I have always been a big fan of the Poirot series and of Agatha Christie in general. Case of the Missing Will is certainly not a bad episode, in fact I don't consider any of the Poirots bad. But it was a little disappointing for me, one of the weaker short story adaptations. The story is rather confusing, I admit I had to see Case of the Missing Will three times to completely understand it, and there are scenes that are dealt in an unusually trite way, and that is including the final solution. Also other than Andrew Marsh, I found the supporting characters rather bland and uninteresting. On the other hand, as with all the Poirots it is very well-made and evocative in its atmosphere. Although there have been more involving and less confusing mysteries before and since in the series, Case of the Missing Will is interesting for the depiction of the Cambridge intellectuals. The music is still of hauntingly beautiful quality and there is some intelligent dialogue. The acting is fine, with the support cast doing what they can, but it is the four leads really that make the episode worthwhile, with David Suchet as always outstanding as Poirot, Hugh Fraser an amusing and somewhat naive contrast as Hastings, Phillip Jackson a fun Japp and Pauline Moran lovely and firm as Miss Lemon. Overall, worth watching, but a little disappointing and not one of the better short story adaptations in the way Wasp's Nest, The Chocolate Box and Adventure of the Italian Nobleman were. 7/10 Bethany Cox
19 Reviews
early feminism
blanche-29 November 2014
This episode actually isn't based on an Agatha Christie story, but the characters are taken from the original story.
In this plot,it's 1926 and Andrew Marsh has written a will which he reveals to family and friends. Most of it will go to a medical foundation. His ward, Violet Wilson, gets nothing because girls are provided for by their husbands. Well, that's enough to set my teeth on edge right there.
Ten years later, Violet is a magazine publisher and Marsh decides to change his will and leave everything to Violet. He wants Poirot to be the Executor, confessing that he has a terminal illness. He receives a phone call and leaves the house, and is murdered. And no one can find any will.
The death is declared to be from natural causes, but Poirot is not convinced. He also gets a hint that Marsh has an illegitimate son. Find the child, he says, and find the murderer from there.
Interesting episode filmed at Cambridge with Hastings, Japp, and Lemon involved. The letdown in the story is the ending. It's not the best episode, but even the worst Poirot is better than no Poirot.
In this plot,it's 1926 and Andrew Marsh has written a will which he reveals to family and friends. Most of it will go to a medical foundation. His ward, Violet Wilson, gets nothing because girls are provided for by their husbands. Well, that's enough to set my teeth on edge right there.
Ten years later, Violet is a magazine publisher and Marsh decides to change his will and leave everything to Violet. He wants Poirot to be the Executor, confessing that he has a terminal illness. He receives a phone call and leaves the house, and is murdered. And no one can find any will.
The death is declared to be from natural causes, but Poirot is not convinced. He also gets a hint that Marsh has an illegitimate son. Find the child, he says, and find the murderer from there.
Interesting episode filmed at Cambridge with Hastings, Japp, and Lemon involved. The letdown in the story is the ending. It's not the best episode, but even the worst Poirot is better than no Poirot.
Underrated episode
gridoon202413 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Judging by some comments here, "The Case Of The Missing Will" appears to be an underrated "Poirot" episode. Though apparently loosely based on an Agatha Christie story, it is a quintessentially Christie-ian tale about a old tycoon, a possible murder, a missing will, the search for a heir, deep buried family secrets; the ending is a surprise, but a logical one (the biggest clue can be found in the method of the murder). Gender politics of the 1930s are nicely incorporated into the story, and it is a clever Miss Lemon observation that enables Poirot to solve the mystery. The production is elegant, and the ensemble acting is typically fine, with Beth Goddard a spirited Violet. The only questionable plot point for me was the lawyer's remark that an oath could be sufficient for a person to claim that he (or she) is someone's heir; even in the pre-DNA era, I doubt it would be that simple. *** out of 4.
Just because you go to Cambridge doesn't mean you're smart
Paularoc10 September 2012
In an opening scene depicting an event of years earlier, Andrew Marsh tells a small group of friends just how he's going to leave his money and pointedly makes it clear that his ward, Violet, will get nothing as she is a woman and will marry. Flash forward 12 years and we see the now grown Violet as a young student at Cambridge. There is an interesting debate at the Union club regarding whether or not women were men's equals with Marsh taking the "no" position and a childhood friend of Violet's taking the "yes" position. Violet calls out her views from the gallery and is soundly booed. This Cambridge setting is a highlight of the episode. Later Marsh, who is a very ill man, tells Poirot that he is changing his will and asks Poirot to be his executor. Letting others know that one is changing one's will is often not a good idea and Marsh is murdered and it is soon discovered that his old will is missing. As we have come to expect, Suchet does a wonderful job as do his triumvirate of side-kicks: Hastings, Lemon and Japp. I thought the guest cast good - particularly Mark Kingston and Susan Tracy. The weak link in the story is the ending; when watching it, my first thought was "what...?" Nonetheless, a most enjoyable episode.
Feminist
dbdumonteil31 December 2006
Interesting Poirot episode although the plot is a bit confused ,not one of Christie's best .But the essential lies in the depiction of those years just before WW2 (there are hints at Hitler and Musolini),and the Cambridge milieu .The story is a feminist one,cause the victim is here a misogynist whose ward,Violet ,abetted by her squeeze,Andrew-who delivers a feminist speech at the Cambridge university- does not want to be only a housewife .
As always, Japp gets the wrong man,But Poirot won't get fooled.Even if the solution is rather disappointing,the depiction of the Cambridge intellectual milieu of the thirties makes it all worthwhile.
As always, Japp gets the wrong man,But Poirot won't get fooled.Even if the solution is rather disappointing,the depiction of the Cambridge intellectual milieu of the thirties makes it all worthwhile.
Poirot, academia and women's lib
grantss25 August 2016
Poirot visits an old friend, Andrew Marsh, an academic at Cambridge University. Mr Marsh is terminally ill and confides in Poirot that he intends to change his will. He does not have the chance to carry this out as later that same evening he dies. The doctor and police conclude that it was natural causes, but Poirot knows better. Moreover, his old will has gone missing.
Fairly interesting and intriguing. Reasonably good mystery, though a bit convoluted and close to impossible to figure out in advance. Some good twists along the way.
Some good sub-plots too. The equal-rights-for-women theme was reasonably well handled. The attitudes of some of the men seem quite barbaric by today's standards...
Fairly interesting and intriguing. Reasonably good mystery, though a bit convoluted and close to impossible to figure out in advance. Some good twists along the way.
Some good sub-plots too. The equal-rights-for-women theme was reasonably well handled. The attitudes of some of the men seem quite barbaric by today's standards...
Not A Real Agatha Christie
kristiluchi30 September 2012
This is a decent enough plot and story line, though the reason that it doesn't hold up to the rest of the Poirot Stories is that the only thing taken from the original story is the name of the young heiress, her Uncle, and the housekeeper and her husband.
The original story is about a young orphan whose uncle has ancient views on the roles of men and women. It involves him dying of old age, saying that, since she's gone to college and is so smart, she has one month to live in his house and find his the means to his fortune or it will all go to his housekeeper and her husband. She hires Poirot to find the will, or the fortune, for her. He eventually does and decides that she proved her cleverness in hiring him to do so! I think they changed this because it isn't a very... intricate or exciting story. It's more fun and shows that Poirot doesn't have to always work on murders.
It's an interesting story but I think it suffers as a Poirot because it's not really an Agatha Christie.
The original story is about a young orphan whose uncle has ancient views on the roles of men and women. It involves him dying of old age, saying that, since she's gone to college and is so smart, she has one month to live in his house and find his the means to his fortune or it will all go to his housekeeper and her husband. She hires Poirot to find the will, or the fortune, for her. He eventually does and decides that she proved her cleverness in hiring him to do so! I think they changed this because it isn't a very... intricate or exciting story. It's more fun and shows that Poirot doesn't have to always work on murders.
It's an interesting story but I think it suffers as a Poirot because it's not really an Agatha Christie.
Highly underrated and maybe misunderstood episode
richardmolenschot5 October 2015
To me this episodes is one of the best. I'm trying to understand why previous reviews are unsatisfied with the ending. To me it was one of the best.
Though loosely based on a short Christie story this episode is all in Christie's spirit. Adding the feminism storyline might make it less of an Christie, because she was an old fashioned kind of girl regarding gender roles, but Poirot rooting for equality makes him one of the heroes of this story.
The ending might come as a big surprise. But i think that is because this episode was a very clever one and the viewer needs to be very focused to get hold of all the clues. Finding the murderer means a lot of puzzling by understanding all the relationships between the characters. Little clues like breadcrumbs are lying on the path to salvation. I'd like to say this episode requires the fast paced puzzling one has to do in the new BBC Sherlock (Cumberland) episode.
To me it was very satisfying i had to really work hard and put all the little fragments together. Very strong is the fact that all the red herrings are actually part of the mystery (kudoos!) and are àlso part of the theme: feminism. To me that is very good writing!
Though loosely based on a short Christie story this episode is all in Christie's spirit. Adding the feminism storyline might make it less of an Christie, because she was an old fashioned kind of girl regarding gender roles, but Poirot rooting for equality makes him one of the heroes of this story.
The ending might come as a big surprise. But i think that is because this episode was a very clever one and the viewer needs to be very focused to get hold of all the clues. Finding the murderer means a lot of puzzling by understanding all the relationships between the characters. Little clues like breadcrumbs are lying on the path to salvation. I'd like to say this episode requires the fast paced puzzling one has to do in the new BBC Sherlock (Cumberland) episode.
To me it was very satisfying i had to really work hard and put all the little fragments together. Very strong is the fact that all the red herrings are actually part of the mystery (kudoos!) and are àlso part of the theme: feminism. To me that is very good writing!
Christie fans are quick to forget that liberties have been taken with her books for many years.
Sleepin_Dragon25 November 2019
Poirot is called in by an old friend Andrew Marsh to execute on his new will. Andrew has a terminal illness, so his death is simply natural causes, right?
After the brilliance of The Yellow Iris, I've always found this one a little flat, there are some reviews here which trash it, those are way off the mark, it is still good viewing, what it is not, is the story Christie originally penned. I don't mind changes, sometimes they're needed for practical reasons, as in The Big Four, sometimes they're changed for dramatic effect, and sometimes you wonder why they did.
The plot is a bit muddled, and the characters lack a little spark, even if the performances are fine, Beth Goddard is particularly good. The feminism aspect is unique on the show, and it's a decent exploration. The main flaw here is the crime itself is just a bit dull.
It's a decent watch. 6/10
After the brilliance of The Yellow Iris, I've always found this one a little flat, there are some reviews here which trash it, those are way off the mark, it is still good viewing, what it is not, is the story Christie originally penned. I don't mind changes, sometimes they're needed for practical reasons, as in The Big Four, sometimes they're changed for dramatic effect, and sometimes you wonder why they did.
The plot is a bit muddled, and the characters lack a little spark, even if the performances are fine, Beth Goddard is particularly good. The feminism aspect is unique on the show, and it's a decent exploration. The main flaw here is the crime itself is just a bit dull.
It's a decent watch. 6/10
A shining example of British period mystery TV at its best that should not be missed.
jamesraeburn20034 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Hercule Poirot visits the Cambridge Union where his close friend, Andrew Marsh (Mark Kingston), is taking part in a debate about the role of women in society. Over lunch at his country estate, Andrew announces his intention to make a new will. That night Andrew visits Poirot in his room telling him that he intends to leave his entire fortune to his ward Violet Wilson (Beth Goddard), which means that he has denounced his long held views that women can never be granted equal status with men. He tells Poirot that he has been proud of her achievements at university and asks if he will act as his executor of that will. Poirot agrees, but on the following morning, Andrew is found dead by Violet and Captain Hastings in an old folly in the grounds of his estate. The doctor signs the death certificate as heart failure, but Poirot suspects foul play and calls in Chief Inspector Japp of the Yard after the local police sergeant (John Laurimore) refuses to investigate matters further. Japp orders a post-mortem, which reveals that Andrew was murdered by somebody who had injected a fatal overdose of insulin into him. Next it is discovered that Andrew's will has been stolen, and most likely destroyed, meaning that he has died intestate. Despite the close knit nature of the local people who are unwilling to cooperate with him, Poirot vows to unmask his old friend's murderer and deliver the inheritance to Violet as he had intended. Japp arrests Marsh's doctor, Dr Pritchard (Richard Durden), whom had been the main beneficiary of the missing will. However, he also has form for running a so called 'humanitarian clinic' that illegally helped terminally ill people to end their lives and Japp suspects that he has been up to his old tricks again. In addition, one of his medicine bottles was subsequently found at the scene of the crime. Poirot is completely unconvinced that Pritchard is the killer, however, and he discovers rumours that Andrew had fathered an illegitimate son. Poirot believes that such a son exists and that Andrew was murdered and the will destroyed so that he would die intestate clearing the way for that child to claim his fortune. But who could this son be? The local police sergeant's son Peter Baker (Neil Stuke) or the lawyer's son Robert Siddaway (Edward Atterlin)?
All in all, The Case Of The Missing Will, based on a short story that originally appeared in Agatha Christie's marvelous Poirot Investigates collection stands out as a shining example of British period mystery television at its very best. It shows us how Agatha Christie's stories should be filmed: first rate production values, rich period detail (the 1930's, in this instance), actors chosen on their suitability to the play the parts as opposed to their big name status and beautiful dramatization. That goes for saying even though this film bares very little resemblance to the original story, because it was far from the best in that collection and in itself was unsuitable for film adaptation without a lot of work being put into it. Yet, the story line that Douglas Watkinson came up with was strong enough to stand on its own and it does justice to the works of Agatha Christie. As well as being an absorbing whodunit, it carries an attractive and strong central thrust, a pro-feminist message, which challenges the old fashioned attitudes of the era in which it is set and sees the old guard established figures within the story come around to accept equal rights between men and women.
All in all, The Case Of The Missing Will, based on a short story that originally appeared in Agatha Christie's marvelous Poirot Investigates collection stands out as a shining example of British period mystery television at its very best. It shows us how Agatha Christie's stories should be filmed: first rate production values, rich period detail (the 1930's, in this instance), actors chosen on their suitability to the play the parts as opposed to their big name status and beautiful dramatization. That goes for saying even though this film bares very little resemblance to the original story, because it was far from the best in that collection and in itself was unsuitable for film adaptation without a lot of work being put into it. Yet, the story line that Douglas Watkinson came up with was strong enough to stand on its own and it does justice to the works of Agatha Christie. As well as being an absorbing whodunit, it carries an attractive and strong central thrust, a pro-feminist message, which challenges the old fashioned attitudes of the era in which it is set and sees the old guard established figures within the story come around to accept equal rights between men and women.
The Case of the Missing Will
Prismark1010 May 2018
The Case of the Missing Will is only loosely based on the Agatha Christie story. This adaptation also has a feminist undercurrent as there are University debates on the role of women in society.
Wealthy Andrew Marsh contacts Poirot and tells him that Poirot will be appointed as the executor in his new will and that his ward Violet will get everything. Marsh is terminally and ill and is later found dead, before the new will was made. It is presumed that it is natural causes but Poirot is not so certain.
Poirot thinks that Marsh had an illegitimate son and they could lay claim to the estate. Poirot is certain that someone did not want to lose out if a new will was made.
There is plenty of assistance provided by Hastings and Miss Lemon. A rather intriguing episode although the actual plan and motivation of the perpetrator was rather far fetched.
Wealthy Andrew Marsh contacts Poirot and tells him that Poirot will be appointed as the executor in his new will and that his ward Violet will get everything. Marsh is terminally and ill and is later found dead, before the new will was made. It is presumed that it is natural causes but Poirot is not so certain.
Poirot thinks that Marsh had an illegitimate son and they could lay claim to the estate. Poirot is certain that someone did not want to lose out if a new will was made.
There is plenty of assistance provided by Hastings and Miss Lemon. A rather intriguing episode although the actual plan and motivation of the perpetrator was rather far fetched.
Great suspense in this Poirot mystery
SimonJack19 February 2018
"The Case of the Missing Will" is one of the best and most intriguing of Hercule Poirot episodes from the Mystery Theater TV series. If for no other reason, it's huge cast and list of possible suspects makes it very interesting. And, all of the major support cast are back with Poirot to help him uncover the culprit. Indeed, he does so with a very surprising conclusion. Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) gets more of a role in the direct pursuit here.
It's nice to have the country scenes again filmed in an old English estate, rather than the modern building that serves for a number of Poirot mysteries. And, this one has a foray to picturesque Oxford as a plus. This story has been altered considerably from Christie's short story. But it is masterfully done and a most enjoyable Poirot case.
It's nice to have the country scenes again filmed in an old English estate, rather than the modern building that serves for a number of Poirot mysteries. And, this one has a foray to picturesque Oxford as a plus. This story has been altered considerably from Christie's short story. But it is masterfully done and a most enjoyable Poirot case.
Cambridge Blues
rmax3048233 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
An old friend of Poirot's -- quite well off and living with his family in Cambridge -- is murdered. The motive, as is so often the case, is greed. The old chap, wheezing and suffering from a bum ticker, asked Poirot to be his executor. He'd just changed his will, leaving everything to his unacknowledged, unwitting, and illegitimate daughter, the succulent, blond, Beth Goddard -- the type of attractive and very British-looking innocent that the producers manage to find on a regular basis.
However, at the reading of the will, it's discovered that the original will has been stolen. It had spread the fortune around pretty generously. And it appears that the old fellow's new will -- the one leaving everything to Goddard -- is nowhere to be found, perhaps not yet written. This leaves the victim intestate. I take that to mean that he left no will at all and that the money now all goes to his nearest kin. It's rumored that the deceased had an illegitimate son -- but did he? In looking over this sketch of the plot, I notice that I've already exposed the Big Reveal at the end. But, no matter.
It's a rather routine story in almost every respect except that it was filmed at Cambridge University, established in 1209. It's the third oldest surviving university in the world. The school's motto is "Hinc lucem et pocula sacra", which translates roughly as "From here we get knowledge and lots of good drinks." The school's color is blue.
You get to see quite a bit of the campus. It's a pretty place. Like Oxford, it has these placid canals or waterways along which people go punting. Poirot does not go punting. He does not punt. He fades back and makes a long pass. I don't think I've ever seen him make such determined and intuitive leaps. "When we find dzhe beneficiary, we find dzhe murderer," he declaims, about ten minutes into the mystery, and he's right too. Well, almost. He's one generation off.
However, at the reading of the will, it's discovered that the original will has been stolen. It had spread the fortune around pretty generously. And it appears that the old fellow's new will -- the one leaving everything to Goddard -- is nowhere to be found, perhaps not yet written. This leaves the victim intestate. I take that to mean that he left no will at all and that the money now all goes to his nearest kin. It's rumored that the deceased had an illegitimate son -- but did he? In looking over this sketch of the plot, I notice that I've already exposed the Big Reveal at the end. But, no matter.
It's a rather routine story in almost every respect except that it was filmed at Cambridge University, established in 1209. It's the third oldest surviving university in the world. The school's motto is "Hinc lucem et pocula sacra", which translates roughly as "From here we get knowledge and lots of good drinks." The school's color is blue.
You get to see quite a bit of the campus. It's a pretty place. Like Oxford, it has these placid canals or waterways along which people go punting. Poirot does not go punting. He does not punt. He fades back and makes a long pass. I don't think I've ever seen him make such determined and intuitive leaps. "When we find dzhe beneficiary, we find dzhe murderer," he declaims, about ten minutes into the mystery, and he's right too. Well, almost. He's one generation off.
"What good are many friends, mon ami, when you have one bad enemy?"
bensonmum217 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Andrew Marsh is a very wealthy, but sick, man. He tells Poirot he intends to make significant changes to his will and asks Poirot to be his executor. But before he can make the intended changes, he is murdered. And to complicate matters, his old will is missing. So, who gets the money? More importantly, who is the killer? As Poirot says more than once, find the missing will and you'll find the murderer.
I watched this episode a couple of days ago and, honestly, I can't remember much about it. And that's part of the problem - The Case of the Missing Will isn't very memorable. Oh, it's good enough, just not great. To make matters worse, it's confusing. There are too many characters for a 50 minute episode to get to know much about anyone. When the killer was revealed, I thought to myself, "Now who is that?" While the episode has the incredible acting you expect, fabulous location shots, and high-quality production values, an average 5/10 is the best rating I can give The Case of the Missing Will.
I watched this episode a couple of days ago and, honestly, I can't remember much about it. And that's part of the problem - The Case of the Missing Will isn't very memorable. Oh, it's good enough, just not great. To make matters worse, it's confusing. There are too many characters for a 50 minute episode to get to know much about anyone. When the killer was revealed, I thought to myself, "Now who is that?" While the episode has the incredible acting you expect, fabulous location shots, and high-quality production values, an average 5/10 is the best rating I can give The Case of the Missing Will.
Another goof
Sulla-223 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
An excellent episode already well reviewed. Fine performances by all the cast .
However, When the lady was first pushed down the escalator, the culprit was definitely a man. Having watched it a few times, I am certain of this
However, When the lady was first pushed down the escalator, the culprit was definitely a man. Having watched it a few times, I am certain of this
Arrested Poirot
mirkobozic8 March 2020
This one is based on yet another short story of Christie's that they were able to turn into a rather enjoyable tv version. There's a surprising feminist theme underlying the plot and the female characters are wonderful. The song "I Shall Remember You" is particulary lovely. Poirot's arrest experience was hilarious. Definitely worth watching.
Not a goof
kim_manning15 April 2018
Someone else stated a goof where Ms. Lemon's outfit changed as she was investigating birth records, I believe that the change of outfits signified a passage of time. She was checking out all the hospitals in the area and wore four different outfits.
New Age feminist garbage
donlessnau-591-63773029 June 2021
This is nothing like the Christie story which was actually pretty interesting. It would have made a great Poirot episode. But the PC police got hold of the production and turned it into a pile of garbage. Dreadful adaptation. Maybe the worst.
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