Death on the Nile

John Guillermin (1978)

134min

PG Certificate

Review

Our Score

by David Brown

Peter Ustinov takes over from Albert Finney as pernickety Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot in this solid, star-studded dramatisation of Agatha Christie's paddle-steamer mystery. The plot is suitably tricky, the Egyptian locations dazzling and all the actors onboard seem to be having a terrific time - especially Angela Lansbury as a drunken writer and Maggie Smith as an acid-tongued nurse. It's only in comparison with 1974's Murder on the Orient Express that the film inevitably suffers - the solution isn't quite as jaw-dropping, and some of the whys and wherefores overtax credibility - but a humorous Ustinov keeps the whole thing afloat with his ability to add a twinkle to even the most earnest lines of dialogue.

Summary

Concluded.

Cast & Crew

Hercule Poirot Peter Ustinov

Mrs Van Schuyler Bette Davis

Colonel Rice David Niven

Miss Bowers Maggie Smith

Mrs Salome Otterbourne Angela Lansbury

Dr Bessner Jack Warden

Jacqueline de Bellefort Mia Farrow

Louise Bourget Jane Birkin

Linnet Ridgeway Lois Chiles

Simon Doyle Simon MacCorkindale

Mr Ferguson Jon Finch

Rosalie Otterbourne Olivia Hussey

Andrew Pennington George Kennedy

Manager of the Karnak I S Johar

Barnstaple Harry Andrews

Rockford Sam Wanamaker

Director John Guillermin

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: EMI DistsGuidance: Edited for violence.Available on: video and DVD

Drama

Full Episode Guide

John Guillermin (1978)

Review

Summary

Cast & Crew

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