Death on the Nile (1978)

Director:

John Guillermin

Writers:

Agatha Christie (novel)
Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A murder is committed on a Nile steamer, but Hercule Poirot is on board...

Plot Keywords:

Hercule Poirot | Murder | Camel | Riverboat | Egypt

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Peter Ustinov	...	Hercule Poirot
Jane Birkin	...	Louise Bourget
Lois Chiles	...	Linnet Ridgeway Doyle
Bette Davis	...	Marie Van Schuyler
Mia Farrow	...	Jacqueline De Bellefort
Jon Finch	...	James Ferguson
Olivia Hussey	...	Rosalie Otterbourne
George Kennedy	...	Andrew Pennington
Angela Lansbury	...	Salome Otterbourne
Simon MacCorkindale	...	Simon Doyle
David Niven	...	Colonel Johnny Race
Maggie Smith	...	Miss Bowers
Jack Warden	...	Doctor Ludwig Bessner
Harry Andrews	...	Barnstaple
I.S. Johar	...	Manager of The Karnak

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:13 | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Ireland:PG | France:U | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1978) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Abu Simbel Temple, Abu Simbel, Egypt

Company:

G.W. Films

Trivia:

A number of "Who's who in the cinema"s say that Gerald Sim and Victor Maddern are in this film but both actors are nowhere to be seen at all.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Simon and Linette are climbing up the pyramid there's a shot of them having climbed more than half way up, but in the next shot, looking down on them, the ground and rubble is visible only a few meters beneath.

Quotes:

Mrs. Van Schuyler: Shut up, Bowers. Just because you've got a grudge against
[Lynette]
Mrs. Van Schuyler: , or rather her father, no need to be uncivil.
Miss Bowers: GRUDGE? Melhuish Ridgeway ruined my family!
Mrs. Van Schuyler: Well, you should be grateful. If he hadn't, you would have missed out on the pleasure of working for me.
Miss Bowers: I could kill her on that score alone!

Movie Connections:

Version of "Agatha Christie: Poirot: Death on the Nile (#9.3)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'

Great all-star whodunit

Filthy rich Lois Chiles is killed on a ship traveling down the Nile River in Egypt. Good thing that detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) is aboard. Unfortunately, everyone on board had a reason to kill her. Poirot tries to figure out who did it while the bodies start to pile up....

Visually beautiful and totally fascinating adaptation of an Agatha Christie mystery. It was a deserved Oscar Winner for Costume Design--all the clothing was in period and looks truly beautiful. Also they shot on location in Egypt which helps. The cast went through hell though--it was very hot and the clothes they wore were heavy and uncomfortable. Bette Davis especially complained loudly about the clothes and tore into Olivia Hussey for playing loud music in her cabin--at 6:30 in the morning.

The cast, however, is very good in their roles. Ustinov is perfect as Poirot--much better than Albert Finney in "Murder on the Orient Express". Bette Davis does wonders with next to nothing in her role as a jewel thief. David Niven just tags along with Ustinov helping him solve the mystery. Mia Farrow is (sadly) miscast--she struggles in a very difficult role. Angela Landsbury (obviously enjoying herself) runs away with the movie as an alcoholic novelist. George Kennedy barely registers--he's very underwritten. Maggie Smith, playing Davis' maid, is a treat--the sparring insults between her and Davis are VERY funny. Jack Warden is OK faking a fairly convincing German accent as a doctor. Lois Chiles looks absolutely stunning...but is killed off. Olivia Hussey is sadly underused. Simon MacCorkindale is very good as Chiles' husband. And Jon Finch is very wooden as a revolutionary. Still, everything works.

I saw it back in a theatre in 1978 and loved it. Over 20 years later, I STILL love it. Much better than the overrated "Murder on the Orient Express". A definite 10 out of 10.