Poirot Series 13 - Elephants Can Remember Preview

©ITV/Patrick Redmond - From left: Zoe Wanamaker as Ariadne Oliver, David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and Greta Scacchi as Mrs Burton-Cox

For one of his final cases, Poirot must delve into the past with his friend Ariadne Oliver

America fans of the little Belgian detective will be pleased to hear that episode three of the thirteenth and final series of the long-running show will be available to watch on AcornTV from August 11th. Elephants Can Remember features the recurring character of Ariadne Oliver, perfectly played by Zoe Wanamaker, and features Greta Scacchi, Danny Webb and Caroline Blakiston amongst the guest cast.  It was first broadcast in the UK on June 9th 2013, and was adapted by Nick Dear, produced by David Boulter and directed by John Strickland.

ITV Plot description:

Whilst Poirot (David Suchet) is pre-occupied with investigating the strange and gruesome murder of an elderly psychiatrist, his old friend, the crime writer Ariadne Oliver (Zoë Wanamaker), has a case of her own to solve.  

 

She is pressed by the loathsome Mrs Burton-Cox (Greta Scacchi) to uncover the truth of two decade-old deaths; were they murders or a double-suicide?  And if it was murder then who killed whom? Did General Ravenscroft (Adrian Lukis) shoot his wife, Margaret (Annabel Mullion), Ariadne’s old school chum, or did Margaret shoot him?  

 

In spite of Mrs Burton-Cox’s impertinence, Ariadne can’t help but be curious, and she takes it upon herself to set matters straight when her god-child, Celia (Vanessa Kirby), the dead couple’s daughter, begs her to uncover the truth. 

 

However, Poirot’s skills remain engaged elsewhere, as the case of the dead professor twists and turns, with Poirot reluctant to accept that his good friend, the psychiatrist’s son, Doctor Willoughby, is himself responsible. 

 

So Ariadne sets off on a journey into the past to dig for the facts, but theories abound as memories get muddled and old secrets remain stubbornly hidden. Before long though, the old Ravenscroft puzzle is pulled sharply into the present-day, when the life of Desmond (Ferdinand Kingsley), Mrs Burton-Cox’s son and Celia’s intended, is threatened by a mysterious figure in black… 

 

Poirot’s already twitching mind is immediately piqued, and when he realises the murder of his old professor is connected with Mrs Oliver’s investigation, they join formidable forces.

 

With the help of the great detective’s little grey cells, a trip to Paris, a wig-maker and the evidence of a clever dog, Poirot manages to penetrate the fog of memory to uncover the truth of two long-ago deaths, and how that tragic story inspired the vengeful present-day killer whom he himself has been hunting…

©ITV/Patrick Redmond - Greta Scacchi as Mrs Burton-Cox

Cast list:

 

Hercule Poirot - David Suchet  

Mrs Ariadne Oliver - Zoë Wanamaker

Mrs Burton-Cox - Greta Scacchi

Celia - Vanessa Kirby

General Ravenscroft - Adrian Lukis 

Lady Ravenscroft - Annabel Mullion

Desmond - Ferdinand Kingsley

Dr Willoughby - Iain Glen

Mrs Willoughby - Jo-Anne Stockham

Detective Inspector Beale - Vincent Regan

Marie - Alexandra Dowling

Superintendent Garroway - Danny Webb

Zelie - Elsa Mollien

Dorothea - Claire Cox

Julia Carstairs - Caroline Blakiston

Mrs Matcham - Hazel Douglas

Mrs Buckle - Maxine Evans

Madame Rosentelle - Ruth Sheen

Elephants Can Remember will be available to watch for viewers in the US on AcornTV from August 11th. UK viewers can buy Elephants Can Remember on DVD, in the collection Poirot Collection 9 from Amazon. 

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