DEATH ON THE NILE (1978) C widescreen 140m dir: John Guillerman

w/Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, Lois Chiles, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Jon Finch, Angela Lansbury, Maggie Smith, Jack Warden, I.S. Johar, David Niven

From Variety's review of the film: "Death on the Nile is a clever, witty, well-plotted, beautifully produced and splendidly acted screen version of Agatha Christie's mystery. It's old-fashioned stylized entertainment with a big cast and lush locations.

"Peter Ustinov is the fourth actor to play Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot.

"Anthony Shaffer's adaptation doesn't have a hole. When Ustinov reveals the killer in the final drawing room scene it comes as a complete surprise. Every one of the dozen characters floating down the Nile is a suspect. Everyone on board could have and might have murdered Lois Chiles, the arrogant millionairess who has stolen her best friend's fiance.

"Shaffer has also created a number of purposely exaggerated characters to complement Ustinov. There's Angela Lansbury's tipsy portrayal of a romantic novelist; Bette Davis as a stuffy and overbearing Washington socialite and Maggie Smith as her bitter companion; Jack Warden as an hysterical Swiss physician; I.S. Johar in a marvelously off-beat performance as the manager of the ship on which the murders take place; David Niven as Poirot's sidekick, Colonel Race; and Jon Finch as a Marxist spouting rebel.

"But the star is Ustinov and the penetrating mind of his character, Hercule Poirot."

The film received an Oscar for Best Costume Design.