Muerte bajo el sol

It's one of those films I'd almost forgotten about after David Suchet's outing, but Ustinov's has a huge charm which can be overlooked no further.

The plot for some part is a little far fetched, but such is the quality of the writing and the mystery itself it doesn't matter in the slightest, for it to have worked the timings would have had to have been literally to the minute.

The characterisations are the strong point of the film. Ustinov made a brilliant debut in Death on the Nile, and he shows once again just how good he was in the role. Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith are wonderful in their respective roles in particular, both actually make their characters more interesting then they appear in the book, the interplay between the two is wonderful, so much fun. Nicholas Clay and Jane Birkin are fantastic also, her transformation is sensational, what a beauty!

It is a lavish looking film, the locations are sensational, and the costumes are superb, they really add a glamorous note to it, Rigg looks sensational in many scenes.

Overall 9/10. It's a great story, it's brilliantly acted, and the characters are just magical, it's hugely entertaining!

Agatha Christie's novels may not be intellectually stimulating but they are perfect light reading and this delightful film recaptures that quality. Slickly directed by Hamilton and well-played by all the cast, there is a striking and surprising opening on the rainswept Yorkshire moors before we are whisked off to sun-drenched Majorca. The plot twist is one of Christie's most cunning devices, which she re-used on several occasions. And of course, as everyone else has commented, the music is sublime.

I have watched another two notoriously famous works of Agatha Christie, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974) and DEATH ON THE NILE (1978), despite of three in a row, I could still enjoy this one to a great extent.

The distinction of a star-studded cast and an isolated milieu is too overt to be surprising, luckily enough the island itself compensates a mind-distracting delightfulness. Also it has been the third time around, so as that I am lucidly familiar with its plot design-pattern, the obvious target is farcically recognizable and the murderer is not so perplexing to guess, in addition that all the cartoonish characters attenuate the tone of the headlining murder, which I will recommend to those who usually are shunned by the murder/crime genre.

Speaking of its cast, I adore Maggie Smth, I am thoroughly enjoy her a touch over-the-top performance here, also Jane Birkin is magnificently multi-faceted (I couldn't recall her roll in MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS though). Diana Rigg and Sylvia Miles are perfectly for their roles as bitchy, bitter, vanity bourgeois women. By comparison the equivalent supporting male cast is being eclipsed wholesale, of which even a renowned James Mason cannot avoid.

Peter Ustinov's Pourot is cannily uncompromising with a sharp wit under the contrast of his chubby appearance (although my favorite is Albert Finney in MOTOE). I'm curious now Sherlock Holmes franchise has been resuscitated into somewhat bromance-cum-action flick, maybe it's the right time for Monseiur Pourot to reestablish his name as a genuine detective mind versus a lumbering body, let wisdom rules again!

Evil Under The Sun sounds so ominous, like a older horror film but in fact it's a sunny, bright, sparkling film with an international cast.

If you've seen Death on Nile and liked it then this would be enjoyable. Certainly much more entertaining than Murder on the Orient Express. The characters here are much more entertaining, especially Dianna Rigg, who plays the glamorous, snooty bitch.

It is engaging after everyone is settled on the island and it did hold my attention. I would say that the most unappealing component of the film is the soundtrack which is distracting in several scenes. Almost big band-like music in scenes where someone is walking! I almost got the feeling the music was celebrating a loud outfit worn by Maggie Smith. Clothing is a big deal in this film. The costumes are as entertaining as some of the characters. Even Roddy McDowell is attired in colorful outfits here.

All in all, not bad. I think most people will enjoy it.

This is a first rate film.

Rarely are so many top actors seen together in one production.

What the director did was to take an Agatha Christy murder mystery and sparkle it with humour and dry wit. Maggie Smith is absolutely priceless and her bitching with Diana Rigg is reminiscent of Wilde`s importance of being Earnest. Each of the actors look as though they had a terrific time throughout the production as they camp up the roles but still manage to keep the serious side of the plot going.

A must see.