15. The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim

Air date: 04/02/1990
Published: Ninth story in "Poirot Investigates" (1924)

At the fifteenth time of asking (well, fourteenth, technically, as they had tackled one novel by now) the TV producers finally dipped into the very first collection of Poirot short stories.

The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim is an enjoyable yarn about deception and fraud. It is also, as my daughter pointed out, one of those stories where you can't help giving the game away a bit when you turn the written word into a visual production.

The Mr Davenheim of the title is a banker who goes missing from his country pile the very afternoon a rival businessman, a Mr Lowen, was due to come and see him. When Davenheim's clothes are dredged from a nearby lake the finger of suspicion seems to point to Lowen. It is later discovered that the safe in Davenheim's study has been broken into, and bearer bonds, cash, and his wife's collection of expensive jewelry taken.

In the original much of the early part of the story is being reported by Inspector Japp to Poirot as they and Hastings share afternoon tea. The adaptation cleverly moves from 'live' story to Japp's account.

Poirot, ever lauding his 'little grey cells', is challenged by Japp to see if he can't solve the case without leaving his home, within seven days.

The police discover that Davenheim's signet ring has been rather clumsily pawned by a local vagrant-come-pickpocket, Billy Kellett. Poirot eventually works out that Kellett is Davenheim's alias. He had been defrauding the bank for years, and converting money into jewelry. In the TV production it's not difficult to spot British character-actor Kenneth Colley (Admiral Piett in two of the original Star Wars films!) playing both Davenheim and Kellett!

A few minor details have been changed for the TV production. In the original Davenheim was supposed to have spent the previous autumn in South America (actually he was being Kellett in prison!); whereas now it is South Africa. There is also a bigger role for Davenheim's wife.

What is more noticeable, however, are the embellishments, several of them quite humorous. Poirot, Hastings and Japp are at the theatre watching a magician. Although apparently bored, Poirot takes up an interest in card tricks and sleights-of-hand - a theme which runs through the episode.

Lowen is now, among other things, a car racing enthusiast (much to the delight of Hastings). Also, for some obscure reason, Poirot's 'confinement' at home coincides with him being asked to look after a friend's parrot.

At one point Hastings talks to it. "Don't fraternise with the creature; I'm still training him", says Poirot. "It's only a parrot", retorts Hastings. "I was talking to the parrot", says Poirot, without looking up from his desk.