Death On The Nile (The 70's One)

Death on the Nile (1978)

Runtime: 140 minutes... which flew by rather quickly

Directed by: John Guillermin

Starring: One hell of a cast, which I'll mention below

From: EMI Films

Presumably, many people on Letterboxd “stan” the relationship between the characters played by Bette Davis and Maggie Smith.

As promised earlier in the month, it was time for me to use the Criterion Channel to view this version of Agatha Christie's novel. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Kenneth Branagh's version was fine without having watched this beforehand. Now, I can say that I do prefer this to that. Naturally, the story in both is quite similar, although there are some different characters and frankly, those present here were more entertaining to me overall. By now I imagine I don't have to go into detail on how this is about a wealthy heiress who was newly married and is honeymooning on a boat in Egypt where there's no possible shortage of people who have a beef with her, then... 

Peter Ustinov tickled me pink as Hercule Poirot, a Belgian (not French, as he is oft to remind those incorrect in his heritage) who was hilariously in how he interrogated the suspects. What a team he made w/ David Niven as they investigated the case, although personally the best duo was the one played by Bette Davis and Maggie Smith; the latter was the former's caretaker and they bickered constantly--yet Smith always dressed like 1930's Marlene Dietrich and it should be obvious to many what their ACTUAL relationship was. Those that haven't seen the movie yet may now be enticed to...

As I was saying, what a cast this has. Besides the names already mentioned, there's Angela Lansbury as a horny drunk author-no, really-George Kennedy, Olivia Hussey, Jon Finch, Mia Farrow, Jane Birkin, and Jack Warden. The lead couple-Simon MacCorkindale and Lois Chiles manage to perform rather well even if they aren't the most famous people in the cast. Overall, those that like the old-timey mystery films definitely should give this a shot; the 140 minute length shouldn't automatically disqualify it for some. At least w/ my tastes, all the characters present and the storytelling meant that it was always interesting during its length. For certain the views of Egypt alone were a delight. The other times that Ustinov played Poirot, they may be watched in the future if the films were as charming as this.