Silver Spring, MD — Featuring three all-new, star-studded movies starring David Suchet, Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Movie Collection, Set 5 debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on July 27, 2010. The DVD release coincides with the debut of these new, lavish mysteries on PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery! in July 2010 (11th, 18th, and 25th). Set 5 features Agatha Christie’s iconic Murder on the Orient Express as well as Third Girl and Appointment with Death. The 3-volume DVD includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes program about the history of the Orient Express hosted by Suchet ($49.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

David Suchet returns as Hercule Poirot—the Belgian sleuth of unsurpassed deductive powers and peerless viewer appeal—in three fresh adaptations of Christie classics. Poirot has aired on ITV1 in the U.K. since 1989 and on PBS and A&E in the U.S.

The Mysteries
Murder on the Orient Express— While traveling from Istanbul to London aboard the luxurious Orient Express, Hercule Poirot encounters a ruthless businessman who offers him a large sum to expose the person threatening his life. Poirot declines, not caring for the man or his money. But when he is stabbed to death, the detective is determined to find the killer. With the help of an amateur sleuth (Samuel West, Van Helsing), Poirot begins to piece together the train of events leading up to the murder. Eileen Atkins (Cold Mountain), Toby Jones (Frost/Nixon, Infamous), Hugh Bonneville (Iris), and Barbara Hershey (Hannah and Her Sisters) guest star.

Third Girl— Distressed young heiress Norma Restarick comes to see Hercule Poirot about “a murder she might have committed.” The detective consults an old acquaintance, crime novelist Ariadne Oliver (Zoë Wanamaker, My Family), who lives in the same building as the young woman and her two roommates. When Norma’s childhood nanny is found dead, apparently by suicide, Poirot believes he has identified the victim. Next he must deduce the killer, while Norma’s family fears for her sanity. Peter Bowles (Lytton’s Diary, To the Manor Born), Jemima Rooper (Lost in Austen), and James Wilby (Gosford Park) guest star.

Appointment with Death— Hercule Poirot accompanies an archaeological expedition searching for the skull of John the Baptist in the Syrian Desert. What the team actually finds is a more recent corpse: the body of Lady Boynton, wife of expedition leader Lord Boynton (Tim Curry, The Rocky Horror Picture Show). The woman had made many enemies during her life, and Poirot has no shortage of suspects. He digs through layers of history to discover who had motive enough to kill. John Hannah (The Mummy), Cheryl Campbell (Lewis), and Elizabeth McGovern (Once Upon a Time in America) guest star.

Bonus Features: David Suchet on the Orient Express: Suchet hosts a tour of the Orient Express and recounts its history (47 min.); 120 years with Agatha Christie; list of Poirot books; David Suchet and Tim Curry notes; and cast filmographies.

Street: July 27, 2010
SRP: $49.99
DVD 3-Vol. Boxed Set: Approx. 275 min. plus 47 min. bonus program - SDH subtitles

On July 27, Acorn Media also has the long-awaited home video debut of The Agatha Christie Hour, Set 1. Seen on PBS Mystery, the 1980s series is based on the short fiction of Agatha Christie (DVD 2-Disc set; $39.99).

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.