Agatha Christie's Evil Under The Sun (DVD)

...film adaptation of the 1941 Agatha Christie murder mystery.

'''Cast'''

Sir Peter Ustinov as _Mr Hercule Poirot_ - 4/5
After his outstanding portrayal of the finicky Belgian detective in _Death on the Nile_ Ustinov's performance here is a bit disappointing. Although his acting is strong, energetic and certainly entertaining, his interpretation of the grouchy, imperious detective lacks exactly that - he is just ...
...this film adaptation of the Agatha Christie murder mystery:
- in the book the whole story is set on Burgh Island and not, like in the film, on a Mediterranean island (Sa Dragonera, an island off Mallorca's shore, whose scenery, however, was only used for visual shots)
- many negligible characters have been taken out
- the author Rex Brewster in Agatha Christie's novel actually is a woman (Emily Brewster)
- in the book ... more

Evil under the Sun is the film adaptation of the 1941 Agatha Christie murder mystery.

Cast

Sir Peter Ustinov as Mr Hercule Poirot - 4/5
After his outstanding portrayal of the finicky Belgian detective in Death on the Nile Ustinov's performance here is a bit disappointing. Although his acting is strong, energetic and certainly entertaining, his interpretation of the grouchy, imperious detective lacks exactly that - he is just too kind and affable.

Jane Birkin as Christine Redfern - 5/5

James Mason as Odell Gardener - 4/5
James Mason delivers a very good performance, but as his role is rather limited and definitely falls short of his talent, he doesn't manage to stand out like Sylvia Miles does who delivers one of the most hilarious performances in the whole film - her portrayal of the shrill-voiced Myra Gardener who's constantly bickering with her husband is just killingly funny (- 5/5):
Myra: Well, what the hell do we do now, Odell?
Odell: Leave it to me. I'll think of something.
Myra: Hmph, my hero. I swear, if you were a man I'd divorce you!

Nicholas Clay as Patrick Redfern - 4/5

Maggie Smith as Daphne Castle - 5/5
Maggie Smith delivers an excellent portrayal of the tartly hotelier Daphne and is particularly entertaining with her over-the-top-quarrelling with her arch-enemy Arlena Marshall, played by Diana Rigg who is wonderfully malicious and invidious in her portrayal of the glamorous and arrogant stage actress (- 5/5):
Daphne Castle: Arlena and I were in the chorus of a show together - not that I could ever compete. Even in those days she could always throw her legs higher than any of us...and wider.

Roddy MacDowell as Rex Brewster - 4/5

Dennis Quilley as Kenneth Marshall - 5/5

Emily Hone as Linda Marshall - 4/5
She definitely delivers a good performance as Arlena's unhappy stepdaughter Linda, but I must admit that I didn't like her character - she's just too whining and clumsy for my taste.

Plot

The Belgian detective Mr Hercule Poirot is commissioned by the London Trojan Insurance Company to find out about the whereabouts of a lost diamond that is extremely valuable. Poirot's investigations lead him to the posh luxury hotel Chez Daphne, situated on a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea with breathtaking scenery and an illustrious circle of visitors:

Myra and Odell Gardener, two producers from New York who would be financially ruined if Arlena declines to appear in their latest play
Rex Brewster, a snoopy journalist who's writing a biography about Arlena against her will
Patrick Redfern, young, attractive and obviously in love with Arlena, and his sensitive and shy wife Christine
and
regular guest Kenneth Marshall with his daughter Linda and freshly wedded wife Arlena Marshall, the once celebrated stage actress.

Hardly arrived, Arlena already starts to make enemies with her arrogant and inconsiderate behaviour - obviously flirting with Patrick Redfern and thus provoking both her husband and Patrick's wife or her persistent refusal to appear in the Gardener's new play are only two examples.

Some days later she's found dead in a bay nearby and of course Poirot immediately starts his investigations. As there are so many suspects, his job is not easy.

Film

Although the screenplay was written by Anthony Shaffer, who stuck with the book quite well at Death on the Nile, many details have been changed in this film adaptation of the Agatha Christie murder mystery:
- in the book the whole story is set on Burgh Island and not, like in the film, on a Mediterranean island (Sa Dragonera, an island off Mallorca's shore, whose scenery, however, was only used for visual shots)
- many negligible characters have been taken out
- the author Rex Brewster in Agatha Christie's novel actually is a woman (Emily Brewster)
- in the book Mrs Gardener's first name is Carrie, not Myra

The cinematography in this film is magnificent. The Mediterranean scenery, the wonderful costumes and of course Cole Porter's soundtrack full of classic 1930's songs make Evil under the Sun an enjoyable and pleasing experience.

As mentioned before the film does not adhere strictly to the book. But that is not necessarily negative - on the contrary: by adding humour and esprit the director Guy Hamilton managed to make the film even more amusing and entertaining than the book. 

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