Famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Ustinov) is called to investigate a diamond owned by millionaire Sir Horace Blatt (Blakely). Poirot reveals that the diamond is a fake which angers Blatt. Blatt bought the diamond for his former mistress, actress Arlena Stuart (Rigg), who apparently returned the fake when their relationship ended. Poirot agrees to travel to the luxury hotel on the Adriatic Sea where Arlena is vacationing with her new husband Kenneth Marshall (Quilley) and stepdaughter Linda (Hone) to uncover the real diamond.
He quickly learns that everyone else at the hotel hates Arlena:
- Arlena is openly flirting with Patrick Redfern (Clay), to the frustration of his wife Christine (Birkin). The couple's daily arguments can be heard by the other guests
- Hotel owner Daphne Castle (Smith) is a former rival of Arlena, who resents her success and the way she treats Kenneth and Linda
- Theater producers Odell (Mason) and Myra (Miles) Gardener lost money when Arlena left their show. They now want her to appear in their next show, but she refuses to consider the request.
- Writer Rex Brewster (McDowall) is writing a biography of Arlena, which she now refuses to approve/allow
- Linda hates the way her stepmother treats her and her father
- Kenneth is disappointed by Arlena's behavior
- Blatt also arrives on the island to confront Arlena
Arlena is found strangled on the beach. With a hotel full of suspects, who all have alibis, can Poirot identify the murderer(s)?
Based on Agatha Christie's 1941 novel, "Evil Under the Sun."
The Good:
This film was made due to the success of the 1978 Death on the Nile. Peter Ustinov returns as Hercule Poirot. Maggie Smith is always wonderful. This is also her second appearance in the Hercule Poirot films (she played a different character in Death on the Nile). Roddy McDowall is entertaining (and clearly having fun) as Rex. James Mason is also enjoyable. Diana Rigg works well in her role, especially when she is battling Smith's Daphne.
The film utilizes Cole Porter songs, arranged by John Lanchbery. The music works well with the story.
The Bad:
I dislike Jane Birkin (who also appeared in Death on the Nile, as a different character) in this - her character is hard to like. Emily Hone's Linda is also challenging.
Other Comments:
-This is Emily Hone's film debut (she only made one more film, Biddy in 1983).
-The film was considered a flop, despite using some of the talent from the previous Christie adaptations: screenwriters Anthony Shaffer (wrote Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile) and Barry Sandler (wrote The Mirror Crack'd) and director Guy Hamilton (directed The Mirror Crack'd).
-Denis Quilley and Colin Blakely also appeared in Murder on the Orient Express, as different character.
-I read the novel prior to watching this film. Some of the characters and situations have been condensed (as expected in novel adaptations) and some humor has been added, but the story remains mostly faithful to the novel.
-I enjoyed the novel, but the film is just OK
Evil Under the Sun (1982) 117 minutes
Director: Guy Hamilton
Starring: Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot
Jane Birkin as Christine Redfern
Colin Blakely as Sir Horace Blatt
Nicholas Clay as Patrick Redfern
James Mason as Odell Gardener
Roddy McDowall as Rex Brewster
Sylvia Miles as Myra Gardener
Denis Quilley as Kenneth Marshall
Diana Rigg as Arlena Stuart Marshall
Maggie Smith as Daphne Castle
Emily Hone as Linda Marshall