Death on the Nile (1978 film)

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Death on the Nile is a 1978 film based on an Agatha Christie mystery novel of the same title, directed by John Guillermin. The film features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and it takes place in Egypt, mostly on the Nile River.

Death on the Nile
Original Film Poster
Directed by	John Guillermin
Produced by	John Brabourne Richard B. Goodwin
Written by	Anthony Shaffer (screenplay) Agatha Christie (novel)
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
Music by	Nino Rota
Cinematography	Jack Cardiff
Editing by	Malcolm Cooke
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	6 October 1978
Running time	140 min
Country	UK
Language	English
IMDb profile

1 Cast
2 Plot Summary
3 Quotes
4 Trivia
5 Awards & Nominations
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Cast

Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot
Lois Chiles as Linnet Ridgeway Doyle
Simon MacCorkindale as Simon Doyle, Linnet's husband
Mia Farrow as Jacqueline de Bellefort, Simon's former fianceé
Jane Birkin as Louise Borget, Linnet's maid
George Kennedy as Andrew Pennington, Linnet's American lawyer and trustee
Bette Davis as Mrs. Van Schuyler, a wealthy, elderly American dowager
Maggie Smith as Miss Bowers, her nurse
Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne, writer of risque romantic novels
Olivia Hussey as Rosalie Otterbourne, her daughter
David Niven as Colonel Johnny Race
Jon Finch as Mr. James Ferguson, an English communist
Jack Warden as Dr. Bessner, a Swiss-German doctor
Harry Andrews as Barnstable, Linnet's butler

[edit] Plot Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The film begins with a meeting between Linnet Ridgeway (Lois Chiles) and Jacqueline de Bellefort (Mia Farrow). Jackie wants her fiancé, Simon Doyle (Simon MacCorkindale), to work for Linnet. Upon his arrival he and Linnet Ridgeway have a whirlwind affair, in which they end up marrying. While honeymooning in Egypt, they are continually hounded by a jilted Jacqueline. In an attempt to get away, the Doyles board a Nile paddle steamer.

The next day, when the passengers venture off-shore to examine a near-by temple, a large boulder is pushed off a pilar narrowly missing Simon and Linnet Doyle. Soon after, they stumble upon Jackie who, after scaring the Doyles witless, boards the ship, despite Poirot's warnings to stay away. That night, in the saloon, Jacqueline confronts Simon and, after an argument, shoots him in a drunken rage, hitting him in the leg. Soon thereafter, Linnet Ridgeway winds up murdered in her cabin, with almost everyone aboard the S.S. Karnak, having a reason to want to do away with heiress.

Her jewels are coveted by elderly Mrs. van Schuyler (Bette Davis); van Schyler’s nurse, Ms. Bowers (Maggie Smith), was forced into servitude when Linnet’s father destroyed her family; the maid, Louise Borget (Jane Birkin), is upset because Linnet won't give her a promised dowry; young James Ferguson (Jon Finch), like any good communist, resents Linnet's sizable inheritance and life of luxury; writer Salome Otterbourne (Angela Lansbury) is facing a libel suit brought by Linnet; Otterbourne's daughter Rosalie (Olivia Hussey) wants to protect her mother; American lawyer Andrew Pennington (George Kennedy) has been embezzling from the Ridgeway family; former friend Jacqueline de Bellefort is upset with Linnet for obvious reasons. Now it’s up to Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov), along with his friend Col. Race (David Niven), to solve the mystery.

Although Jacqueline is a natural suspect she has a perfect alibi, having been sedated and watched all night by Cornelia Robson. Linnet's husband, Simon Doyle, was also unable to commit the crime due to his leg wound.

While Poirot and Race conducting their investigations, the maid Louise is murdered and Poirot realises she probably saw the murderer coming out of Linnet's cabin and attempted to extort money in return for her silence. Salome Otterbourne sees Louise's murderer and is about to tell Poirot when she is shot in the head through an open cabin door.

After various suspects are eliminated, Poirot reveals that Simon Doyle murdered his wife, with Jacqueline working as his accomplice. They staged Simon's shooting, leaving him free to murder Linnet while the doctor was being fetched by Mr. Ferguson and Jacqueline attended to by Cornelia Robson. Simon was left alone for long enough to shoot Linnet, and return to the lounge and shoot himself in the leg. Jacqueline killed the maid and Salome Otterbourne, who were both witnesses to the murders. It is revealed that Simon's marriage to Linnet had been cleverly plotted in order to gain her money. When they realize that they have been found out, Jacqueline shoots Simon and then herself in dramatic fashion.

[edit] Quotes

Mrs. Van Schuyler (after being accused of murdering Linet): "You perfectly foul French upstart!"

Hercule Poirot: "Belgian upstart, please madame."

Salome Otterbourne (referring to a juice she's drinking): "Here, barman. This crocodile has lost its crock."

Andrew Pennington (upon the discovery of Poirot and Race in his cabin): "What the hell is going on?"

Hercule Poirot: "We're going through your private papers, sir, isn't that obvious?!"

Hercule Poirot: "Mon Dieu, j'ai faim."

Col. Johnny Race: [whispers] "Poirot! You have a woman?"

Hercule Poirot: "Not femme, faim! I am peckish."

Mrs. Van Schuyler: "Come Bowers, it's time to go, this place is beginning to resemble a mortuary."

Miss Bowers: "Thank God you'll be in one yourself before too long, you bloody old fossil!"

[edit] Trivia

Angela Lansbury was related by her half-sister Isolde's marriage to the late British actor, Sir Peter Ustinov; the two in-laws appeared together professionally just once in Death on the Nile.

Filming had to be stopped every day at noon because temperatures reached 130 °F (130 degrees Fahrenheit) at that time.

The movie was shot aboard the ship "Sudan" (re-named Karnak for the film) which is the last operating paddle steamer on the Nile as of 2004.

Aboard the ship, no one was allowed his own dressing room, therefore many had to lodge together, as was the case with Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, and Angela Lansbury, all of whom shared a room.

Albert Finney was initially asked to reprise his role as Hercule Poirot from Murder on the Orient Express. But having found the make-up he had to wear for the previous movie very uncomfortable, especially in the hot interior of the train, and upon the realization that he would have to undergo the same experience in temperatures exceeding 100 °F, he declined the role.