Death on the Nile (1978)

Death on the Nile is a 1978 Academy Award-winning film based on the Agatha Christie mystery novel of the same title, directed by John Guillermin. The film features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot played by Peter Ustinov. It takes place in Egypt, mostly on the Nile River. Many of the cultural highlights of Egypt are also featured in the film, such as the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and temples at Abu Simbal and Karnak.

Peter Ustinov played Poirot again in Evil Under the Sun (1982) and in Appointment with Death (1988) for the big screen, in Thirteen at Dinner (1985), Dead Man's Folly (1986) and Murder in Three Acts (1987) for the television.

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The film begins with a meeting between wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway (Lois Chiles) and her close friend Jacqueline de Bellefort (Mia Farrow). Jackie wants her fiancé, Simon Doyle (Simon MacCorkindale), to work for Linnet. But he and Linnet have a whirlwind affair and end up marrying. While honeymooning in Egypt, they are continually hounded by a jilted Jackie. 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 nearby temple, a large boulder is pushed off a pillar and narrowly misses Simon and Linnet. They once again encounter Jackie, who boards the ship and, ignoring Poirot's warnings to stay away, reveals that she carries a small pistol. After a late-night game of cards in the ship's lounge, Jackie confronts Simon. After an argument, she shoots him in a drunken rage and hits him in the leg. Shortly thereafter, Linnet Ridgeway is discovered murdered in her cabin, shot in the head by a similar weapon, with almost everyone aboard the S.S. Karnak having had a reason to want to do away with the heiress. The pistol goes missing.

Her jewels were coveted by elderly Mrs. van Schuyler (Bette Davis). Van Schyler’s nurse, Miss Bowers (Maggie Smith), was forced into servitude when Linnet’s father destroyed her family. The maid, Louise Bourget (Jane Birkin), was upset because Linnet refused her a promised dowry. James Ferguson (Jon Finch), a Communist, resented Linnet's life of luxury. Eccentric novelist Salome Otterbourne (Angela Lansbury) was facing a libel suit brought by Linnet. The author's daughter Rosalie (Olivia Hussey) wants to protect her mother. American lawyer Andrew Pennington (George Kennedy) has been embezzling from the Ridgeway family. Dr. Ludwig Bessner (Jack Warden) was upset because Linnet made defamatory remarks about his clinic. Jacqueline de Bellefort was upset with Linnet for obvious reasons. Poirot admits he found out all this by being a "nasty eavesdropper", while Pennington blatantly tried to get Linnet to sign contracts in front of everybody without letting her read them. Now it’s up to Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov), along with his vacationing friend Col. Race (David Niven), to solve the mystery.

Jackie is a natural suspect but has a perfect alibi, having been sedated and observed by Miss Bowers. Simon Doyle was also unable to commit the crime due to his leg wound. Poirot is convinced someone had been walking on deck and overhearing the argument before the shooting, removed the gun and used it to kill Linnet. While Poirot and Race conduct their investigations, the maid Louise is murdered. Her throat had been cut by one of Dr. Bessner's scalpels and a fragment of a banknote was in her hand. Poirot realizes she probably saw the murderer coming out of Linnet's cabin and attempted to extort money in return for her silence. Salome Otterbourne in turn has seen Louise's murderer and is about to tell Poirot when she is shot in the head through an open cabin door with Pennington's revolver, too large to have been used on Linnet.

A bundle had been found in the Nile. The pistol wrapped in Mrs. van Schuyler's stole with a bullet hole in it. The stole was used to muffle sound and scorching, as seen around Linnet's injury. The only witness to Doyle's shooting was Rosalie who confirms that the stole was not used. A handkerchief was also included stained with red ink, some of which was found in Linnet's nail-varnish.

With several suspects eliminated, Poirot reveals the solution.

The film poster is designed by Richard Amsel.