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Death on the Nile [1978] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


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Rollin' Rollin' Down the River As Big Wheels Keep on Turnin'
Review date: 2006-11-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

Having viewed "Murder on the Orient Express" and seeing Albert Finney in the role of Hercule Poirot, I was uncertain about my reaction to Peter Ustinov in this leading role, such different personalities and physical types/appearances. My concerns were quickly laid to rest, when at a hotel on the banks of the Nile, Mr. Poirot spoke in his French-accented Belgian voice to David Niven who played a lawyer representing Lynette Doyle's (aka Ridgeway's) interests, one knew this would be a film worth viewing. All the key players in this murder/drama were staying at the same hotel, waiting for the luxury steamboat "Karnak" to arrive and take them on their cruise down the Nile ...

Based on Agatha Christie's book of the same title, the film is superbly cast with such great names as Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury, Mia Farrow, Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Jack Warden, and actors and actresses unknown to me: Lois Chiles (played the leading lady, Lynette Ridgeway), Jane Birkin, Maggie Smith, and Jon Finch. The story begins as the heiress and socialite, Lynette Ridgeway arrives home at her great estate in England. She is greeted by the servants and her best friend or relative, Jacqueline (played by Mia Farrow) who begs her to hire her fiance and lover, who is penniless and without a job. When they are introduced, a spark is exchanged, and one senses that Ms Ridgeway will win him in the end ...

In the next scene, Lynette and her new husband are riding on horseback to view the Pyramids ... They stop and kiss on horseback, then climb to the top of a Pyramid. Only to learn as they reach the top, Jacqueline is there, waiting for them, giving details about the structure as if she were a tour guide and laughing as she views their discomfort and irritation by her surprise appearance. She is their nemesis, tracking down their moves and showing up, when they least expect it ... playing the spurned female lover to perfection. The couple manage to trick her into going to the railroad station, as they back track and return to the hotel, to board their boat for the cruise ... The upper class never looked so grand and haughty as the various actors and actresses play their roles when boarding for their cruise ... One learns nearly every passenger has a grudge against either Mrs. Doyle (aka Lynette Ridgeway) or her father who left his wealth to her. They all resent or hate her for some reason or another ... On a tour of some ruins, the passengers feign interest in the huge columns and carved structures, when they are all eyeing the antics of the newlyweds, the Doyle couple, as they wander around the site. A scream from Mrs. Doyle arouses everyone's attention, as they run to see what happened, a huge boulder, had toppled from one of the columns and nearly crushed her ... Hercule Poirot's instincts are aroused, his attention to detail and memory, like a steel trap, is put into over-drive ...

Ms Jacqueline makes her grand dramatic entrance at a tour site along the way and she comes on board ... to haunt the Doyles. She gets drunk one evening, threatens Mr. Doyle after his wife had gone to bed. Jacqueline loses control, whips out her pistol and shoots him in the leg. After this event, she is led back to her cabin, emotionally distraught and nearly hysterical. A passenger who is a nurse is awakened to stay with her all night, she injects Jacqueline with Morphine ... Mr. Doyle is taken to the doctor's cabin for treatment ... And shortly thereafter, Lynette Doyle is discovered murdered, shot in the head, with the same pistol used to shoot Mr. Doyle.

This is the first murder on board and Hercule Poirot has his work cut out for him, as *everyone* is a suspect ... Nearly all the passengers have motive and most had the opportunity to do it, except the *obvious* suspect, Jacqueline who was guarded by the nurse in her cabin. In true Agatha Christie fashion, the clues are examined by Mr. Poirot. Everyday life on board the boat becomes more tense and frightening. Even Hercule Poirot's life is threatened by a live cobra in his bathroom ... In the end, there are five total deaths on board. The last two occur after Hercule Poirot reveals who the murderer is: amazingly, the murderer and accomplice end up dying. This is a very fine film with enough twists and turns to satisfy any "who dun it" murder mystery fan.The film has magnificent long shot scenery, great actors and actresses, superb winding plot and colorful characters played to perfection, one can ask no more of a film! Erika Borsos [pepper flower]



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Reviews


Nearly perfect and even better than best
Review date: 2006-05-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

This blockbusting film adapted from Agatha Christie's novel is the very archetype and acme of her detective stories, at least those using the services of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot from Brussels. She builds up a closed set of people who are all concerned by the murder that is committed in a closed environment. They all have some personal interest to commit this crime, hence a motive, and none of them have an alibi, at least a real alibi. They can all have done it and Poirot is going to use his Belgian brain to sort out the facts and bring out the truth, as a reconstruction that is intended to trap or trick the culprit. And it works. That's how the mystery is resolved. One shady corner can be found though: the cobra in Poirot's bathroom will remain unexplained. It must have been overlooked at some moment in the making of the film because Agatha Christie would never do such a mistake.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine & University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne

The best of Poirot
Review date: 2005-08-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

This was probably the first Poirot that I ever saw and I must say that I have loved it ever since. The mixture of the ruins of Ancient Egypt, which is an obsession of mine, along with the 1930's fashion and style leads to some excellent imagery and a great story. Although I have never read any of the Poirot books, it was this film that set me got me to avidly watch all the other TV and film adaptations. Although there are some liberties taken with the geography of Egypt and the layout of some of the sights visited, this dose nothing to detract from the film itself. Angela Lansbury is brilliant as an alcoholic writer and gives one of the best performances in the entire film. Peter Ustinov is great as the Belgian sleuth and I must say is probably better than any of the other actors who have played the part. Because of all this film is also far superior to the more recent ITV Drama adaptation.

Great murder mystery
Review date: 2003-11-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

Wonderful actors in great settings. Peter Ustinov is perfect as Poirot. This is a great murder mystery and Poirot really has to make use of "his little greys" before he finds out who is behind the murders.

Elegant Fun
Review date: 2003-01-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

If you can accept this adaption of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile" in the spirit it was intended, you'll have a good time. Die hard readers of her great books may find a lot of little details to nit-pick over but as a fun murder mystery this one is truly grand. The production is visually gorgeous and the star-studded cast are fun to watch. At the center is Peter Ustinov's fine portrayel of Christie's greatest creation, Hercule Poirot. His interpretation of the Belgian detective with the 'little gray cells' is both smart and humourous. The film is lighthearted fun for murder mystery fans.

On vacation in Egypt, Poirot overhears one conversation after another about the rich and selfish Lynette. It seems everyone has reasons for wanting her dead. She stole away her best friend's boyfriend, is suing a sexpot writer for slander, is on the verge of finding out her attorney is swindling her, is cruely keeping her servant girl from happiness with another, and on and on. When Poirot is told by Mia Farrow, the jilted lover of Lynette's husband, "If love can't live in your heart, evil will do just as well" he knows this trip to Egypt will be no vacation for 'the little gray cells.'

The period production is sumptuous in it's presentation of both Egypt and their excursion by boat down the beautiful Nile River. It is resplendent and elegant fun and the cast is allowed to play it out with gusto. Ustinov gives Poirot a droll humor even after nearly being killed by a cobra, planted in his cabin by one of the suspects, no doubt.

Angela Lansbury and Betty Davis both ham it up in appropriate fashion and Lois Chiles is good as the not so deep Lynette. Jack Warden, George Kennedy, Maggie Smith, Olivia Hussey, and John Finch join David Niven, as Poirot's old pal, to round out this great ensemble cast of Holywood legends.

If you have a couple of hours to kill and want an old-fashioned entertaining murder mystery to pass the time with, this one will definitely do the trick. This trip down the Nile is a lot of fun.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Mia Farrow
Bette Davis
Jane Birkin
Lois Chiles
Peter Ustinov

Creators:
Peter Ustinov (Primary Contributor)
Jane Birkin (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Anchor Bay
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
EAN: 0013131142891
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-02-27
Universal product code (UPC): 013131142891
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Picture format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Region code: 1
Running time: 140 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1978-10-06
Language: English (Original Language)

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