Death on the Nile is possibly the most “glamorous ” of Agatha Christie’s books. It takes place on board a luxury cruise down the river Nile. Although lots of Agatha ‘s stories are set in “high society”,this book excels in exotic locations.
Agatha takes about five chapters to assemble her cast of characters. She uses “patent formulas ” like a rich heiress who snatches a friend ‘s handsome fiance, the vengeful jilted friend, crooked lawyers managing the heiress’s money, and a host of other people with grudges against her.
Speaking through Hercule Poirot, Agatha provides psychological insights into all her characters and makes them very plausible and relatable. As always, she throws red herrings and false clues in our path.
All this, as well as local colour of Egyptian archeological sites make this one of my favourite Agatha Christie books. Here I must mention the film adaptation starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot which is also a great favourite with me. Although the later adaptation with David Suchet is truer to the book, I prefer the former. There is a latest version which I have yet to see.
I agree, I’m a huge fan of Mrs Christie and although David Suchet is a much better Poirot, I love the glamour of the Peter Ustinov version which I find the other adaptations lack.
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Exactly! I couldn’t have said it better myself about the Ustinov and Suchet comparison.
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I do like Peter Ustinov though, but I think David Suchet’s portrayal of Poirot is as near to perfect as you can get 🙂
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True again. David Suchet has the egg shaped bald head and does the mincing walk described in the books rather well but I still prefer Peter Ustinov as Poirot. Sad though that he is in so few of them.
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I’m waiting for the latest version as well. It’s was a classic Christie book.
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Absolutely!
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đź’–
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Definitely a favorite of mine on all counts. I loved the book, and I loved the movie with Peter Ustinov. He was definitely my favorite actor to play Hercule Poirot, at least until the modern remake of Murder on the Orient Express, starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot. I am waiting with baited breath for the Death on the Nile remake starring him that is due out sometime next year (2022). I also think that the casting of Gal Gadot as Linette is rather inspired as well. I can hardly wait! (But, I’ve already said that!)
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I am glad you think so.
I absolutely hated Kenneth Brannagh as Poirot(largely because of the overdone moustaches) but I am still looking forward to the remake of Death on the Nile primarily because of Gal Gadot but also because I feel that the Nile and archaeology scenes ight be really well done in this later version.
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I have fond memories of going to go see the Peter Ustinov version in the theater when I was a kid back when it came out.
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Me too.
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I’ve read the novel and seen both versions of the movie, but didn’t know there was a third one out there. I’ll have to give it a look. Like “Evil Under The Sun”, I admired Peter Ustinov in the title role of Poirot, but for myself, the David Suchet version is still preferred. Although the appearance of Maggie Smith, Diana Riggs, and Roddy McDowall in the Ustinov film make it a favorite (I have it on DVD and in my virtual library). What a treasure and what a great choice for your “D” topic!
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Thank you Melanie.
Tomorrow I will be posting about Evil Under the Sun
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Loved the book and the Ustinov movie, both taking you back to a time long gone…
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I havent read this book or seen the movies! But I plan on it! Xx
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You will enjoy them, I promise.
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