- Actors: Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow, Simon MacCorkindale, Jane Birkin, Lois Chiles
- Directors: John Guillermin
- Writers: Agatha Christie, Anthony Shaffer
- Producers: John Brabourne, Norton Knatchbull, Richard B. Goodwin
- Format: PAL
- Language English, French, German
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Warner
- DVD Release Date: 16 Jun 2003
- Run Time: 140 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00009B0RD
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 15,232 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
DVD Description
Peter Ustinov gives an energetic performance as Poirot, in his first portrayal of the Belgian detective. Contains all the successful elements of its predecessor Murder on the Orient Express. By replacing the world-famous train with the luxury Nile steamer Karnak, it gains breath-taking footage of Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel shot by cameraman Jack Cardiff.
As we cruise down the legendary river in splendid luxury, a mystery assassin takes toll of a passenger list internationally renowned faces, including Jane Birkin, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, Simon MacCorkindale, David Niven and Jack Warden. A visually sumptuous British production, it won an Oscar for Anthony Powell’s costume design.
Special Features
- Making Of … featurette
- Theatrical Trailer
DVD Technical Information:
- Running time: 134 mins
- Colour
- Audio: 1.0 Mono
- Screen Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen
- PAL
- Languages: English
- Hearing Impaired: None
- Subtitles: None
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Death on the Nile takes the viewer on a genteel cruise aboard the paddle-steamer 'Karnak' as it, along with its motley collection of passengers, wends its way through the stunning scenery of historic Egypt. Unfortunately on this voyage the Nile proves to have disturbing currents, and a wealthy heiress with a propensity for making enemies is shot. Corpulent Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot is on hand, and, as the body-count rises, must tax his legendary 'little grey cells' to the limit in order to expose the assassin in their midst.
The charm of this film is that to most of the audience it will be foreign in both time and place. The Egyptian location provides a visual feast, with visits to the pyramids, the inscrutable sphinx, and the eerie wailing statue of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Scenery like this makes it somewhat easier to forgive the movie its overlong running time of almost 2 ½ hours. The story (originally penned by Agatha Christie) is set in the 1930s - the golden age of detective fiction - when murder investigations were much less clinical affairs than they are today. In an era before DNA sampling, Poirot uses the narratively more interesting approach of involving suspects in conversation, and reading between the lines.
The cast is certainly star-studded, but unfortunately several of the characters tend towards stereotypes. However, there are some wonderful performances by several of the silver screen's grandes dames - Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, and particularly Angela Lansbury as the inebriated author of appallingly bad romance novels. Although a little slow initially, various techniques (such as dead silence being used as the ultimate suspense music) keep the viewer's interest piqued right through until Christie's trademark denouement.
The charm of this film is that to most of the audience it will be foreign in both time and place. The Egyptian location provides a visual feast, with visits to the pyramids, the inscrutable sphinx, and the eerie wailing statue of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Scenery like this makes it somewhat easier to forgive the movie its overlong running time of almost 2 ½ hours. The story (originally penned by Agatha Christie) is set in the 1930s - the golden age of detective fiction - when murder investigations were much less clinical affairs than they are today. In an era before DNA sampling, Poirot uses the narratively more interesting approach of involving suspects in conversation, and reading between the lines.
The cast is certainly star-studded, but unfortunately several of the characters tend towards stereotypes. However, there are some wonderful performances by several of the silver screen's grandes dames - Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, and particularly Angela Lansbury as the inebriated author of appallingly bad romance novels. Although a little slow initially, various techniques (such as dead silence being used as the ultimate suspense music) keep the viewer's interest piqued right through until Christie's trademark denouement.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Generally David Suchet's TV series wipes the board with film versions of Poirot - the exception being this film. Although David Suchet is an arguably superior Poirot, this film has you gripped from the first notes of the brilliant theme music. A strong cast - including Mia Farrow, Maggie Smith & David Niven - complemented by the fantastic scenery. One I've watched many times even though I know it off by heart now.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It's the Agatha Christie movie at its best: it's camp and grand and thoroughly good and entertaining with a plethora of fabulous actors!
A great DVD to keep.
A great DVD to keep.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Now one of my most favourite films
This is a GREAT film with beautiful music, wonderful locations, amazing costumes, brilliant cast, and a terrific story!!! It is now on my personal list of top ten greatest films!
Published 7 months ago by Astrid
Death on the Nile
The story is very good, keeps the suspecion until the end, would have liked to see a little more of the scenery. But very good for an old film.
Published on 20 Feb 2010 by Carol
Rollin' Rollin' Down the River As Big Wheels Keep on Turnin'
Having viewed "Murder on the Orient Express" and seeing Albert Finney in the role of Hercule Poirot, I was uncertain about my reaction to Peter Ustinov in this leading role, such... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2006 by Erika Borsos
Nearly perfect and even better than best
This blockbusting film adapted from Agatha Christie's novel is the very archetype and acme of her detective stories, at least those using the services of the Belgian detective... Read more
Published on 5 May 2006 by Jacques COULARDEAU
The best of Poirot
This was probably the first Poirot that I ever saw and I must say that I have loved it ever since. The mixture of the ruins of Ancient Egypt, which is an obsession of mine, along... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2005 by T. R. Alexander
Great murder mystery
Wonderful actors in great settings. Peter Ustinov is perfect as Poirot. This is a great murder mystery and Poirot really has to make use of "his little greys" before he finds out... Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2003
Elegant Fun
If you can accept this adaption of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile" in the spirit it was intended, you'll have a good time. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2003
Probably the best Agatha Christie cinematic adaptation ever
Let me start by saying I'm probably biased, having seen this film at the tender age of nine and fallen in love with Egypt, Agatha Christie books and Bette Davis & Maggie Smith on... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2002 by J. N. Valente
I have never seen such a reptile in a first class cabin
This is a good adaptation from the book. After watching "Evil under the Sun" and "Appointment with Death" you naturally think of Peter Ustinov as Hercule... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2001 by bernie
Breath-taking from start till finish.
One of the best Christie movies ever.
The tricks were great, and the actors were brilliant. I've got to say that Peter Ustinov makes a very different Poirot. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2000 by Lestor neeker Wong
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