Death on the Nile
Directed by John Guillermin
Written by Anthony Shaffer from a novel by Agatha Christie
1978/UK
IMDb page
First viewing/YouTube rental
Jim Ferguson: You damn froggy eavesdropper.
Hercule Poirot: Belgian! Belgian eavesdropper!
All-star cast plays second fiddle to fabulous cinematography and art and costume design in this fun murder mystery.
As the movie begins, Jaqueline De Bellefort (Mia Farrow) visits her friend heiress Linette Ridgeway (Lois Chiles) and asks her to give Jackie’s fiance Simon Doyle (Simon MacCorkindale) a job on her estate. Linnet agrees to interview Simon. The next thing we see is Linett and Simon emerging from a chapel and setting off on a luxurious honeymoon in Egypt. Jackie stalks them throughout. It would be criminal to reveal any more about the plot though it is a given that everyone is a suspect. Instead look at this supporting cast! Jane Birkin, Bette Davis, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, David Niven, Maggie Smith and Jack Warden all have juicy parts.
For me, neither the plot nor the actors are the high spots of the movie. It is the sumptuous reconstruction of 1920’s dress and furnishings and the gorgeous color photography by Jack Cardiff that carried me away. To add to my enjoyment, the locations brought back memories of a cruise my husband and I took down the Nile many years ago.
Death on the Nile won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design.
