DEATH ON THE NILE

This 1978 adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel, the first to feature Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, was a star-studded affair and a big hit. 

The story as presented here had some aspects which didn’t strike me as typical of Christie so I went and read the source novel to see what changes screenwriter Anthony Shaffer had made.

Understandably he cut out some of the characters as well as some subplots, for example one involving jewel robberies, so as to focus on the central murder mystery. 

Given that the studio would want to make the most of the Egyptian locations Shaffer added the absurd scene where the newlywed couple of Linnet and Simon climb the Great Pyramid thinking they are totally alone when who should pop up but Jackie, still angry at having been tossed aside by Simon.

À significant change by Shaffer is to give virtually all the characters a motive for killing Linnet.  Whilst on one level this makes sense (multiple suspects being a familiar trope) it niggled me throughout that it’s a ridiculous coincidence that almost all of the small number of passengers on the boat have a reason to want Linnet dead, but I dare say most viewers would not worry about this.

The solution to the murder mystery itself is typically ingenious but some elements of the story stretched my credulity to breaking point, especially the recovery of crucial evidence from the Nile itself.  

I was surprised that the shooting of Mrs Otterbourne is in the novel since it struck me as a crude bit of business by Christie’s standards but it is indeed there.  

In fact one of the criticisms of some of her novels is that unnecessary secondary murders have a habit of appearing late in the story, possibly as a bit of padding.  

Mrs Otterbourne is played by Angela Lansbury in completely over-the-top fashion. 

Ustinov is splendid as Poirot and he is given solid support by David Niven who is well cast as Colonel Race.

I would have liked to have seen Bette Davis given a bit more to do.  Maggie Smith, as her companion, is likewise rather wasted, but that is the problem with having so many big names, how to give them each enough screentime.

Mia Farrow is effective as the vindictive Jackie, George Kennedy plays the usual George Kennedy role, Jack Warden just about manages an adequate German accent, and the whole thing is an entertaining bit of fluff.

RATING: ✓ Cheers