Year of Release: 1978Country of Origin: UK
Director: John Guillermin
Cast: Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, Lois Chiles, Bette Davis
Plot outline: Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of an heiress during an Egyptian tour (IMDb).
Death on the Nile is a classic whodunnit in every sense. It follows the conventions of the genre like they were handed down from Mount Sinai. Naturally there is a murder, a group of suspects conveniently contained in a confined space, and a brilliant detective to put all the pieces together. Along the way we discover tantalizing clues that may or may not point to the truth. These clues are doled out slowly, often in half-overheard conversations or in a furtive glance or gesture. Death on the Nile benefits from a romantic, exotic locale to work with, the Nile, along with the famous Egyptian pyramids and other monuments, makes for a far more interesting backdrop than even the most lavish English manor house. Peter Ustinov plays Hercule Poirot with a whimsical humor, a lightness that belies the detective's razor-sharp intellect. Poirot is assisted by David Niven's Colonel Race. Poirot and Race have some of the best scenes in the movie together as they needle each other with their witty banter. The rest of the supporting cast is a delight to watch as well. Although they are too many to mention everyone individually, there are a few that really stand out. Particularly amusing were Bette Davis and Maggie Smith as the wealthy, acid-tongued Mrs. Van Schuyler and her cantankerous nurse, Miss Bowers. Angela Lansbury was a riot as Salome Otterbourne, a lusty, tippling writer of lurid romance novels. Jack Warden does quite well with a German accent as Dr. Ludwig Bessner, a doctor of questionable skills and methods. Finally, Mia Farrow is impressive as Jackie, the rejected former lover of Linnet's husband. (V)
My judgement: **1/2 out of 4 stars
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