This follow-up set includes five more of the 10 episodes total from the 1982 Thames Television series—broadcast on PBS's Mystery!—dramatizing Agatha Christie short stories that do not feature her two most famous detectives, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple. “Magnolia Blossom” and “The Manhood of Edward Robinson” are basically character pieces: the first about a wife tempted to leave an unhappy marriage; the second concerning a shy man who overcomes timidity by taking a ride in a spiffy car. The other three are more conventional mysteries: “Jane in Search of a Job” employs the clichéd device of doubles, focusing on a young Englishwoman hired to impersonate an exiled European princess—supposedly to protect her from enemies but in reality for more nefarious reasons—while “The Mystery of the Blue Jar” and “The Red Signal” revolve around ostensibly supernatural occurrences (a disembodied voice, séance predictions) that could be covers for crime. All of the plots are elaborate, albeit very old-fashioned (most of the stories date from the 1930s) in these well-crafted adaptations strongly acted by ensembles who never condescend to the material (the players include Amanda Redman, Ralph Bates, Stephanie Cole, Cherie Lunghi, Christopher Cazenove, and Rupert Everett). Christie aficionados will appreciate the opportunity to see these affectionate versions of some of her lesser works. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
The Agatha Christie Hour: Set 2
Acorn, 2 discs, 260 min., not rated, DVD: $39.99 Volume 26, Issue 2
The Agatha Christie Hour: Set 2
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