Death on the Nile (1978)

"The truth, yes. The truth. It's so difficult to tell."

American heiress Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle (Chiles) and her new husband Simon (MacCorkindale) are on their honeymoon. They are being stalked by Jacqueline de Bellefort (Farrow), who was Simon's ex-girlfriend and Linnet's former friend. She is bitter and feels betrayed by the couple. To escape Jacqueline, they board the S.S. Karnak to travel down the Nile.

They are dismayed to learn that Jacqueline is also a passenger and they are stuck together. Also onboard is famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Ustinov). During the trip Linnet is murdered and the only suspects are the other passengers: romance novelist Salome Otterbourne (Lansbury), her daughter Rosalie (Hussey), American socialite Mrs. Van Schuyler (Davis), her maid Miss Bowers (Smith), Communist Jim Ferguson (Finch), Dr. Bessner (Warden), Linnet's American trustee Andrew Pennington (Kennedy), and her maid Louise (Birkin). 

Poirot investigates the murder, alongside his old friend Colonel Race (Niven). Everyone has a motive and secrets. Can they find the guilty party and prevent additional murders before reaching their destination?

This film is based on Agatha Christie's 1937 novel "Death on the Nile." This is the 18th of 45 stories (16th novel) featuring Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.

The Good:

The cast is excellent. This is Peter Ustinov's first (of 6) appearance as Hercule Poirot and he does a good job. And I enjoy his dynamic with David Niven. Angela Lansbury is wonderfully over the top as Salome. And Bette Davis and Maggie Smith are funny, especially as sparring partners. 

The Bad:

I don't love Linnet and Jacqueline. I'm not sure if it's the characters or the actresses.

Other Comments:

-In the film, Poirot references the film Murder on the Orient Express (1974).

-Won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design (Anthony Powell) in 1978.

-Kenneth Branagh also adapted this film in 2022, as his 2nd Poirot film (following Murder on the Orient Express 2017

Death on the Nile (1978) 140 minutes

Director: John Guillermim

Starring: Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot

Lois Chiles as Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle

Mia Farrow as Jacqueline de Bellefort

Simon MacCorkindale as Simon Doyle

David Niven as Colonel Race

Bette Davis as Marie Van Schuyler

Maggie Smith as Miss Bowers

Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne

Olivia Hussey as Rosalie Otterbourne

Jon Finch as James Ferguson

Jack Warden as Dr. Ludwig Bessner

Jane Birkin as Louise Bourget

George Kennedy as Andrew Pennington