Death on the Nile (1978 film)
Death on the Nile 
UK theatrical release posterDirected by John Guillermin Screenplay by Anthony Shaffer Based on Death on the Nile
by Agatha Christie Produced by John Brabourne
Richard B. Goodwin Starring Peter Ustinov
Jane Birkin
Lois Chiles
Bette Davis
Mia Farrow
Jon Finch
Olivia Hussey
George Kennedy
Angela Lansbury
Simon MacCorkindale
David Niven
Maggie Smith
Jack Warden
I. S. Johar Cinematography Jack Cardiff Edited by Malcolm Cooke Music by Nino Rota Production
companies Mersham Productions
EMI Films Distributed by EMI Films Release date - 29 September 1978 (US)
- 23 October 1978 (UK)
Running time 140 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English Budget $7.92[1]–8 million[2] Box office $14.6 million[3]
Death on the Nile is a 1978 British mystery film based on Agatha Christie's 1937 novel of the same name, directed by John Guillermin and adapted by Anthony Shaffer.[4] The film features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, played by Peter Ustinov for the first time, plus an all-star supporting cast that includes Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, David Niven, George Kennedy and Jack Warden. The film is a follow-up to the 1974 film Murder on the Orient Express.
It takes place in Egypt in 1937, mostly on a period paddle steamer on the Nile. Various famous Ancient Egyptian sights are featured in the film, such as the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and temples at Abu Simbel and Karnak, sometimes out of sequence (the boat trip scenes start at Aswan, move downstream to Karnak, and then shift upstream to Abu Simbel).
Death on the Nile won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 51st Academy Awards.
| Death on the Nile | |
|---|---|
 UK theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Guillermin |
| Screenplay by | Anthony Shaffer |
| Based on | Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie |
| Produced by | John Brabourne Richard B. Goodwin |
| Starring | Peter Ustinov Jane Birkin Lois Chiles Bette Davis Mia Farrow Jon Finch Olivia Hussey George Kennedy Angela Lansbury Simon MacCorkindale David Niven Maggie Smith Jack Warden I. S. Johar |
| Cinematography | Jack Cardiff |
| Edited by | Malcolm Cooke |
| Music by | Nino Rota |
Production companies | Mersham Productions EMI Films |
| Distributed by | EMI Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 140 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7.92[1]–8 million[2] |
| Box office | $14.6 million[3] |
Death on the Nile is a 1978 British mystery film based on Agatha Christie's 1937 novel of the same name, directed by John Guillermin and adapted by Anthony Shaffer.[4] The film features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, played by Peter Ustinov for the first time, plus an all-star supporting cast that includes Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, David Niven, George Kennedy and Jack Warden. The film is a follow-up to the 1974 film Murder on the Orient Express.
It takes place in Egypt in 1937, mostly on a period paddle steamer on the Nile. Various famous Ancient Egyptian sights are featured in the film, such as the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and temples at Abu Simbel and Karnak, sometimes out of sequence (the boat trip scenes start at Aswan, move downstream to Karnak, and then shift upstream to Abu Simbel).
Death on the Nile won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 51st Academy Awards.
Contents
Plot[edit]
Jacqueline "Jackie" de Bellefort asks her close friend, wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway, to hire her unemployed fiancé, Simon Doyle. Jackie is pleased when Linnet agrees, but Linnet and Simon soon start a whirlwind affair and marry. While honeymooning in Egypt, they are continually hounded by the jilted Jackie. In an attempt to get away, the Doyles pretend to go to the Cairo railway station before backtracking to board a Nile paddle steamer, the S.S. Karnak.
During an on-shore excursion to the nearby Temple of Karnak, a large stone is pushed off a pillar and narrowly misses the Doyles. They are shocked when Jackie joins the cruise, ignoring detective Hercule Poirot's warning to stay away. She also reveals that she carries a small automatic pistol in her handbag and is a crack shot. That night, Jackie confronts Simon in a drunken rage and shoots him in the leg. The next morning, Linnet is found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. A "J" written in blood on the wall above her bed implicates Jackie, but she has a solid alibi as Miss Bowers sedated her with morphia and stayed with her all night.
Poirot and his friend, Colonel Race, investigate. They discover that numerous passengers had motives to kill Linnet: Louise Bourget, Linnet's maid, was bitter due to her mistress' refusal to grant her a promised dowry; Andrew Pennington, Linnet's American trustee, was anxious to prevent her from discovering that he embezzled from her; Mrs. van Schuyler, an elderly American socialite suffering from kleptomania, displayed a great interest in Linnet's pearl necklace; van Schuyler's nurse, Miss Bowers, blamed Linnet's father for financially ruining her own father; Salome Otterbourne, a romance novelist, was being sued for libel for a similarity between Linnet and one of her characters; Mrs. Otterbourne's daughter, Rosalie, was anxious to protect her mother from financial ruin; Jim Ferguson, an outspoken Communist, resented Linnet's wealth; and Dr. Ludwig Bessner, a Swiss psychiatrist, faced exposure by Linnet concerning his unorthodox methods affecting Linnet's past friends.
Soon after, the crew pulls a small bundle from the Nile. The missing pistol is wrapped in Mrs. van Schuyler's stole, which has a small bullet hole. There is also a blood-stained handkerchief, and a marble ashtray used as a weight. When Linnet's pearls are missing, Mrs. van Schuyler denies taking them. Soon after, the necklace is found on Linnet's body, so Poirot deduces Mrs van Schuyler has "returned" them.
While Poirot and Race conduct their investigation, Louise Bourget is found dead, her throat cut with one of Dr. Bessner's scalpels, and a fragment of a banknote clutched in her hand. Poirot deduces she saw the murderer coming out of Linnet's cabin and extorted money for her silence. Salome Otterbourne claims to have seen Louise's murderer and is about to tell Poirot and Race when she is shot in the head through an open cabin door with Pennington's revolver, too large to have been used on Linnet.
Poirot gathers everyone in the saloon and reveals that Simon is responsible for Linnet's murder, with Jackie as his accomplice. She pretended to shoot Simon, drawing attention to herself. After running to Linnet's cabin and shooting her in the head, Simon shot himself in the leg, using Mrs. van Schuyler's stole as a silencer, then replaced the empty cartridges with a new one should the gun be found. He then wrapped the gun in the stole, along with a marble ashtray and the supposed blood-stained handkerchief, and threw the items out the open window, into the Nile. Jackie later killed Louise, who was blackmailing Simon because she witnessed him enter Linnet's cabin, then killed Mrs. Otterbourne, who saw Jackie exiting Louise's cabin. The plan was that Simon would marry and then kill Linnet, inherit her money, and at a later date, marry his old love.
When Simon claims Poirot has no proof, Poirot reveals that the police will do a gunshot residue test known as a "moulage" test on both him and Jacqueline. Realizing they are caught, Jackie confesses and embraces Simon. Poirot suddenly realizes she has reclaimed her pistol but cannot prevent her from shooting Simon in the head and then killing herself.
The passengers depart at the next port, and Poirot is congratulated for his work.
Jacqueline "Jackie" de Bellefort asks her close friend, wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway, to hire her unemployed fiancé, Simon Doyle. Jackie is pleased when Linnet agrees, but Linnet and Simon soon start a whirlwind affair and marry. While honeymooning in Egypt, they are continually hounded by the jilted Jackie. In an attempt to get away, the Doyles pretend to go to the Cairo railway station before backtracking to board a Nile paddle steamer, the S.S. Karnak.
During an on-shore excursion to the nearby Temple of Karnak, a large stone is pushed off a pillar and narrowly misses the Doyles. They are shocked when Jackie joins the cruise, ignoring detective Hercule Poirot's warning to stay away. She also reveals that she carries a small automatic pistol in her handbag and is a crack shot. That night, Jackie confronts Simon in a drunken rage and shoots him in the leg. The next morning, Linnet is found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. A "J" written in blood on the wall above her bed implicates Jackie, but she has a solid alibi as Miss Bowers sedated her with morphia and stayed with her all night.
Poirot and his friend, Colonel Race, investigate. They discover that numerous passengers had motives to kill Linnet: Louise Bourget, Linnet's maid, was bitter due to her mistress' refusal to grant her a promised dowry; Andrew Pennington, Linnet's American trustee, was anxious to prevent her from discovering that he embezzled from her; Mrs. van Schuyler, an elderly American socialite suffering from kleptomania, displayed a great interest in Linnet's pearl necklace; van Schuyler's nurse, Miss Bowers, blamed Linnet's father for financially ruining her own father; Salome Otterbourne, a romance novelist, was being sued for libel for a similarity between Linnet and one of her characters; Mrs. Otterbourne's daughter, Rosalie, was anxious to protect her mother from financial ruin; Jim Ferguson, an outspoken Communist, resented Linnet's wealth; and Dr. Ludwig Bessner, a Swiss psychiatrist, faced exposure by Linnet concerning his unorthodox methods affecting Linnet's past friends.
Soon after, the crew pulls a small bundle from the Nile. The missing pistol is wrapped in Mrs. van Schuyler's stole, which has a small bullet hole. There is also a blood-stained handkerchief, and a marble ashtray used as a weight. When Linnet's pearls are missing, Mrs. van Schuyler denies taking them. Soon after, the necklace is found on Linnet's body, so Poirot deduces Mrs van Schuyler has "returned" them.
While Poirot and Race conduct their investigation, Louise Bourget is found dead, her throat cut with one of Dr. Bessner's scalpels, and a fragment of a banknote clutched in her hand. Poirot deduces she saw the murderer coming out of Linnet's cabin and extorted money for her silence. Salome Otterbourne claims to have seen Louise's murderer and is about to tell Poirot and Race when she is shot in the head through an open cabin door with Pennington's revolver, too large to have been used on Linnet.
Poirot gathers everyone in the saloon and reveals that Simon is responsible for Linnet's murder, with Jackie as his accomplice. She pretended to shoot Simon, drawing attention to herself. After running to Linnet's cabin and shooting her in the head, Simon shot himself in the leg, using Mrs. van Schuyler's stole as a silencer, then replaced the empty cartridges with a new one should the gun be found. He then wrapped the gun in the stole, along with a marble ashtray and the supposed blood-stained handkerchief, and threw the items out the open window, into the Nile. Jackie later killed Louise, who was blackmailing Simon because she witnessed him enter Linnet's cabin, then killed Mrs. Otterbourne, who saw Jackie exiting Louise's cabin. The plan was that Simon would marry and then kill Linnet, inherit her money, and at a later date, marry his old love.
When Simon claims Poirot has no proof, Poirot reveals that the police will do a gunshot residue test known as a "moulage" test on both him and Jacqueline. Realizing they are caught, Jackie confesses and embraces Simon. Poirot suddenly realizes she has reclaimed her pistol but cannot prevent her from shooting Simon in the head and then killing herself.
The passengers depart at the next port, and Poirot is congratulated for his work.
Cast[edit]
- Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot
- Jane Birkin as Louise Bourget
- Lois Chiles as Linnet Ridgeway Doyle
- Bette Davis as Marie Van Schuyler
- Mia Farrow as Jacqueline de Bellefort
- Jon Finch as James Ferguson
- Olivia Hussey as Rosalie Otterbourne
- George Kennedy as Andrew Pennington
- Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne
- Simon MacCorkindale as Simon Doyle
- David Niven as Colonel Race
- Maggie Smith as Miss Bowers
- Jack Warden as Dr. Bessner
- I. S. Johar as Mr. Choudhury
- Harry Andrews as Barnstaple
- Sam Wanamaker as Rockford
- Celia Imrie as a maid (uncredited)
- Saeed Jaffrey as a servant on the Karnak(uncredited)
- Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot
- Jane Birkin as Louise Bourget
- Lois Chiles as Linnet Ridgeway Doyle
- Bette Davis as Marie Van Schuyler
- Mia Farrow as Jacqueline de Bellefort
- Jon Finch as James Ferguson
- Olivia Hussey as Rosalie Otterbourne
- George Kennedy as Andrew Pennington
- Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne
- Simon MacCorkindale as Simon Doyle
- David Niven as Colonel Race
- Maggie Smith as Miss Bowers
- Jack Warden as Dr. Bessner
- I. S. Johar as Mr. Choudhury
- Harry Andrews as Barnstaple
- Sam Wanamaker as Rockford
- Celia Imrie as a maid (uncredited)
- Saeed Jaffrey as a servant on the Karnak(uncredited)
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
EMI Films had scored a huge success in 1974 with a film version of Murder on the Orient Express, and wanted a follow-up. The movie was made during a period of expansion for EMI Films under Michael Deeley and Barry Spikings, who were increasingly aiming at the international market with films like The Deer Hunter and Convoy. Death on the Nile was a more traditionally British film.[5]
The director, John Guillermin, had just made two blockbusters, The Towering Inferno and King Kong.[6]
EMI Films had scored a huge success in 1974 with a film version of Murder on the Orient Express, and wanted a follow-up. The movie was made during a period of expansion for EMI Films under Michael Deeley and Barry Spikings, who were increasingly aiming at the international market with films like The Deer Hunter and Convoy. Death on the Nile was a more traditionally British film.[5]
The director, John Guillermin, had just made two blockbusters, The Towering Inferno and King Kong.[6]
Casting[edit]
Albert Finney played Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, but did not wish to undergo the heavy make-up required for Poirot in the Egyptian sun. The producers felt if they could not get Finney they should go in a totally different direction and picked Peter Ustinov. "Poirot is a character part if ever there was one", said producer Goodwin, "and Peter is a top character actor."[7]
An all-star cast was employed. This was Jane Birkin's first British movie in a decade.[8]
Albert Finney played Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express, but did not wish to undergo the heavy make-up required for Poirot in the Egyptian sun. The producers felt if they could not get Finney they should go in a totally different direction and picked Peter Ustinov. "Poirot is a character part if ever there was one", said producer Goodwin, "and Peter is a top character actor."[7]
An all-star cast was employed. This was Jane Birkin's first British movie in a decade.[8]