Tom Clegg (2) (1934–2016)

Hastings gets chucked into the proceedings, since he appears nowhere within the book. Drug use is not treated as lightly as Christie did, resulting in a final solution much more unpleasant than the book's. Poirot meets the victim while alive, and learns her Dark Secret (weird first marriage) from her own lips. He is part of the atmosphere, going into the dig to meet with a suspect, which isn't in the book. Antiquities theft, on the other hand, is sort of hand-waved away. No serious action is taken.

But really now...we're led to believe that Countess Vera Rossakoff telegraphs Poirot from Baghdad and he picks up sticks and comes to this hot, dusty, yucky place?! She's nowhere in the book, I assure you, because Dame Ags wouldn't've done such a foolish thing. Even in a story predicated on such a ridiculous premise.

Still. Pretty pictures, Poirot as he was Divinely Ordained to Be (read: Played by David Suchet), and a very satisfyingly absurd climactic scene. Fun, fun, fun.… (mere)