Death on the Nile (1978 film)

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Death on the Nile
Original Film Poster
Directed by	John Guillermin
Produced by	John Brabourne Richard B. Goodwin
Written by	Novel: Agatha Christie Screenplay: Anthony Shaffer
Starring	Peter Ustinov Jane Birkin Lois Chiles Bette Davis Mia Farrow
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

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. The character line-up was changed significantly from the novel: Cornelia Robson, Fanthorp, Richetti and the Allertons were deleted. The remaining characters' roles were altered due to the deletion of the above five characters: Rosalie witnesses Simon's "shooting", not Cornelia, and it is Ferguson who falls in love with her, not Tim Allerton. Fanthorp's role in investigating Pennington's embezzlement is given to Colonel Race. The sub-plot regarding the fake pearls is minor, but the rich American Heiress is found to have stolen and replaced them.

1 Plot Summary
2 Cast
3 Awards & Nominations
4 See also
5 External links

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 Miss Bowers. Linnet's husband, Simon Doyle, was also unable to commit the crime due to his leg wound.

While Poirot and Race conduct 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 Miss Bowers. 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.

Actor	Role
Peter Ustinov	Hercule Poirot
Lois Chiles	Linnet Ridgeway Doyle
Simon MacCorkindale	Simon Doyle
Mia Farrow	Jacqueline de Bellefort
Jane Birkin	Louise Borget
George Kennedy	Andrew Pennington
Bette Davis	Mrs. Van Schuyler
Maggie Smith	Miss Bowers
Angela Lansbury	Salome Otterbourne
Olivia Hussey	Rosalie Otterbourne
David Niven	Colonel Johnny Race
Jon Finch	Mr. James Ferguson
Jack Warden	Dr. Bessner
Harry Andrews	Barnstable