Death On The Nile and Evil Under The Sun

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Paramount does seem to be diving into their deep catalog to release a weird smattering of movies lately, so it's entirely possible.

What I fear is Paramount relegating this to MOD category (it's not a title they can market elsewhere) meaning an older master and 1.78:1 AR. If they have any brains, they will ask Studio Canal to use their remaster.

What I'd love is for Studio Canal to release it in 4K, as it'd be region free. I'd get that baby in a heartbeat.

[Blu Titan]

I will be getting these two for sure...always an entertaining watch.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

Mirror Crack'd is certainly the worst of the lot. Lousy screenplay and too many American stars, as opposed to good actors.

Evil Under the Sun, by the same director, is a much more enjoyable film. It helps that there's a good writer behind it (Anthony Shaffer) and the cast, though less "stellar" can really act.

Oh yea, I liked EUtS as a kind of (intentional?) comedy, the cast seemed to have a wink and nudge approach, unlike DotN which a dreary movie in most part despite all the opulence on display (and the replaying of the murder sequence seemed somewhat exploitative).

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Oh yea, I liked EUtS as a kind of (intentional?) comedy, the cast seemed to have a wink and nudge approach, unlike DotN which a dreary movie in most part despite all the opulence on display (and the replaying of the murder sequence seemed somewhat exploitative).

I found Guillermin's direction rather pedestrian. The longer running time (140 minutes) throws the pacing off. Dreary, as you say, sums it up. He may not have cared enough to tighten it in the editing, or maybe the producers got over confident after the success of Orient Express. I don't think it's the script that's at fault, as Anthony Shaffer had already worked on Express (uncredited polish) and did a great job in Evil. I've read both Express and Nile and they're short novels. There's no reason why Nile couldn't have been cut to 120 minutes.

I think the comedy is intentional in Evil. The choice of Cole Porter to score it is consistent with that tone. Guy Hamilton got disserviced by a weak script in Mirror but he gets much better results with Shaffer's script.

[Morsoth]

Great news!!! Hopefully, they'll release the 4 Poirot TV movies with Peter Ustinov someday.

[Blades1370]

Originally Posted by Dragon78

Looks like we are getting Death On The Nile and Evil Under The Sun on Blu Ray on September 1st.

Fantastic news, I always prefer Peter Ustinov's version of Poirot, might also have to do with the fact it was the first version I saw as a younger kid.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Blades1370

Fantastic news, I always prefer Peter Ustinov's version of Poirot, might also have to do with the fact it was the first version I saw as a younger kid.

I think Ustinov is an exceedingly underrated Poirot. Perhaps it's because I similarly saw his films when I was a kid and got used to him in the role.

Everyone seems to roundly adore Suchet, and he's definitely amazing, but I prefer the humor and warmth that Ustinov brings to the role. Ustinov plays him a bit like Santa Claus, instead of the lovelorn schoolmarm that Suchet always feels like.

I still think Lumet's MotOE is the single best interpretation of Christie on film, however, and Finney gives a singular interpretation of the character, with an edge of menace and without an ounce of the camp that actors usually bring to him.

The less said about the recent pantomime/Marvel-ized MotOE, the better.

[Blades1370]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I think Ustinov is an exceedingly underrated Poirot. Perhaps it's because I similarly saw his films when I was a kid and got used to him in the role.

Everyone seems to roundly adore Suchet, and he's definitely amazing, but I prefer the humor and warmth that Ustinov brings to the role. Ustinov plays him a bit like Santa Claus, instead of the lovelorn schoolmarm that Suchet always feels like.

I still think Lumet's MotOE is the single best interpretation of Christie on film, however, and Finney gives a singular interpretation of the character, with an edge of menace and without an ounce of the camp that actors usually bring to him.

The less said about the recent pantomime/Marvel-ized MotOE, the better.

This is pretty much why I have preferred Ustinov in the role versus other actors

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Everyone seems to roundly adore Suchet, and he's definitely amazing, but I prefer the humor and warmth that Ustinov brings to the role. Ustinov plays him a bit like Santa Claus, instead of the lovelorn schoolmarm that Suchet always feels like.

[Morsoth]

For having read all 33 Poirot novels, the 56 short stories and the plays from Agatha Christie, I find that (IMO) David Suchet is the best Poirot of them all. I'm happy that he could do all of the stories, but I would have liked an adaptation of Black Coffee, but hey, not a big deal. At least, he did a reading of it!

After him, goes Peter Ustinov, then the caricature version by Albert Finney, and... oh god... at the very end are Alfred Molina and Kenneth Branagh. Kenneth is a great actor, but he is too far away, physically speaking, from Poirot, and the action sequence at the end of his MOTOE is absolutely a big NO for the characterization of Poirot.

I have not saw the older movies with Austin Trevor or Tony Randall, so I can't judge.

Lately, they made an mini-series adaptation of The ABC Murders with John Malkovich. I really need to see this!

[robert kaplan]

APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH is so closely related to these movies. Is there a chance this might be released soon as well?

[Raphdude]

Originally Posted by robert kaplan

APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH is so closely related to these movies. Is there a chance this might be released soon as well?

It's available from Germany currently:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Appoi...lu-ray/216664/

You may wish to suggest that Kino release it on their Kino Insiders thread at HTF. I have.

https://www.hometheaterforum.com/com...3#post-4881641

[Morsoth]

Originally Posted by robert kaplan

APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH is so closely related to these movies. Is there a chance this might be released soon as well?

It depends who owns the rights. I think Warner still has the rights for the 3 first TV movies, and MGM has the rights for Appointment with Death:

[Raphdude]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I think Ustinov is an exceedingly underrated Poirot. Perhaps it's because I similarly saw his films when I was a kid and got used to him in the role.

Everyone seems to roundly adore Suchet, and he's definitely amazing, but I prefer the humor and warmth that Ustinov brings to the role. Ustinov plays him a bit like Santa Claus, instead of the lovelorn schoolmarm that Suchet always feels like.

I still think Lumet's MotOE is the single best interpretation of Christie on film, however, and Finney gives a singular interpretation of the character, with an edge of menace and without an ounce of the camp that actors usually bring to him.

The less said about the recent pantomime/Marvel-ized MotOE, the better.

I grew up watching Ustinov in the role, and saw Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun in theatres. I enjoy Suchet as well. I'm not a fan of Branagh, but I must at least thank him for making his versions because now we're finally getting Ustinov's films on BD in the US. I've actually had a box set from Studio Canal from Spain for years but I'm delighted that Studio Canal has seen fit to remaster them with better sources since then, and it looks like the new transfers are what we will be getting from Kino, so I'll be buying them again.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by Morsoth

Lately, they made an mini-series adaptation of The ABC Murders with John Malkovich. I really need to see this!

You really don't! It's terrible. Like all the recent BBC Christie adaptations.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Morsoth

For having read all 33 Poirot novels, the 56 short stories and the plays from Agatha Christie, I find that (IMO) David Suchet is the best Poirot of them all. I'm happy that he could do all of the stories, but I would have liked an adaptation of Black Coffee, but hey, not a big deal. At least, he did a reading of it!

After him, goes Peter Ustinov, then the caricature version by Albert Finney, and... oh god... at the very end are Alfred Molina and Kenneth Branagh. Kenneth is a great actor, but he is too far away, physically speaking, from Poirot, and the action sequence at the end of his MOTOE is absolutely a big NO for the characterization of Poirot.

For me Suchet is the definitive Poirot and I liked Finney in the role so I would put him second, though he does seem to be a bit too intense at times.

Ustinov is one of those actors who often just seems like he's playing himself which is fine because he has a real warmth that he brings to the character, but he doesn't feel like Christie's Poirot to me. I do enjoy his performances in Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun.

Originally Posted by Morsoth

I have not saw the older movies with Austin Trevor or Tony Randall, so I can't judge.

I doubt you would rate Tony Randall very highly. He's plays Poirot in the same prissy manner that he played most of his other roles and it seems like he is making no effort whatsoever to even come close to playing Christie's character. The film even begins with an bizarre intro where Randall introduces himself and and announces he is playing Poirot. Weird.

Originally Posted by Morsoth

Lately, they made an mini-series adaptation of The ABC Murders with John Malkovich. I really need to see this!

Malkovich is a very interesting actor, I'm intrigued to see how he would play Poirot.

[Raphdude]

Originally Posted by Markgway

You really don't! It's terrible. Like all the recent BBC Christie adaptations.

I agree. I usually like Malcovich, but it really stunk!!

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by Raphdude

I grew up watching Ustinov in the role, and saw Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun in theatres. I enjoy Suchet as well. I'm not a fan of Branagh, but I must at least thank him for making his versions because now we're finally getting Ustinov's films on BD in the US. I've actually had a box set from Studio Canal from Spain for years but I'm delighted that Studio Canal has seen fit to remaster them with better sources since then, and it looks like the new transfers are what we will be getting from Kino, so I'll be buying them again.

Ustinov is the Roger Moore of Poirots. His performance has nothing to do with the literary character but is so charming that you don't mind.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

Ustinov is the Roger Moore of Poirots. His performance has nothing to do with the literary character but is so charming that you don't mind.

I grew up with Moore as Bond, so I don't mind him nearly as much as most people, I actually like him a lot. Shamefully, I have never read any of the books, though I've seen al the films multiple times.

I also grew up on the Ustinov films, and then read quite a few of the books. As a result, instead of bringing my image from the books to Ustinov and being unhappy, I brought my image of Ustinov to the books and saw him in them. The Suchet series didn't start airing here till a while later. I watched quite a few episodes of it and enjoyed it, but I've never made an effort to watch them all.

The Lumet film was WAY too scary for me as a kid, I had nightmares the time I saw it on TV around age 10, it took me years to be able to rewatch it and appreciate it as the best Christie adaptation on film.

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I grew up with Moore as Bond, so I don't mind him nearly as much as most people, I actually like him a lot. Shamefully, I have never read any of the books, though I've seen al the films multiple times.

I also grew up on the Ustinov films, and then read quite a few of the books. As a result, instead of bringing my image from the books to Ustinov and being unhappy, I brought my image of Ustinov to the books and saw him in them. The Suchet series didn't start airing here till a while later. I watched quite a few episodes of it and enjoyed it, but I've never made an effort to watch them all.

The Lumet film was WAY too scary for me as a kid, I had nightmares the time I saw it on TV around age 10, it took me years to be able to rewatch it and appreciate it as the best Christie adaptation on film.

It is. I actually think Lumet's film, or more precisely Paul Dehn's script, improves on the novel. It was not that well regarded on original release (probably due to its popularity) and I think it's become one of those rare cases on which time has proven the masses to be right.

I've come to appreciate Finney's performance as Poirot as I can now see how he took overacting to a level of perfection beyond any other actor in the history of cinema. Still, Suchet is perfect. For any actor to reach the same level with Bond, we'd need the books to become public domain and be adapted as period pieces. Those who think Craig's take on Bond is too brutal should read the books. Bond is mean as hell.