"Five Little Pigs" is an engrossing mystery that Hercule Poirot unravels many years after a murder and execution occurred. Agatha Christie's masterful mystery was first published in 1942 under the title, "Murder in Retrospect." That title seems to much better describe the story and film. The current title is taken from Poirot's reference in the story to the childhood rhyme, "This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, etc." He said he would interview each of the five principal people who had been part of the story. But his linking that to the rhyme makes no sense at all. Perhaps it was one of the insertions by Christie to chide Poirot's English knowledge and translation for slight humor. And, why the later producers would change the title of the original story is as much a mystery to me.
But the story is a tremendous one in which Poirot agrees to try to find out the truth about the murder of Lucy Crale's father, Amyas Crale. Poirot agrees only with the stipulation that he will seek the truth, even if it meant that Lucy's mother, Caroline, was guilty. Caroline had been tried, found guilty and executed for the murder.
This is an unusual story, and sort of pioneering one, in which a mystery is probed and seen entirely in flashbacks. It's a masterful story and superb film production. Its conclusion is a testament to the need for caution and wise consideration of events and things one sees and hears, particularly regarding accusations of harm and crime.
This is a Poirot mystery that has none of the other familiar faces around the Belgian super sleuth. Here are a couple of poignant lines from the story.
Lucy Clare, to Poirot, "I've heard about you. The things you've done. The way you work. It's psychology. It's your forte, n'est-ce-pas?" Hercule Poirot, "C'est vrai. My success, it is founded in psychology, or, the 'Why?' of human behavior." Pointing to his head, he says, "It is this that I use."
Elsa Greer, "As soon as I laid eyes on him, I knew I had to have him."
But the story is a tremendous one in which Poirot agrees to try to find out the truth about the murder of Lucy Crale's father, Amyas Crale. Poirot agrees only with the stipulation that he will seek the truth, even if it meant that Lucy's mother, Caroline, was guilty. Caroline had been tried, found guilty and executed for the murder.
This is an unusual story, and sort of pioneering one, in which a mystery is probed and seen entirely in flashbacks. It's a masterful story and superb film production. Its conclusion is a testament to the need for caution and wise consideration of events and things one sees and hears, particularly regarding accusations of harm and crime.
This is a Poirot mystery that has none of the other familiar faces around the Belgian super sleuth. Here are a couple of poignant lines from the story.
Lucy Clare, to Poirot, "I've heard about you. The things you've done. The way you work. It's psychology. It's your forte, n'est-ce-pas?" Hercule Poirot, "C'est vrai. My success, it is founded in psychology, or, the 'Why?' of human behavior." Pointing to his head, he says, "It is this that I use."
Elsa Greer, "As soon as I laid eyes on him, I knew I had to have him."