Review of Death on the Nile (1978) by Jonathan B — 02 Sep 2011

This has been my favourite big screen Agatha Christie adaptation since I was taken to the cinema to see it many years ago by my mother. It simply drips with opulence and red herrings and has a stellar cast that directors these days can only dream of.

The story is the usual Christie tale of wealthy socialites all with dozens of skeletons clattering around in their closets who find themselves aboard a luxury paddle cruiser on a sightseeing tour of Egypt. As the body count mounts, the great Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot is called upon to solve the dastardly crime and bring the murderer to justice.

Here, Poirot is played for the first time by the wonderful Peter Ustinov, who, despite bearing little physical resemblance to the character, plays him with such joie de vivre as to be completely charming. Joining him on his escapade is David Niven as companion, Colonel Race and the wonderfully eccentric passengers being made up of Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Mia Farrow, Olivia Hussey, Jane Birkin, Simon MacCorkindale and George Kennedy.

There's a slow, lugubrious quality to this movie allowing the glamour and exotic nature of the surroundings and characters full reign with enough giggles and fabulously camp lines to keep it all entertaining.

There's a simply magical score from Nino Rota which sums up the age and style perfectly and director John Guillermin allows the undoubtedly huge egos of his cast to shine through to wonderful effect.

Ustinov went on to play Hercule Poirot several more times with varying success. For me, this is his best portrayal of the role and would take an awful lot to better.