Sad Cypress 

Elinor Carlisle seems to be the obvious murderer of her ailing aunt and the beautiful romantic rival who broke up her engagement, but Poirot uncovers darker motives.

Director:

David Moore

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel), David Pirie (screenplay)

Stars:

David Suchet, Elisabeth Dermot Walsh, Rupert Penry-Jones

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Suchet	...	Hercule Poirot
Elisabeth Dermot Walsh	...	Elinor Carlisle
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Roddy Winter
Kelly Reilly	...	Mary Gerrard
Paul McGann	...	Dr. Peter Lord
Phyllis Logan	...	Nurse Hopkins
Marion O'Dwyer	...	Nurse O'Brien
Diana Quick	...	Mrs. Welman
Stuart Laing	...	Ted Horlick
Jack Galloway	...	Marsden
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Seddon
Alistair Findlay	...	Prosecuting Counsel
Linda Spurrier	...	Mrs. Bishop
Ian Taylor	...	Shopkeeper
Timothy Carlton	...	Judge

Storyline

Elinor Carlisle and Roddy Winter are happily engaged. Elinor's aunt is Laura Welman, wealthy but ailing and bed-ridden. Elinor receives an anonymous letter warning her that someone will try to gain favour with Mrs Welman at her expense. Her aunt's doctor, Dr Peter Lord, contacts Hercule Poirot to investigate. Mrs Welman dies with no will and Elinor, as her next-of-kin, receives everything. Shortly before Mrs Welman's death, Mary Gerrard, an old friend of the family, reappears after a long absence. Roddy falls for her and this ends his engagement to Elinor. Elinor is openly resentful of Mary ending her relationship with Roddy and says she wished Mary was dead. One afternoon, Mary stops by for tea and sandwiches with Elinor and a short while later is found dead, poisoned. After a thorough investigation, which Poirot assisted in, Elinor is charged with and ultimately found guilty of the murders of Mary and Mrs Welman. She is sentenced to hang. Doctor Lord insists that Elinor is innocent ...

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Plot Keywords:

hercule poirot | doctor | sandwich | salmon | detective | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

26 December 2003 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Sue Ryder Hospice, Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT), A+E Networks, Agatha Christie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 100 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Kodak Vision Color Negative Film)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Canadian French Title: ( Je ne suis pas coupable).

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Goofs

The red climbing roses featured in the episode are said to be the Zephirine rose, but the Zephirine rose is pink.

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Quotes

Elinor Carlisle: It is certainly hard when the accident of another person's return - another person's beauty suddenly destroys your love

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Connections

Version of Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie: Je ne suis pas coupable (2010)

User Reviews

Exceptionally well-done

Hercule Poirot looks into the case of a woman accused for two murders: there is overwhelming evidence against her, her dislike for one of the victims - the girl who stole her fiancé's heart - is well-known, and she doesn't express any feelings of regret. Despite all that, a doctor, who is secretly in love with her, is convinced of her innocence and asks his old friend Poirot to help him prove it.

Let me put it simply: the story, direction, performances, music, and set design of "Sad Cypress" are of higher quality than approximately 90% of what is available out there. Dropping the (highly entertaining, it must be said) sidekicks, changing the tone to almost completely serious, and reducing Poirot's screen time in favor of the other characters (in fact, it could be argued that the beautiful Elisabeth Dermot Walsh is the central figure here) are all bold moves, and they pay off brilliantly, in this case at least. Up to this point in the series, and without having seen "Five Little Pigs" yet, the only episodes I would rank above this one are "Wasps' Nest" and "Lord Edgeware Dies".

A must-see if you love good cinema, even when it's made for TV. (***1/2)