From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:
A new, glitzy, star-studded movie adaptation of Agatha Christies 1937 novel Death on the Nile opens in theaters in the UK & US today. This high society mystery-thriller reunites the film-making team behind the 2017 adaptation of another Christie favorite, Murder on the Orient Express. Returning in the role of her iconic Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is Kenneth Branagh, who also directs from a screenplay by Michael Green. He is joined by an all-star cast of victims and suspects including Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, and Emma Mackey.
Obsessive love, Jealousy, and Betrayal
Christie’s novel is one of her masterpieces. It is a sinister story of obsessive love, jealousy, and betrayal among a group of travelers aboard the S.S. Karnack, a glamourous river steamer cruising down the Nile in Egypt. What was meant as a tranquil and enjoyable holiday sightseeing ancient temples and majestic pyramids descends into a twisted and terrifying journey.
Comparing Productions
Death on the Nile (2022) is the third screen adaptation of Christie’s novel. It will be very difficult not to compare this new interpretation to the 1978 movie starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot and an all-star supporting cast that included Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, and David Niven. More recently, there was also a 2004 television series, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, starring David Suchet that included Death on the Nile and aired on ITV in the UK and Masterpiece PBS in the US.
Hoping for Some Levity Among the Mayhem
The casting and the movie trailer are impressive. I am looking forward to a new adaptation of Christie’s story, and the reunion of the former comedy duo Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French as Linnet’s socialite godmother and companion. Hopefully they will add some levity among the mayhem. Enjoy!
MOVIE DESCRIPTION
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this tale of unbridled passion and incapacitating jealousy features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers, and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.
CAST & CREW
- Hercule Poirot – Kenneth Branagh
- Bouc – Tom Bateman
- Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle – Gal Gadot
- Simon Doyle – Armie Hammer
- Jacqueline de Bellefort – Emma Mackey
- Euphemia Bouc – Annette Bening
- Andrew Katchadourian – Ali Fazal
- Mrs. Bowers – Dawn French
- Louise Bourget – Rose Leslie
- Salome Otterbourne – Sophie Okonedo
- Marie Van Schuyler – Jennifer Saunders
- Rosalie Otterbourne – Letitia Wright
- Linus Windlesham – Russell Brand
- Art Direction – Andrew Ackland-Snow
- Music – Patrick Doyle
- Costume Design – Paco Delgado and Joban Jit Singh
Movie description and images courtesy of 20th Century Studios © 2022; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2022, austenprose.com.
Hello Dear Readers,
Are you as excited as I am about a new adaptation of Death on the Nile?
What do you think of the casting? The sets? The costumes?
Drop us a line below and share your thoughts on this preview and what you are currently watching! We would love to hear from you!
Laurel Ann Nattress, editor
Austenprose 
I will gladly watch any Christie adaptation and this looks stunning. I don’t want to compare, but I always do. I just did a full series/all seasons of Suchet’s Poirot in Nov/Dec and I wasn’t keen on Branagh’s Orient Express (of course, I’ll watch it again!). Thank you for preparing us for the new version. And I agree having Saunders/French on board is reassuring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Debra, thanks for visiting. Like you I will watch any Christie movie or TV adaptation. She is a master of mystery and murder. I was not wild about Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express either, but will still see Death on the Nile. I just love the eccentric and colorful characters, and the twists in Christie’s stories. They make great movies, so hopefully there will be more.
LikeLike
Like Debra Marvin above, I was not impressed with Branagh’s version of Orient Express. The camera was all over the place and it was hard to focus when the cameraman thinks you should be hanging over the scene like an avenging angel from above. Branagh simply cannot do accents. His Belgian accent was atrocious. sadly, I think he has begun to believe his own PR. I will certainly watch this movie tho, for the cast alone! Can one ever truly mess up an Agatha Christie?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Fiona. I am hopeful that Branagh is improving in his second outing as Poirot. Fingers crossed.
LikeLike
Thank you for the preview. I loved the book and the two previous film versions. David Suchet is my favorite Poirot–he is flawless and iconic. I wasn’t as big a fan of Branagh in the role, but I enjoy my Agatha Christie any way I can get her! I look forward to this incarnation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting, Syrie. Suchet is wonderful as Poirot. It is amazing to think that he is in every TV version of her stories. An incredible accomplishment.
LikeLike
I love the 1978 film, and I am excited to see this one too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I, too, have loved these stories and films. I have watched so many over the years. I look forward to this one also. Thanks for sharing here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saw it yesterday and enjoyed it. I knew what to expect after watching the 2017 Murder on the Orient Express so I was prepared to enjoy the color, constant movement, star power, etc. Definitely met expectations with just enough plot difference so that it is set apart from the previous two. I didn’t feel like it was competition so much as another variation to appreciate.
LikeLike
I wasn’t sure about Branagh’s action hero Poirot from Murder on the Orient Express. I prefer Suchet’s little grey cells dapper Poirot. But I will certainly give this a watch at some point :)
LikeLiked by 1 person