Hercule Poirot Month! The Girdle of Hyppolita

[Nicole]

Our second Hercule Poirot story for August is The Girdle of Hyppolita. We start off with an art theft, but M. Poirot quickly becomes intrigued by another case – that of a missing student.
Did you think the two cases could be connected? Did you guess what the outcome would be? Did part of you wish that a romantic heart was involved so that Japp would take to reading lady novelists? ;-)
SPOILER – there’s no murder in this story, which is not uncommon for Dame Agatha, but is always a nice surprise!
Side note #1: Has anyone ever crossed the English Channel?
Side note #2: Has anyone ever been on a Mystery Train?

[Mark Pghfan]

Never crossed the channel nor been on a mystery train.

SPOILER

I liked the story, but wonder how the substitution of the fake Winnie could have worked. Did NONE of the other girls know Winnie in the first place? Wouldn't an imposter have been spotted?

It was ingenious the way the picture was smuggled in, though. Its not the first time that the practice of covering up a master (painting) with another painting was used. (See Mrs. McGinty). I find it hard to believe that it would not ruin the original underneath.

[Nicole]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Never crossed the channel nor been on a mystery train.

SPOILER

I liked the story, but wonder how the substitution of the fake Winnie could have worked. Did NONE of the other girls know Winnie in..."

Ok, it's been FOREVER since I've read McGinty but I've seen the movie 1,000 times (that and A Murder is Announced are my faves - coincidentally the fabulous Zoe Wanamaker plays such contrasting roles!!!), but I don't recall that so I'm going to read it again! Yes, I've always wondered how painting over a painting can leave the original unscathed underneath. Must be something sciency, lol.

It sounds as if only Miss Pope had met Winnie before - and that was 2 years prior - I guess all the girls came from different parts of England so I guess it's possible.

[Tina]

Nicole wrote: "Our second Hercule Poirot story for August is The Girdle of Hyppolita. We start off with an art theft, but M. Poirot quickly becomes intrigued by another case – that of a missing student.
Did you t..."

Mystery Train, yes. English Channel, no. ;-)

Mini spoiler --


M. Poirot is amazing. Way up front in story, armed with his leetle grey cells, he entertains idea of a shoe. Now how did he figure that so early in case??

[Tina]

All time favorite Marples: A Murder Is Announced and 4:50 To Paddington, the Hickson versions. Sittaford could've been one if they didn't botch story (McEwan version) with that ridiculous ending. What a waste of a good story.

Off yet on topic: Anyone see the latest Ordeal By Innocence? Seems similar to recent Christie with Kim Cattrell. Anyone know if new Ordeal is available in DVD? It's on Ammy but not in DVD that I could tell.

[Nicole]

Tina wrote: "All time favorite Marple: A Murder Is Announced and 4:50 To Paddington, the Hickson versions. Sittaford could've been one if they didn't botch story (McEwan version) with that ridiculous ending. Wh..."

Agree with Hickson Paddington and Sittaford, lol! Haven't seen Ordeal yet, but Jane Seymour was so good in the previous version!!!

[Tina]

Nicole wrote: "Tina wrote: "All time favorite Marple: A Murder Is Announced and 4:50 To Paddington, the Hickson versions. Sittaford could've been one if they didn't botch story (McEwan version) with that ridiculo..."

I'll have to catch that one, Nicole. Thanks!

[PugMom]

If I can get rid of my headache I’ll read this story tonight! I think the weather is causing me issues lately.

[Nicole]

I hope you’re feeling better today, Nicole G!

[Mark Pghfan]

I don't know if Ordeal is ready on DVD yet. I heard they changed the plot so that Rachael (the mother) turns out to be quite abusive to the children. Not sure I am going to like that part. Some of the newer adaptations are getting more unpleasant that the original stories.

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I don't know if Ordeal is ready on DVD yet. I heard they changed the plot so that Rachael (the mother) turns out to be quite abusive to the children. Not sure I am going to like that part. Some of ..."

Pghfan, use to be sex sells, now it's violence...even in cozies? What are we becoming?

Have you seen any other Ordeal adaptations? There's one in the McEwan collection that I don't believe I caught. Found the set for a bit more than I care to pay. Though I have to say, I did warm to McEwan in MM role. Sorta felt for her, having to knit in Hickson's shadow. lol.

[Mark Pghfan]

I have seen the McEwan one. Not too bad, but they killed off one more character than in the book. And it was sad. (I don't want to spoil anything further.)

There is also an older film adaptation from the mid 1980's. A little lurid, but not too bad. I'm not sure if it is on DVD at all. I saw it on VCR.

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I have seen the McEwan one. Not too bad, but they killed off one more character than in the book. And it was sad. (I don't want to spoil anything further.)

There is also an older film adaptation f..."

Thanks for the 411, Pghfan. I'll have to hunt down those versions but I would've liked to have seen new one with Anna Chancellor first which looks out of reach for now. The quest goes on.

[Nicole]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I have seen the McEwan one. Not too bad, but they killed off one more character than in the book. And it was sad. (I don't want to spoil anything further.)

There is also an older film adaptation f..."

Agree on McEwan version. And that's the one with Jane Seymour!

[Nicole]

Any more comments this week on The Girdle of Hyppolita before we move on to the next story tomorrow? NicoleG - did you ever read it? :D

[PugMom]

I’m almost done! This last week of work before vacay kicked my but so I only got to read about 2 minutes before I fell asleep every night lol

[PugMom]

This wasn’t my favorite story but I think I should have read it all in one sitting instead of a few pages at a time. I partially guessed what was going on when Poirot saw the bad painting but didn’t figure out the rest.

[Tina]

NicoleG wrote: "This wasn’t my favorite story but I think I should have read it all in one sitting instead of a few pages at a time. I partially guessed what was going on when Poirot saw the bad painting but didn’..."

Same here, NicoleG. Not a favorite but okay. :-/