Death on the Nile

Starring: Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow, Simon MacCorkindale, Jane Birkin, David Niven, Lois Chiles, Bette Davis, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, I.S. Joshar, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, Maggie Smith, Jack Warden, Harry Andrews
Directed by: John Guillermin
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Mystery
1978

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) investigates a shipboard murder in Egypt where nearly all the passengers have a motive for the killing.

Review:

Tim: I enjoyed Death on the Nile, another Hercule Poirot mystery. This film comes four years after Murder on the Orient Express, and with a new Poirot- this time played by Peter Ustinov. It speaks to the legacy of Poirot, as he's a fascinating, entertaining character and many actors are able to step into his shoes. While I don't think this film is quite as good as the previous one, it's still a successful whodunit.

I liked Albert Finney as Poirot in the previous film, so I was initially a bit disappointed to see a new actor in the role. Ustinov is such a talented actor, though, he effortlessly slips into this character. Ustinov's Poirot is a bit different- he plays the character as is written on the page, but makes him his own, too. He's likeable, intelligent, a bit buffoonish at times. He's funny, tough as needed, and easy to root for. I generally enjoyed Ustinov's performance and it holds our attention as we move forward with the mystery. Ustinov is definitely a big reason why this movie succeeds.

The film is helped by a wonderful supporting cast. You really can't say enough about them. I loved partnering Ustinov with David Niven. Niven is such a talented actor and he brings gravitas and credibility to the role. He has such an aristocratic charm and it was fun seeing him working closely with Ustinov as the mystery unfolded. They made a good pair. Mia Farrow gives a memorable performance, having several truly great scenes. Angela Lansbury chewed up some scenery in a silly but energetically memorable performance. It was fun seeing her in this role. I loved seeing Maggie Smith here, but I do wish she was given a bit more to do. Her performance was good, but it felt limited. Simon MacCorkindale didn't really do it for me- I can't say I often believed his performance and it felt like he was out-of-step with the rest of the cast. I'm not sure he was talented enough to hang with this tremendous cast. It's always great seeing Bette Davis and I appreciated her work here. George Kennedy was excellent- there's something I just love about the guy, I'm always happy when he shows up and he delivers his typically-strong supporting performance here. Jon Finch was a bit bland, but alright. Olivia Hussey didn't make much of an impression on me. I really like Jack Warden and he managed to elevate his character some. That's really a testament to Warden- you can tell those in the cast that helped make their characters more memorable (like Warden), verses those who weren't able to (Finch and Hussey for example). Lois Chiles was solid, she gave a ncie performance. I.S. Joshar was good, too. As a whole, the cast has a ton of talent and is definitely one of the film's biggest strengths.

The movie is well made, too. The cinematography is well done and there's some impressive shots that transport us to Egypt. The setting is a big part of this film. The costume are especially well done- this film was nominated for 1 Academy Award- Best Costume Design- and it won that award. So, kudos to the team for winning an Oscar. I'd agree that this award is deserving.

I will say I don't love the story of this one. It's just not my favorite. It feels like it goes on a bit long- there's a bunch of characters and to keep the mystery alive, we need to deeply explore each one of them. It's a lot of information, a lot to keep track of, and when some of the cast members aren't differentiated enough, you lose track of who is who among a few supporting cast members. I felt like some of the story was washing over me, verses I was on the hunt with Poirot. I thought it was really interesting how this film actually filmed the actors performing various versions of the crime- that helped put us in Poirot's mind, as he considers how nearly every character could have potentially pulled off the murder(s). That was definitely fun and entertaining to follow.

Agatha Christie was a fantastic author who crafted so many great mysteries. Death on the Nile might not be my favorite of her stories, but it works. This is a good film, entertaining, well made, assembles a wonderful cast and gives them plenty of opportunity to showcase their talent. The film is probably a tad long, at 2 hours and 20 minutes. It could have used a few more edits throughout. Still, this is a good movie and another success for Poirot. .

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Murder on the Orient Express