Death on the Nile

I watched this 1978 movie of 140 minutes without first reading the 1937 Dame Agatha Christie novel (of the same name) that it was based on. I'm glad I did this! Why? Because it forced me to really watch the movie in order to try and deduce who the murderer was.

As a brief synopsis, the movie begins with "Jacquline ('Jackie') De Bellafort" (Mia Farrow) telling her very wealthy friend "Linnet Ridgeway" (Lois Chiles) about the man "Simon Doyle" (Simon MacCorkindale) she has fallen in love with. Linnet falls for Simon and they eventually marry. Their honeymoon is on a riverboat (technically called a 'paddle steamer') called the "S.S. Karnak" that takes then down the Nile River in Egypt. Aboard the boat, besides the three mentioned above, are "Hercule Poirot" (Sir Peter Ustinov) and his good friend "Colonel Johnny Race" (David Niven). There are other passengers on board who all dislike Linnet.

Linnet is murdered. Eventually two other passengers are also murdered. Poirot has to solve who the killer is. For both Poirot and the viewer, it's obvious that the killer is either male or female or, as Poirot might say, either a "beau" or a "belle." It's also obvious that the killer is no "Simple Simon."

Who are these passengers? Besides the five mentioned above, they are as follows:

(1) Louise Bourget, Linnet's Maid (Jane Birkin)
(2) Socialite Marie Van Schayler (Bette Davis)
(3) Miss Bowers (Maggie Smith), Aid to Marie
(4) Marxist James Ferguson (Jon Finch)
(5) Romance Novelist Salome Otterbourne (Angela Lansbury)
(6) Rosalie Otterbourne (Olivia Hussey), Salome's daughter
(7) Lawyer Andrew Pennington (George Kennedy), Linnet's uncle
(8) Dr. Ludwig Bessner (Jack Warden)
(9) Manager of the Karnak (I.S. Johar)

Of the fourteen actors mentioned above, Ustinov's performance stands out. This was his debut performance as Poirot and I feel he does a stellar job being both serious and comical at the same time. Other performances to look for are Mia Farrow as the ex-fiance and Angela Lansbury as the perpetually drunk novelist.

The cinematography of this movie is visually stunning. We especially get to see the Sphinx, the Pyramids, and the ancient ruins of Egypt. The costume design is elegant. The main background music adds to this movie as well.

Listen for gags that run throughout this movie. For example, Poirot is Belgian but is always confused as being French. One of my favorite pieces of dialogue is where a passenger gets angry at the great sleuth:

Van Schayler: You perfectly foul French upstart!
Poirot: Belgian upstart, please madam.

As Poirot attempts to solve the crime, we are shown what might have happened. Unfortunately, there is some unintended humor as Linnet continually gets shot (in the head) as Poirot goes through each possible scenario. I found this somewhat distracting.

Finally, the DVD (which has the movie in widescreen format) has five extras. I found that the only one that was interesting was about the making of this movie. It lasts about 25 minutes.

In conclusion, this is a fun movie, even if you have read the book. For those who haven't read the novel, I have left clues in the above review as to the possible identity of the killer. If you think you know who it is, then watch this movie to find out if you're right!

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A Mysterious Movie and a Superb Tale!   May 30, 2004
David Joseph (Houston, TX)
It begins with a rich woman who gets EVERYTHING SHE WANTS and when her best friend Jackie's new fiance meets her. The rich woman immediatly steals Jackie's hunk and in a matter of weeks they are married and set off for their honeymoon in Egypt. Poor Jackie. Her only love has been stolen for her BY HER BEST FRIEND! But Jackie is determined and follows the new couple to Egypt. After meeting a host of new characters, the couple plus Jackie boards a little Nile tour thing. But suddenly the rich woman is dead (shot). Who could it be?


All Star cast who-done-it in Egypt.   April 22, 2004
James McDonald (Lancaster, California)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

The second lavish all-star Agatha Christie adaptation. This is the first film with Peter Ustinov as the Belgian Detective, Hercule Poirot. If you love a who-done-it mystery, this one will keep you thinking and stimulate your brain to the very end. Please watch it to the very last second. What may be so one minute may be different the next second. This all-star cast is wonderful, especially Angela Lansbury. Olivia Hussey, Peter ustinov and Simon Corkindale had just finished the NBC tv-miniseries movie "Jesus Of Nazareth" (1977). Also in the cast is Bette Davis, David Niven, Mia Farrow, George Kennedy, Maggie Smith (California Suite [1978], Jack Warden, Lois Chiles (Moonraker [1979]), Jon Finch, Jane Birkin, Harry Andrews and I.S. Johar. Warning: This is not for children to watch. very Grusome and graphic violence. There are many Agatha Christie movies from film and television. Here are some worth watching. Those with an "*" include Peter Ustinov as "Detective Poirot". And Then There Were None (Ten Little Indians) (1974), Murder On The Orient Express (1974), The Mirror Crack'd (1980), *Evil Under The Sun (1982), *Thirteen At Dinner (1985-tv), *Dead Man's Folly (1986-tv), *Murder In Three Acts (1986-tv), *Appointment With Death (1988).
For a lighter comedy, may I suggest MURDER BY DEATH (1976).


Poirot   November 26, 2003
M. Hencke (New York, NY United States)
I am obsessed with Poirot films. This is one of my favorites. My personal favorite is Murder on the orient express. I like Ustinov's Poirot better than Finney but it is not nearly as good as David Suchet's on BBC and public television. Death on the nile is a very well made mystery film directed by John Guillermin (the guy who did Towering Inferno and the King Kong remake). I particularly like David Niven and Mia Farrow in this one, and Maggie Smith who seems to always be good. If you're a Poirot fan then this is must see. I also recommend Evil Under The Sun and Appointment in Death.


Stunning and Unforgotten   September 14, 2003
This was one of the best movies you could ever see! I would rate it 5 stars even though I haven't seen the ending. I have read the book twice and am always shocked and wide eyed when I read the ending, like And Then There Were None. The book/movie is about Linnet Ridgeway, the beautiful brunette who has simply everything; a big house, suitors, money, good looks, friends, and enemies. Then her hot-blooded friend Jackie, who is bankrupt, asks Linnet to give her handsome, broke fiance a job. Linnet agrees but she falls in love with Simon Doyle and they get married and take a little trip on the Nile. They are followed by Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury, George Kennedy, David Niven, Peter Ustinov,Maggie Smith, and suprise, suprise Jackie. Jackie follows them like a bloodhound and one evening while she is tipsy, shoots Simon in the leg while Linnet is in her room. That night Linnet is murdered with the small pistol Jackie dropped under the sofa in the saloon and everyone forgot about. The only two people with an alibi are Simon with his broken leg and Jackie with her dose of morphine and nurse Maggie Smith. Everyone else had the motive and the opportunity, even her American lawyer, George Kennedy, and Linnet's maid. Peter Usinov (M. Poirot) and David Niven (Clnl Race) can't solve the mystery before the maid's throught is cut and the witness (sex and drinking addict author played by Angela Lansbury who plays her role with absoloute perfection) to the second murder is stopped dead in her revealing of the murderer with the lawyer's Colt. I think it has a good ending. Maybe not as good as the book. Read the book and see the movie. You won't ever forget it.