Teresa Reviews Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan (2004)

Teresa reviews Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan (2004) and thought that, for a debut episode, there needed to be more action.

(c)2025 by Teresa Peschel

Fidelity to text: 3½ thieves
Pretty close, considering Maybelle, her dad, and Oliver must be introduced and then meet Poirot and Hastings.

Quality of movie: 3 thieves
Too much telling and not enough showing.

Read more of Teresa’s Agatha Christie movie reviews at Peschel Press.

Also, follow Teresa’s discussion of these movie on her podcast.

This opening episode of the series sets up Maybelle, her difficult relationship with her father, novelist Raymond West, her loyal sidekick, Oliver the duck, introduces Poirot and Hastings, and involves everyone in an impossible jewel theft.

Despite looking 12, Maybelle is 16. She’s rebellious and doesn’t want to listen to boring dad. She causes a scene at the Grand Metropolitan Hotel, when Oliver escapes and creates a commotion on the dance floor among the impressively dressed guests. She has no idea what she’ll do next, other than watch Poirot get buttonholed by Mrs. Opalsen to tell him about her fabulous pearls. At least he’s doing something.

But the pearls are gone, despite being watched by the lady’s maid, Celestine. Vanessa, the hotel chambermaid, was also in the room. The two women are strangers, insist they’re innocent, and reluctantly alibi each other. Then pearls are found under Celestine’s bed. Could she have done it?

Maybelle doesn’t think so and suggests to Poirot that Mrs. Opalsen stole her own pearls for insurance fraud. It’s a clever idea, one that Poirot appreciates.

She watches as Poirot and Hastings investigate and seriously considers her future. This looks exciting! Poirot reveals the truth, based on logic and paying attention to details. He points out to her that while she has talent and imagination, she’s rebellious and emotional. Being a detective requires being dispassionate. He inspires May¬belle to become a detective — not now, when she grows up — and off we go.