Evil Under the Sun (1982)

Evil Under the Sun (1982, GBR) C-117m. **½ D: Guy Hamilton. Starring Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, Colin Blakely, Nicholas Clay, James Mason, Roddy McDowall, Sylvia Miles, Dennis Quilley, Diana Rigg, Maggie Smith, Emily Hone, John Alderson. At a Greek holiday resort, everyone has a reason to hate Broadway diva Rigg. Soon, detective Hercule Poirot (Ustinov), who is among the guests, has to start an investigation. Whodunit by Agatha Christie (scripted by Anthony Shaffer) is too leisurely paced in the first half (until the inevitable murder), becomes more interesting in the second. Still, can't hold a candle to its predecessor DEATH ON THE NILE (1978), which had more suspense and better production design (although the locations are beautiful). Ustinov reprised the role for 3 TV movies in the mid-80s and the theatrical APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH (1988). Remade for TV in 2001.


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© Ron Altman