Death on the Nile (1978)

well cast, except for Poirot himself

Death on the Nile (1978)

A good mix of American and European actors.
Older audiences will recognize the cast of the day.

Mia Farrow
Betty Davis
Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote)--> who brings some humor to the story
Olivia Hussey (Romeo and Juliet 1968)
Lois Chiles (James Bond Moonraker)
Peter Ustinov
David Niven

David Suchet, the current Poirot of 2004, is definitely the better Poirot.

Maybe with a little CGI technology and reinacting, Suchet can be included with the 1978 film.
Far fetched? It worked with an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space 9. The cast went back in time to the days of Kirk and Spock in "Trouble with Tribbles" episode.
October 24, 2008

Simply, Superb !

Excellent performance by all the great and so known actors. A masterpiece after the Agatha Christie's novel not only for the technical production, (sets, locations, photography) but also for the music and all the talent of the great stars joined here by the first time like P. Ustinov, B. Davies, M. Farrow, M. Smith, D. Niven and G. Kennedy. We can remebre all of them for all times. I think this film is a treasure and a tribute at the same time. A classic film for a good expert in mystery movies. September 13, 2008

no subtitles , no closed captions , you're excluded from the fun

just like the VHS version of this film , there are no closed captions . that would have been fine if there were subtitles . if you are deaf ? if you have some hearing impairment ? (like me) . if you keep the volume low out of consideration for others in your household ? if you're not british ? (like me) . if you don't wish to fain that you understood all the proceedings (with their endless parade of names) ? (like me) . don't purchase this film . send a message to the powers that be (ANCHOR BAY) , that we like film too . September 12, 2008

Death on the Nile - the movie

Movie came quickly and was as good as advertised. Would order from this seller again. August 31, 2008

Riddle of the Sphynx

Wow! What better backdrop for a story than the pyramids and ancient ruins of Egypt. Set mainly along the Nile, I sometimes found the story second to the scenery! Not that the story didn't fully engage - it did! The varied characters in Death on the Nile, are quite a bunch - there is an element of humor underneath all the intrigue. We know someone is going to get it as the movie unwinds, but who? and by whom? Many seem to have their reasons...

I loved the first half of this movie. It starts off with the craziest scenario. Niece wants fiance to get a managerial position at her very rich auntie's estate. She asks auntie and auntie says, well, let's meet him. Did I mention that besides being filthy rich, auntie is also quite young and attractive? When auntie meets fiance, sparks suddenly fly and then -

Cut to Egypt. Suddenly riding horses amongst the pyramids - rich auntie, and niece's fiance - they're married! And trailing around in their dust is the poor niece, bent on making a nuissance of herself during the honeymoon that should have been hers! There's a certain humour. And the scenery of the Nile, the ancient ruins, the Sphynx - it's stunning, and yet very much a part of the story.

For the second half of the movie though, I started to find myself less engaged. It became more of what I think of when I think of a cliche mystery. Less shots of Egypt. Less humorous situations. More tedious regurgitation of the murder as the Ustinov tries to solve the case.

The second half I give 3 stars as a noticeable lull seems to set in with the latter part of the cruise. It becomes more "in the head", and I wasn't terribly convinced when the murder was finally solved. A bit far-fetched.. While I don't mind far-fetched if it entertains simultaneously, I was becoming less and less entertained as the movie wound it's way toward the conclusion. Not terrible. Just not what the first half of the movie was - gorgeous, clever, witty and interesting. One reason for this may have been that for the second half of the movie less attention is paid to the myriad of interesting characters interacting with each other, and all things focus on Ustinov, who's rather stuffy and dry most of the time, although he's not awful. Just not as interesting as other characters which get more attention in the better half of this movie - the first. Fortunately, the story ends on a powerful note.

This movie is worth seeing. There are some jaw-droppingly beautiful scenes, which, at the same time, tie in so perfectly with the story. The tying together of such a dramatic backdrop (Egypt) with the riviting story this begins as, and the satisfactory final scenes, make this movie more than well-worth seeing.

April 7, 2008

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