Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Mystery

On what should be a genteel weekend at an English country house, the mood turns dark when two unexplained deaths surface. Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent, a sharp and unflappable flapper, joins the dashing Jimmy Thesiger to follow a string of odd clues. Their inquiries move from polite drawing rooms to secret meetings and point to a hidden group known as the Seven Dials and the theft of sensitive government papers. A lively ensemble of aristocrats and servants provides misdirection and dry social comedy, and the film keeps its surprises under wraps, preferring to emphasize the puzzle, the period detail and mounting tension rather than revealing outcomes too soon.

Directed by Tony Wharmby, the 1981 television adaptation was scripted from Agatha Christie's novel by Pat Sandys. The cast includes John Gielgud, Cheryl Campbell, Rula Lenska, Lynne Ross and James Warwick, for television audiences.

As a made-for-television production it did not record a theatrical box office, instead reaching viewers through its 1981 broadcast. The release was intended for TV rather than cinemas, so standard box office metrics do not apply.

Among Christie adaptations this title is a modest entry, notable to fans for its portrayal of the irreverent Bundle Brent and for John Gielgud's authoritative presence. While it never achieved the fame of Poirot or Miss Marple screen outings, it has a modest following among Christie aficionados and is appreciated for its period atmosphere and ensemble character work.

Critical and audience response has been mixed-to-positive, the film holding a 6.8/10 user average from 22 votes. Reviewers praised the period setting, the puzzle-driven plot and several strong performances while noting the constraints of television budgets; themes include class, amateur detection and the shift from social amusements to real-world espionage.