Death On The Nile (A), September 1979

DEATH ON THE NILE (A) (GB, 1978: director John Guillermin)

PETER USTINOV, JANE BIRKIN, BETTE DAVIS, GEORGE KENNEDY, MAGGIE SMITH, etc., etc. . . This is splendid fun.  The producers of Murder On The Orient Express have splurged out again on a couple of handfuls of stars to enact another of Agatha Christie’s puzzle pieces.  Quaintness and levity prevail, sustained at just the right pitch by Guillermin’s direction and Anthony Shaffer’s screenplay, sprucing up the ripe old yarn and balancing to a nicety the figures of moderately straight-faced mystery with those of outrageous but highly diverting ham.  In the latter category ANGELA LANSBURY, as an author of ‘daring’ novels, hogs all her scenes superbly.  And Ustinov is brilliant as Poirot.  Definitely superior to most thrillers, albeit of rather reckless length.  (140 minutes)

Tickets for all performances 70p and £1.00