Rating: 
Summary: USTINOV SHINES IN GREAT LOOKING MURDER MYSTERY
Review: "DEATH ON THE NILE" Yet another story of a murdered millionaire heiress, but this time, the movie has a much bigger budget (than "Endless Night"), a screenplay by Anthony Schaeffer, exotic Egyptian locations and a star-studded cast that includes Bette Davis, David Niven, Angelea Lansbury, Mia Farrow, Olivia Hussey and Lois Chiles. Peter Ustinov is droll, meticulous, Belgian master sleuth Hercule Poirot taking a cruise down the Nile on the S.S. Karnak. And, as is often the case when he goes on holiday, someone dies. Soon, all the rich passengers are suspects in the murder of Linnet Ridgeway. Can he find the culprit before the boat docks? Of course. But you will be surprised at his revelation -- and the number of bodies that fall along the way! Director John Guillerman works hard to balance the Christie formula of character over plot. The movie works and is a delight. A highlight is Nino Rota's memorable score that cleverly riffs the chugging of the steam powered boat heading up river. Jack Cardiff's cinematography perfectly evokes 1932. (UK, Color, Widescreen, 140 Minutes, Rated PG, 1978)
Rating:
Summary: USTINOV SHINES IN GREAT LOOKING MURDER MYSTERY
Review: "DEATH ON THE NILE" Yet another story of a murdered millionaire heiress, but this time, the movie has a much bigger budget (than "Endless Night"), a screenplay by Anthony Schaeffer, exotic Egyptian locations and a star-studded cast that includes Bette Davis, David Niven, Angelea Lansbury, Mia Farrow, Olivia Hussey and Lois Chiles. Peter Ustinov is droll, meticulous, Belgian master sleuth Hercule Poirot taking a cruise down the Nile on the S.S. Karnak. And, as is often the case when he goes on holiday, someone dies. Soon, all the rich passengers are suspects in the murder of Linnet Ridgeway. Can he find the culprit before the boat docks? Of course. But you will be surprised at his revelation -- and the number of bodies that fall along the way! Director John Guillerman works hard to balance the Christie formula of character over plot. The movie works and is a delight. A highlight is Nino Rota's memorable score that cleverly riffs the chugging of the steam powered boat heading up river. Jack Cardiff's cinematography perfectly evokes 1932. (UK, Color, Widescreen, 140 Minutes, Rated PG, 1978)
Rating: 
Summary: What's Missing?
Review: "Death on the Nile" should be more fun than it is. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is about the film that disappoints. The cast is good, the script witty, the direction capable, the backdrops lush, luxurious and spectacular. It was obviously produced with loving care, and Christie's story provides a constantly surprising, intricate puzzle. As for the specifics of the DVD, Jack Cardiff's high-key, low-contrast photography lends itself well to video, the transfer is 16:9 enhanced, and the results are uniformly handsome. Producers John Brabourne and Richard Goodwin repeat their "Murder on the Orient Express" formula. The Christie novel provides an excuse for an expensive, well-tailored cast to perform light, vaguely campy acting games. Most of the actors seem to be having fun with their parts (particularly Angela Lansbury as a drunkard author, barely standing at what seems a perpetual 45 degree angle) but the formula doesn't work for Ustinov. Or it works too well, depending on your point of view. He lacks the intensity Albert Finney brought to Poirot in "Orient Express," and unlike Finney or David Suchet, he fails to lose himself in the part. We're always just a shade too aware that we're watching Ustinov performing a clever impersonation rather than forgetting him to focus on the crime. On the other hand, the humor he brings to the part may please some people more than Finney or Suchet's seriousness. "Death on the Nile" was the second of three Brabourne/Goodwin Poirot adaptations, the first to star Ustinov (who went on to play him in two other theatrical films, and three made-for-TV movies), and the first to introduce a note of sly humor. That may be the problem. All the adaptations of the Poirot novels tread a thin line between tongue-in-cheek knowingness and self-parody. "Death on the Nile" just barely avoids slipping into the full Camp theatrics that made the next film in the series, "Evil Under the Sun" too cute to be effective. Fortunately, the solution to the mystery is a real surprise, and there's a second, stunning twist that makes the film memorable. If the rest had been up to the ending's level of involvement, the film might have been a real stunner. As it is, "Death on the Nile" is enjoyable enough, just not quite as good as we want it to be.
Rating: 
Summary: The MAID did it!! Or did she??
Review: +++++
I watched this movie without first reading the 1937 Dame Agatha Christie novel 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 them 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. It's apparent to him 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 (Dame 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 all the 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 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 movie that definitely stays afloat. It's a mystery for everyone...French, Belgian, or in-between!!
(1978; 140 min; widescreen; color)
+++++
Rating:
Summary: The MAID did it!! Or did she??
Review: =====> 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! <=====>
Rating:
Summary: It keeps you on the edge of your seat!!!
Review: A great movie; full of suspense. Good acting and great plot. Read the book, too!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Devoted Christie fan says....
Review: Absolutely a must see for all avid Christie readers!! Very suspenseful! Non-stop action with an excellent surprise ending! Keeps you on the edge of your seat! ^_^
Rating:
Summary: A Sinister Shipboard Slaying
Review: Agatha Christie wrote "Death on the Nile" in 1937, one year after "Murder in Mesopotamia", and to all appearances "Death on the Nile" was intended as a prequel to "Murder in Mesopotamia", which itself was a prequel to the 1934 classic "Murder in the Orient Express". The three stories make up a satisfying trilogy of mysteries as Poirot tours the Near East finding murder everywhere he goes. All three of the stories follow Christie's tried-and-true formula: She introduces the cast of suspects, gives each of them a dark secret and a motive to lie, and piles up the circumstances in such a way that the flying fickle finger of suspicion points to every one of them at some time or another. She compounds the confusion by supplying false leads and deliberatly glossing over hot clues. In each case Poirot holds his cards close to his vest, tantalizes the reader/listener with cryptic comments, and finds the most inconsequential-appearing facts to be highly significant. Eventually Poirot airs everyone's dirty laundry, explains his chain of deductive reasoning, reconstructs the crime in all its improbable complexity, and gets a confession. Of the three stories, however, "Death on the Nile" presents the most feasible modus operandi for the murder, as well as the most likely motivation for murder. This is a roudabout way of saying that "Death on the Nile" is the most realistic of the three. The Peter Ustinov movie stays faithful to the plot and gives the viewer some excellent scenes of Egyptian ruins along the Nile. The star-studded cast turns in good performances. Having first seen David Suchet as Poirot, I could not help but be somewhat disappointed with Peter Ustinov as Poirot. Of all the Poirot movies starring Ustinov, however, this is the best.
Rating:
Summary: Christie Lite
Review: Agatha Christie's complex MURDER ON THE NILE comes to the screen with the obligatory star-studded cast and a script that--while reasonably faithful to the original story--sacrifices the novels' sense of atmosphere and one of Christie's more celebrated plots for the sake of broad performances with a comic tone. The story focuses on a romantic triangle, with Mia Farrow in the role of a young woman who has been cast aside and now stalks her ex-lover and his wealthy wife on their honeymoon, even going so far as to book passage on a tourist ship with the couple. Needless to say, the newlyweds take a dim view of her presence, and the tension of the situation errupts into murder. Peter Ustinov is obviously miscast in the role of Hercule Poriot and therefore plays the role for humor; much the same may be said of David Niven in the role of Johnny Race, a character clearly adapted from the Capt. Hastings of several Christie novels. Like Ustinov, Mia Farrow is poorly cast in the role of the woman wronged, but the supporting cast--including Bette Davis, Angela Landsbury, George Kennedy, and Maggie Smith--offer good value; their over-the-top performances make the film quite watchable. This adaptation is truly "Christie-Lite," an effort to cash in on the popularity of the earlier film MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS without going to the same effort. It's mindless fun at best, and many will enjoy it as such, but those expecting a fullfledged adaptation of a Christie classic will be more than a little disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the beauty of the production
Review: Although the "mystery" isn't that intriguing, the performances from this star-studded film, the magnificent locations, and the superb Rota score make up for any deficits in the movie. Ustinov, though not the physical embodiment of Christie's Poirot, is quite good at his interpretation of the Belgian sleuth. His sharp twinkle of the eyes, though reminiscent of a beardless Santa, still resonates a mind at work. It is good to see David Niven, one of the most elegant actors ever to grace the silver screen, in a supporting yet significant part. Veterans George Kennedy and Jack Warden are also on hand as respective "suspects" in the death of heiress Lois Chiles. But, the acting nods go to a quartet of heavyweight grand dames of film: Angela Lansbury is a delight in the role of an eccentric lush of an author seemingly obsessed with sex; Bette Davis as a kleptomaniac dowager with designs on Chiles' baubles again shows why she is at the top of the women of Hollywood; and Maggie Smith as Davis's assistant is a joy as she trades barbs with her employer. Even though Mia Farrow is younger than the aforementioned, she still shows that she can hold her own in the role of a scorned woman with plans of her own. These women know how to deliver an award-winning performance.
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