Evil Under the Sun

Amazon.com

Mostly for Poirot completists and admirers of then-trendy, all-star ensemble casts from the 1970s and early '80s, Evil Under the Sun finds Peter Ustinov in his second outing as Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective (three years after 1978's Death on the Nile). As the title promises, the action this time takes place on an Adriatic island (though Christie fans will surely balk at the switch from the novel's setting on the English coast), where a famous stage star (Diana Rigg) is murdered, and the list of likely suspects is unusually high. The parade of legendary performers--Roddy McDowall, James Mason, Sylvia Miles, Maggie Smith, Jane Birkin--plus Ustinov's energetic performance keep things hopping. But Anthony Shaffer's lazy screenplay and director Guy Hamilton's superficial approach nudge everything (action, characters, tone) toward campy, near-parody, with bitchy sniping, tacky costumes, and an obligatory soundtrack of Cole Porter tunes. It's only in the last lap that the film transcends such obviousness and finds its way back to the glories of detective fiction. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

How can you go wrong with Louis Vuitton steamer trunks!.......2007-08-29

This is by far my favorite of the Agatha Christie movie adaptations. Amazing location, great plot, unbelievable costumes, a score by Cole Porter, a uber-talented cast in some of their very best perfomances and an parade of Louis Vuitton luggage following Diana Rigg down a bumpy, exotic road. The sparing between Rigg and Smith is some of the best comedic dialogue ever written, and the transformation at the end of the movie is worth the price of the DVD.

I have owned this movie as a VHS and DVD. The miraculous restoration of the DVD puts the VHS to shame. It is breath-taking.

I suppose that to the Christie purest there have been a great deal of liberties taken with this production. But to the movie goer that wants great entertainment, this is the best of the Christie lot. (I won't go into my thoughts about the wretched "Mirror Cracked".) My three children consider this one of their favorite childhood movies, so much so that I had to buy them their own copies as the went off to college!

You really can't go wrong with this one!

Witty dialog given royal treatment by Rigg and Smith..........2007-07-29

Definitely one of the more enjoyable adaptations of Agatha Christie novels due to brilliant dialog exchanges between members of an all-star cast--as well as the inclusion of a number of attractive Cole Porter tunes amid spectacular scenic backgrounds.

If you enjoyed Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot in 'Death on the Nile' you'll find him twice as amusing in this one. But the film really belongs to Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith who have a fine time with the witty, brittle lines. James Mason and Roddy McDowall are also impressive, as are a number of other players who form the usual vast number of suspects.

A clever, if contrived, plot that strains credibility--depending so much on coincidence, sheer luck and perfect timing--but as usual, Christie is clever enough to cover any such weaknesses with other distractions.

Enjoyable for any mystery fan. The photography of the seaside spa is a feast for the eyes and the jaunty Cole Porter background music helps immeasurably to place the period settings.

excellent!.......2007-04-07

THE COLOR BALANCE,SATURATION AND CLARITY WERE ALL EXCELLENT. THE SOUND WAS PERFECT! THE COLE PORTER MUSIC SHOULD MAKE COLE PORTER FANS VERY HAPPY!

My Favorite Of The Hercule Poirot Films.......2007-01-31

I enjoyed all the Agatha Christie adaptations, but this is my favorite. Great acting, which is the norm. I like Ustinov's portrayal of Poirot, and no place more so than in this film. And of course, you want to know who the murderer is, right? Would you believe the killer in this movie is Taylor Hicks? No? I wouldn't either, but you have to watch for yourself to know who it is!

Christie's Evil Under the Sun.......2007-01-12

Peter Ustinov is far from the Christie description of Hercule Poirot, but Mr. Ustinov makes him more endearing. A good script, faithful to the original story, great actors in supporting roles and great photography of sea, sand and an island make this film a real winner. I actually prefer this version to the David Suchet one, even though Suchet looks more like Ms. Christie's Poirot. A must for all Christie fans!

Agatha Christie Mysteries (Death on the Nile / Evil Under the Sun / The Mirror Crack'd)

Average customer rating:

Timeless classics
Agatha Christie
Great movies
As good as excellent and better than brilliant.
Nice set, worth the price

Agatha Christie Mysteries (Death on the Nile / Evil Under the Sun / The Mirror Crack'd)
Starring: Peter Ustinov , Jane Birkin , Lois Chiles , Bette Davis , and Mia Farrow
Director: John Guillermin , and Guy Hamilton
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008DDWU
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Amazon.com

Death on the Nile
Following Albert Finney's quirky and compelling performance as Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in 1974's Murder on the Orient Express, Peter Ustinov capably took over the role in this 1978 adaptation of Christie's river-bound whodunit. While on a pleasure cruise along the Nile with a taciturn companion (David Niven), Poirot slips into action following the murder of a much-despised heiress (Lois Chiles). There's no shortage of suspects... until, that is, they also start dying off, obfuscating the investigation by suggesting that several killers may be at work. With a disciplined screenplay by Anthony Shaffer, the film is solid enough and is graced immeasurably by a glittery cast including Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Mia Farrow, Olivia Hussey, Jack Warden, and Angela Lansbury. Directed with customary efficiency by John Guillermin (King Kong, The Towering Inferno). --Tom Keogh

Evil Under the Sun
Mostly for Poirot completists and admirers of then-trendy, all-star ensemble casts from the 1970s and early '80s, Evil Under the Sun finds Peter Ustinov in his second outing as Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective (three years after 1978's Death on the Nile). As the title promises, the action this time takes place on an Adriatic island (though Christie fans will surely balk at the switch from the novel's setting on the English coast), where a famous stage star (Diana Rigg) is murdered, and the list of likely suspects is unusually high. The parade of legendary performers--Roddy McDowall, James Mason, Sylvia Miles, Maggie Smith, Jane Birkin--plus Ustinov's energetic performance keep things hopping. But Anthony Shaffer's lazy screenplay and director Guy Hamilton's superficial approach nudge everything (action, characters, tone) toward campy, near-parody, with bitchy sniping, tacky costumes, and an obligatory soundtrack of Cole Porter tunes. It's only in the last lap that the film transcends such obviousness and finds its way back to the glories of detective fiction. --Tom Keogh

The Mirror Crack'd
Angela Lansbury does the honors as Agatha Christie's determined sleuth, Miss Marple, in this adaptation of Christie's novel. A washed-up movie star (Elizabeth Taylor) is attempting to make a comeback but is driven to distraction by a mysterious event from her past. Also problematic for Taylor's struggling actress is a series of murders occurring with clockwork regularity in the quiet, 1950s English village where a film is being produced--killings that are all somehow connected to her. Despite the British backdrop, most of the suspects, including Rock Hudson, Kim Novak, and Tony Curtis, are American in this 1980 feature directed by Guy Hamilton (Evil Under the Sun). (At least Miss Marple's nephew, the redoubtable Inspector Craddock, is played by Edward Fox.) The bad news: this is a curiously flat, monotonous film, with a mystery hook that, sad to say, is among Christie's more familiar and predictable. Hamilton doesn't demand much of his largely ornamental cast, and they don't volunteer much to fill the void. Still, fans of Miss Marple and Christie, especially those with a burning hunger to see every film or television program based on the books, will want to check it out. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Timeless classics.......2007-05-13

I was so delighted to find these wonderful Agatha Christie mysteries out on DVD finally I've seen them all a few times but the stories are still intriguing. It's also a delight to see many of the old stars in their glory days and some of today's stars in their beginning roles. I love a movie that can be watched over and over again and not lose its freshness. These movies definitely fit that category.

Agatha Christie.......2007-05-07

Being a big fan of Agatha Christie and Peter Ustinov, i was not disappointed in the movie versions. Well worth the price to see them.

Great movies.......2007-05-07

I have looked at every place that rents movies for these titles. I love Death on teh Nile and Evil Under the Sun. But, I could never find them. Now I can watch them as much as I want. I have to laugh at the how Death on the Nile, changes the geography of Egypt. To think that you could be in Luxor in the morning and Abu Simbel before sunset can only be movie magic. But, I loved it anyway.

As good as excellent and better than brilliant........2006-05-05

This only concerns "Death on the Nile".
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 Hercule Poirot from Brussels. She builds up a closed set of people who are all concerned by the murder that is committed in a closed environment. They all have some personal interest to commit this crime, hence a motive, and none of them have an alibi, at least a real alibi. They can all have done it and Poirot is going to use his Belgian brain to sort out the facts and bring out the truth, as a reconstruction that is intended to trap or trick the culprit. And it works. That's how the mystery is resolved. One shady corner can be found though: the cobra in Poirot's bathroom will remain unexplained. It must have been overlooked at some moment in the making of the film because Agatha Christie would never do such a mistake.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine & University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne

Nice set, worth the price.......2004-04-24

I really loved all the Agatha Christie movies from the late 70's and early 80's. Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun are top notch. Both DVDs are worth the price alone for this set. Each DVD comes with extras, which is sort of amazing considering the age of these movies. In Death and Evil, they have brief interviews with most cast members about how they view their character, the hallmarks of each character, and whether they actually like the character. These are on-set interviews. There is a mini documentary about how the steamer from Death was found, and how it was recreated in the studio and how they dealt with moonlight scenes and the river look. It was great. There was a whole discussion about how the island was selected for Evil. There are a few interviews with Peter Ustinov as well. No deleted scenes or alternative endings, but great extras otherwise. Each comes with a theatrical trailer as well.

Death on the Nile is one I can watch over and over. It boast a great cast, a great script, and good action. It is very funny also. Evil Under the Sun is almost as good, it is funnier but there's not as much action, only one corpse. Both have lovely scenery and are truly good mysteries. I love Ustinov as the Belgian sleuth.

The Mirror Crack'd is the relative dud in this series. It was made around the same time as the others by the same people, so I see why it's included here, and it was also an all-star cast, but the story is rather dull and plodding. Little action, some decent humor, but it's not something you'd care to watch more than once or twice. It is more interesting to watch just to see a middle aged Elizabeth Taylor act with a slightly pre-AIDS Rock Hudson with a still young-looking Kim Novak. Neither Taylor nor Hudson gives a particularly memorable performance in this one, it does seem that at times Taylor and Hudson appear to be reading lines and showing no emotion or interest in their performances. They are that dull in this. A nice turn for Novak however, she plays the brazen hussie to the hilt and has some really funny lines, particularly with Taylor. But the story itself holds little interest and becomes tedious many times during the movie. Many have criticized Landsbury as Miss Marple. I thought she was fine, but doesn't have the zing of Ustinov.

Amazon.com

Murder at a health resort makes for a very special kind of fun in the sun in this classic Agatha Christie mystery. Evil Under the Sun finds Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) and the ever-ready Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) at an island resort for the betterment of the great detective's constitution. Poirot's own health is soon the last thing on his mind as he becomes convinced that murder is afoot. Lucky for us, he's right. A glamorous actress, a brooding priest, and an assortment of helpful busybodies mix in one of Christie's most famous plots. As is usual in the A&E Poirot series, loving attention to period detail, a careful respect for the original novel, and a gentle wink at the quaintness of it all are apparent. Suchet is, as always, a masterful Poirot, full of infuriating quirks and playful genius, and Fraser handles the difficult job of playing the bland-but-not-too-bland Hastings with aplomb. Special DVD features include an index of all the Hercule Poirot stories, as well as biographies of Agatha Christie and David Suchet. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews:

Ready For A Great Murder Mystery?.......2007-03-28

The beautiful scenery and movie sets in this story would make Dame Agatha Christie herself proud, I believe. Along with an all-star cast, the plot in this mystery holds the viewer's attention...

Capturing the Spirit of Agatha Christie.......2006-01-30

This is a great episode that casts you under its spell from the get-go. Contrary to what has been said by some earlier reviewers, the Suchet "Poirot" series really catches the character as it exists in the book. I recommend reading the original Poirot novels by Christie, you'll double your pleasure.
A superb supporting cast, rich visual textures and a real whodunnit. Bravo!

THANK GOD HE'S BACK!!!!!!.......2003-03-31

Whew.......I was beginning to wonder if we'd end up living in a world without any more of Suchet's Poirot!! As much reverence and respect as I have for all the older big screen Poirots, I must say that I just simply adore Suchet's characterization of him. When I read the books, Suchet is whom I picture.
Well, you know the plot already.........watching this almost seems like a completely different story than the earlier Ustinov film...............but I love it all the same! It's truer to the book, more serious, and sure to entertain even the hardest-to-please Poirot fans!

Dreadful.......2003-02-04

I have to say that I have never found David Suchet's prissy Poirot (that voice! Ye Gods!) to my extreme liking. I have also not liked how most of the stories seem to all take place in 1935 or 1936. Nevertheless I have found the series enjoyable despite its continuity flaws. However...

These latest films (Roger Ackroyd, Lord Edgware and Mesopotamia) have been seriously bad. The acting is often very stiff and the direction very poor. The actors mostly have no charisma at all and walk through their roles without any commitment to them. The actress playing Arlene in this obviously did little if any reading of the book. The same is true of the leading lady in Murder in Mesopotamia. I doubt the producers even care if the actors in these adaptations suit the roles.

This adaptation is SO very far removed in too many bad ways from the book (Poirot at a HEALTH CLINIC???). Stick to the Ustinov film. It too veers from the novel, but in a most pleasant manner - AND the acting is flawless.

Despite what fans say, Albert Finney caught Poirot far better than any other actor thus far. Let's hope Suchet retires from this role and someone else redoes the ENTIRE Poirot canon with due respect to the novels.

VERY ENJOYABLE.......2002-11-26

Honestly I haven't found a Poirot movie with David Suchet in it that I don't just love. This is one of the longer movies and I very much enjoyed it.

Average customer rating:

How can you go wrong with Louis Vuitton steamer trunks!
Witty dialog given royal treatment by Rigg and Smith...
excellent!
My Favorite Of The Hercule Poirot Films
Christie's Evil Under the Sun

Evil Under the Sun [Region 2]
Starring: Peter Ustinov , Jane Birkin , Colin Blakely , Nicholas Clay , and James Mason
Director: Guy Hamilton
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004XOBZ

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

How can you go wrong with Louis Vuitton steamer trunks!.......2007-08-29

Witty dialog given royal treatment by Rigg and Smith..........2007-07-29

excellent!.......2007-04-07

THE COLOR BALANCE,SATURATION AND CLARITY WERE ALL EXCELLENT. THE SOUND WAS PERFECT! THE COLE PORTER MUSIC SHOULD MAKE COLE PORTER FANS VERY HAPPY!

My Favorite Of The Hercule Poirot Films.......2007-01-31

Christie's Evil Under the Sun.......2007-01-12

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