulcer and an excess of exsanguination. Probably the Lord of the Manor was frightened by a ghost in the haunted tree and popped a gut.
Mais, pas de tout. There are intrigues, feigned insanity, red herrings, and a murder. Poirot solves it with the help of a landscape painting whose shadows don't reflect reality. A little touch of Giorgio de Chirico and the killer is undone.
There is the usual bit of subtle humor. Poirot has to put up with a local writer of mysteries, and he's offended when Poirot and Japp pretend not to recognize a statue of the famous Hercule Poirot in the local wax museum. You have to admire the budgets of these stories, because the wax figures aren't at all bad.
Owning that little bird gun was his second mistake. His first was marrying that delicate blond and believing that she could care about anything but his fortune.
Miss Lemon must have been on vacation but Japp and Hastings tag along as Poirot solves the mystery, which looks at first like no mystery at all but just a perforated ulcer and an excess of exsanguination. Probably the Lord of the Manor was frightened by a ghost in the haunted tree and popped a gut.
Mais, pas de tout. There are intrigues, feigned insanity, red herrings, and a murder. Poirot solves it with the help of a landscape painting whose shadows don't reflect reality. A little touch of Giorgio de Chirico and the killer is undone.
There is the usual bit of subtle humor. Poirot has to put up with a local writer of mysteries, and he's offended when Poirot and Japp pretend not to recognize a statue of the famous Hercule Poirot in the local wax museum. You have to admire the budgets of these stories, because the wax figures aren't at all bad.
Poirot suffers the country to solve a unique murder
SimonJack4 February 2018
Hercule Poirot enjoys his visits to estates and stays at country manors. But, put him in the rural town and local lodging, and he is out of his element. For, Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective is not a country boy. As in some other episodes, when he has to deal with the smells and droppings of animals in the middle of town, Poirot's patience and normally genteel manner are tested in "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor."
This is a fine mystery with much intrigue. But now add a local inn proprietor, Samuel Naughton, who is a writer of mysteries and it's almost too much to ask of Poirot to keep his calm. All is not lost, though because Naughton is a source of information as well as a good-hearted chap who helps lend some comedy to this episode.
Otherwise, it would tend to be dark. Is there haunting at the old manor, as a legend has it? Is there something of the occult that Susan Maltravers encounters? The music in this episode reminds one of the constant threatening undertone in the movie, "Jaws." Poirot solves a murder of a most unique method.
Here are a couple favorite lines from the film. For more dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the episode film.
Captain Hastings, "Ah, Poirot. Sleep well?" Hercule Poirot, "Like a top, Hastings. I am turning and spinning all of the night."
Innkeeper, Samuel Naughton, "Was the accommodation all right?" Hercule Poirot, "No, Monsieur Naughton. The accommodation was all wrong. The duck feather pillows - I fear the little ducks are still in them."
This is a fine mystery with much intrigue. But now add a local inn proprietor, Samuel Naughton, who is a writer of mysteries and it's almost too much to ask of Poirot to keep his calm. All is not lost, though because Naughton is a source of information as well as a good-hearted chap who helps lend some comedy to this episode.
Otherwise, it would tend to be dark. Is there haunting at the old manor, as a legend has it? Is there something of the occult that Susan Maltravers encounters? The music in this episode reminds one of the constant threatening undertone in the movie, "Jaws." Poirot solves a murder of a most unique method.
Here are a couple favorite lines from the film. For more dialog, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the episode film.
Captain Hastings, "Ah, Poirot. Sleep well?" Hercule Poirot, "Like a top, Hastings. I am turning and spinning all of the night."
Innkeeper, Samuel Naughton, "Was the accommodation all right?" Hercule Poirot, "No, Monsieur Naughton. The accommodation was all wrong. The duck feather pillows - I fear the little ducks are still in them."
The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
Prismark102 January 2018
David Renwick wrote the 'The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor' and adds his brand of humour rather well. Such as Poirot and Hastings arrive at a hotel hastily to meet a man who has an important case to solve. It turns out to be the hotel owner who has written a mystery book and has got writer's block regarding the denouement.
Pretty soon after stumbling on to his own waxwork model, Poirot comes across the death of the wealthy owner of Marsdon Manor, Jonathan Travers. He was recovering from an operation on his ulcer which seems to be the cause of his death.
Poirot suspects foul play, his younger wife, Susan believes supernatural elements are at work. That her husband died of fright. There is a mysterious traveller from Africa who checked in at the same hotel as Poirot who has swiftly disappeared.
This is a nifty mystery, well balanced with humour and Poirot always one step ahead. The reveal is a little difficult to buy but works well in context as you always suspect the culprit was someone closely tied to the victim.
Pretty soon after stumbling on to his own waxwork model, Poirot comes across the death of the wealthy owner of Marsdon Manor, Jonathan Travers. He was recovering from an operation on his ulcer which seems to be the cause of his death.
Poirot suspects foul play, his younger wife, Susan believes supernatural elements are at work. That her husband died of fright. There is a mysterious traveller from Africa who checked in at the same hotel as Poirot who has swiftly disappeared.
This is a nifty mystery, well balanced with humour and Poirot always one step ahead. The reveal is a little difficult to buy but works well in context as you always suspect the culprit was someone closely tied to the victim.
Admirably eerie mystery, well acted throughout.
jamesraeburn200329 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are invited to a country inn by landlord Samuel Naughton (played by Desmond Barrit) who also writes murder mysteries under a pseudonym. Poirot is furious to discover that he had invited him along to provide the solution for his latest novel as opposed to solving a real crime. However, before long the detective has a suspicious death to look into, that of businessman Jonathan Maltravers (played by Ian McCulloch) who lived at Marsdon Manor with his young wife Susan (played by Geraldine Alexander). She says she has been haunted by a malevolent spirit, supposedly that of a young woman who had climbed to the top of the large oak tree in the garden and committed suicide by throwing herself off centuries before. She believes that her husband died from the shock of encountering it since his body was found at the foot of the tree. Poirot soon discovers that Maltravers was murdered and Chief Inspector Japp's enquiries reveal that he was on the verge of bankruptcy, but carried a large life insurance policy for £50,000. Susan narrowly escapes death after someone fills her gas mask with chloroform at the local Civil Defence meeting. Captain Black (played by Neil Duncan), a friend of the Maltravers family, and who is in love with Susan, had recently returned from Kenya when he gave her an occult woodcarving as a gift is initially the chief suspect since he cannot fully account for his movements at the time of the murder and tried to flee when Susan collapsed at the Civil Defence meeting. A page from an old newspaper, a painting of the garden that Susan was working on at the time of the murder and some broken birds' eggs provide the detective with crucial clues as to how the murder was committed and by whom.
An admirably eerie mystery due to a combination of attractive set work, locations chosen for their gothic effect, atmospheric photography and mood music. Acting is of a very high standard throughout with Geraldine Alexander and Neil Duncan being of particular note. Desmond Barrit is also good as the innkeeper-part-time mystery writer who initially annoys Poirot for calling him down to help him get over his writer's block by providing the denouement to his latest book. Yet, in the end, Poirot does and asks him to perform a trick in return to frighten the murderer into confessing his or her crimes. He is overjoyed saying that it will be something to tell his grandchildren about how he helped the celebrated sleuth solve a genuine murder mystery. There is also some great comedy relief between Suchet's Poirot and Hugh Fraser and Philip Jackson as Hastings and Japp who all offer their usual fine performances. They visit a wax museum where Poirot tries to draw Hastings and Japp's attention to a figurine of himself, but they deliberately pretend not to have noticed it by looking at the one of Charlie Chaplin instead. The assured direction is by Renny Rye who made several films for this series.
An admirably eerie mystery due to a combination of attractive set work, locations chosen for their gothic effect, atmospheric photography and mood music. Acting is of a very high standard throughout with Geraldine Alexander and Neil Duncan being of particular note. Desmond Barrit is also good as the innkeeper-part-time mystery writer who initially annoys Poirot for calling him down to help him get over his writer's block by providing the denouement to his latest book. Yet, in the end, Poirot does and asks him to perform a trick in return to frighten the murderer into confessing his or her crimes. He is overjoyed saying that it will be something to tell his grandchildren about how he helped the celebrated sleuth solve a genuine murder mystery. There is also some great comedy relief between Suchet's Poirot and Hugh Fraser and Philip Jackson as Hastings and Japp who all offer their usual fine performances. They visit a wax museum where Poirot tries to draw Hastings and Japp's attention to a figurine of himself, but they deliberately pretend not to have noticed it by looking at the one of Charlie Chaplin instead. The assured direction is by Renny Rye who made several films for this series.
A rather minor episode
gridoon202412 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
A rich man suffering from an ulcer condition drops dead in his own garden, seemingly from post-operation complications. But Hercule Poirot, who literally almost crashes onto this case, is not satisfied with this explanation.
The problem with most Agatha Christie stories that touch on the supernatural (here, the dead man's wife thinks the manor is haunted by a ghost who resides atop a tree) is that anyone even vaguely familiar with her stories knows that she almost always uses this stuff as a red herring - as a trick by the smart to fool the gullible. An additional problem with this particular story is that a character who should be invulnerable to supernatural beliefs, given the way he or she uses them to his or her own advantage, ultimately falls victim to them. On the plus side, there are a couple of striking camera shots, and an amusing subplot with a hotel owner / mystery writer wannabe who asks Poirot's assistance in finishing his novel! **1/2 out of 4.
The problem with most Agatha Christie stories that touch on the supernatural (here, the dead man's wife thinks the manor is haunted by a ghost who resides atop a tree) is that anyone even vaguely familiar with her stories knows that she almost always uses this stuff as a red herring - as a trick by the smart to fool the gullible. An additional problem with this particular story is that a character who should be invulnerable to supernatural beliefs, given the way he or she uses them to his or her own advantage, ultimately falls victim to them. On the plus side, there are a couple of striking camera shots, and an amusing subplot with a hotel owner / mystery writer wannabe who asks Poirot's assistance in finishing his novel! **1/2 out of 4.
Intriguing
grantss10 August 2016
Poirot and Hastings visit the village of Marsden Leigh, at the request of the local hotel owner, Samuel Naughton. Poirot thinks he has been invited down to solve a crime but is disappointed to discover that Mr Naughton simply wants him to read the draft of his book, a murder novel. Poirot's disappointment is compounded when, out of boredom, he reads the book and discovers that the crime is unsolvable! Fortunately, or unfortunately, for Poirot an actual murder has just been committed, at nearby Marsdon Manor, and he police seek Poirot's assistance. The owner, Jonathan Maltravers, was found dead under a tree, a tree that is believed to be haunted, leading to the suspicion that he was frightened to death. Poirot immediately ascertains that foul play was involved, and calls in Chief Inspector Japp.
Quite intriguing, with a few good twists and turns. The ultimate clue is quite clever too. Not easy to tell for sure who the murderer is, though the suspect list is quite short.
Some good sub-plots too, in particular the crime novel/novelist and the wax museum.
The climax feels a bit contrived though, and takes some of the shine off the episode.
Quite intriguing, with a few good twists and turns. The ultimate clue is quite clever too. Not easy to tell for sure who the murderer is, though the suspect list is quite short.
Some good sub-plots too, in particular the crime novel/novelist and the wax museum.
The climax feels a bit contrived though, and takes some of the shine off the episode.
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