Death on the Nile
Author: Agatha Christie
I have been on a quest since 2019 to read all of Agatha Christie's books in publication order. I still haven't made it out of the 1930s.
Including Death on the Nile, I have read 22 books and 8 story collections....and I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface!! I have 8 books and one short story collection to go before I even hit another novel with Miss Marple. Luckily I am not growing tired of Poirot!
I'm ok with the length of time my reading challenge is taking. I'm not in a hurry. I take my time with each book. I do research into the book, find any adaptations, and leisurely enjoy the story....stopping here and there to look up any references to real events, people and places. I read an old paperback copy from my bookshelves (if I have one) and listen to an audio book version at the same time. And I watch or listen to any of the adaptations that I can find online. Radio plays, movies, television episodes.....I really jump in there and enjoy the story! It's slow going, but so much fun! I've been wanting to do this since I was quite young....so taking my time and enjoying every word!
Death on the Nile was first published in serial format in the Saturday Evening Post in 1937. It was published as a book later that same year in the UK, and in the United States in 1938. This is the 15th book featuring Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells. This time Hercule takes his show on the road -- this story takes place in Egypt aboard a river cruise boat on the Nile.
I read my very old paperback copy (Bantam Books, 1976) from my shelf and listened to David Suchet narrate the story (HarperAudio, 2012). The audio book is just shy of 8 hours long. And, of course, David Suchet does a wonderful job of narrating the book! How could he not after spending 24 years playing the character on television!
My old paperback is part of the original box set of Agatha Christie paperbacks I bought at a garage sale when I was 9. I got introduced to Agatha Christie's writing, mystery novels in general and Hercule Poirot by reading those 5 novels over that summer. Agatha has been my favorite author ever since then! But, unfortunately, the book is falling apart. Paperbacks only last so long. The pages are dark auburn with foxing, the paper is brittle, and the spine is coming apart. I'm giving the book one last read.....and will throw it away when I'm done. Almost 50 years old....and it's been on my bookshelf in all of the places I've lived since June 1978.
In fact, I have had a bookshelf filled with Agatha Christie novels for years. I started trying to collect all of her books after that first summer. It was difficult to do in the pre-internet days. Finding a list of all of her writing was almost impossible. Lists in the front or back of books were only partial, and the local small town library didn't have a complete list either. Flash forward a few decades, and I can now find just about any information I want, all of the books, and a total bibliography in seconds. Perfect time for me to read my way through all of her mystery novels and short stories!! And, as I read my way through my old stash of paperbacks, I'm letting go of the collection. I have had all of these books for years....but only actually read a few of them. Now I'm reading them all and freeing up shelf space for new books. I can revisit her novels anytime I want using my local library. I don't need to have 70+ old paperbacks and mismatched hardcovers taking up shelf space anymore. Saying goodbye to old friends in the perfect way -- reading them, being thankful, and then letting them go.
Now....back to the business at hand....reviewing this book!!
This is such a lovely example of a Golden Age Mystery!! I enjoyed every word!
Poirot is in perfect form in Death on the Nile. He is joined by Colonel Race. Race is helpful as usual....and also jumps to conclusions, only to be subtly corrected by Poirot. The various suspects are observed, interviewed, accused and generally ruffled by both Race and Poirot. Add in some odd behavior, a red herring or two, and a thoroughly satisfying reveal at the end. Ah, the complete joy at reading such an entertaining example of a golden age whodunit by a top notch writer of the time who helped invent the genre!!
The pacing is on par. There are an adequate number of suspects. And, the fact that the crime happens on board a boat on a river cruise makes the cast of suspicious characters deliciously limited and small. I had read this book before when I was a teenager, but I didn't remember much about the plot. So this was all fresh and new to me! Loved it! The whole time I kept wondering which one did it and why. I changed my mind several times as the story progressed. I'm sure this was Agatha's intent.
The ending is perfect, except for one small thing. Poirot again makes a choice that I find morally ambiguous. My guess is he felt it allowed a humane outcome? I can't say what it is -- spoiler. But it's the second book where he has made a choice like this and used his little grey cells to allow something he felt was a better choice. Not sure it was morally his decision to make. Is he morally responsible since he knew what was going to happen and could have done something to stop it? Hmmmmmm. It does give me pause each time the detective does something like this, but I still completely love this book!!
There have been several adaptations of this book.
Agatha Christie adapted this novel into a stage play called Murder on the Nile. It first debuted in 1944 under another name, Hidden Horizon. As Murder on the Nile it opened in the UK and on Broadway in the US in 1944.
A movie starring Peter Ustinov came out in 1978.
In 1997, BBC Radio adapted the story into an audio play.
The Poirot television series did an episode (Season 9, episode 3).
And, in 2022, a film version starring Kenneth Brangh as Poirot was released.
There have also been two graphic novels and a hidden object PC game.
I jumped into the movie adaptations of this book with gusto. I had not watched the 1978 movie since sometime in the 1980s. The only thing I could remember about it is that I did not like Peter Ustinov as Poirot at all! I don't think Agatha would have liked it either.
1978 movie: This movie won an Oscar for best costume design in 1979. And so many famous actors are in it -- Peter Ustinov, David Niven, Angela Lansbury, Mia Farrow, Maggie Smith...even Bette Davis. They definitely stacked the deck! One of my favorite television actors from that era is in this one as well -- Simon MacCorkindale. [I'm probably one of the only people who was disappointed when they cancelled Manimal. :) If you know, you know.]
I have to admit that I still don't like Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot. He played the character in six movies (most were made for television) and I never thought he fit the part. His appearance and interpretation never hit the mark for me. I am very thankful that when David Suchet came on the scene, he knocked it out of the park with appearance, mannerisms, fastidiousness, costuming, accent, glorious waxed moustache -- he ticked all the boxes. Peter Ustinov did not. Ustinov was an incredibly talented actor and played many wonderful roles....but for me, he was not a good Poirot.
I remember watching this movie when it came out and in re-runs on television back in the day. Star studded B-movie -- good entertainment, but not earth shattering cinema. Death on the Nile looks and feels like an old made-for-television movie. The director made some odd choices -- weird camera angles, muted/fuzzy focus in several outdoor shots, ridiculous over-acting for some side characters. Definitely a late 70s/early 80s style adaptation. It's like watching a movie length episode of The Love Boat -- cram in as many well known actors from past and present, go over the top with costuming, and throw in a script that tends to the melodramatic.
The characterizations of the Egyptian characters are stereotypical and racist in places. It seems like the writers/director thought this was a good way to interject humor? Watching this film 46 years after it was made, the scenes come off as racist stereotypes, and I didn't find them funny.
Admittedly, this racist tone is also in Christie's novels. Her British characters often make racist, classist and colonial statements, and treat non-white people and servants poorly. I'm sure it mirrors the behavior and beliefs of upper class white culture in the 1920's and 30's, but it is cringe-worthy almost 100 years later.
There are some changes in the characters and certain plot points in this adaptation. Not large ones. Mostly adjustments to give characters motive, to add more drama, or to make some clues more obvious. I don't feel these changes were necessary, or well done. Agatha's version was subtle and built up to the reveal with intelligence. Not every character had to have hard motive to kill the victim. The movie adaptation changes things in such a way to over explain things that really didn't need assistance and to add silly motives for some of the characters. Bleck! Agatha Christie's plots do not need to have changes like this made! It never makes the story better. The story is great the way it is. Tone down the non-plot centric problems like racist commentary and behaviors, but leave the character backgrounds, motivation and clues alone. The mystery portion of the plot is perfect the way it is.
I do like that they actually filmed on site in Egypt. Beautiful background scenery!
BBC Radio: This audio play was presented in serial format in five weekly parts in 1997. The whole performance runs just a bit over 2 hours. John Moffatt plays Poirot. The audio drama is very well done and mimics the pacing of the novel quite well. The acting is top notch, and it stays relatively close to the book. Some events in the book are removed (like a side plot about spies that was removed from every adaptation) for time. Great quality as usual! BBC radio did audio drama versions of most of Christie's novels. They can easily be found online.
Poirot episode: Of all the adaptations, I found this Poirot episode to be the most faithful to the novel. There are a few changes. The reason for Colonel Race being in Egypt is changed. No adaptation kept the side spy intrigue plot intact. Some characters are left out and combined with other characters. And the ending is changed for a few characters, but the central plot is left intact. The scenery, costumes and general feel of this episode is SO much better than the 1978 movie. This is one of my favorite episodes of Poirot so far. Very well done! The only thing I didn't like is Season 9 changed the theme song of the series. I always listen to the old theme before I watch episodes from the final season of Poirot. I don't like the new music at all.
2022 Movie: I'm only going to give my opinion on the actual film, not the wonky PR nightmare the casting of this film turned into.
Within the first five minutes, my misgivings about this movie increased. The opening scene depicts Poirot as serving in the army during World War I. Poirot did not serve in the army, but came to England as a refugee from Belgium during the war. Why would they make a stupid change in the character like this? Unnecessary -- and ridiculous. Why do filmmakers think that they can improve upon Agatha Christie's plots and characters by adding in drivel like this? And......it only got worse from there..... Complete crap.
In my opinion, Kenneth Branagh makes a terrible Hercule Poirot. And his huge unkempt moustache is totally wrong and looks ridiculous.Bleck.
There are ridiculous changes in characters and the plot. The story does stick relatively close to the main plot points of the book, but the script in general is terrible. The pacing is off. There are stupid changes to characters, backstory and motives. This movie was just hard to watch. Bad casting. Bad script. Yuck.
So, in my opinion, the Poirot episode is the best adaptation.
Wonderful book! I enjoyed this story, and had fun watching 3 film adaptations to see which one I liked best. The audio play was entertaining as well!
On to the next book -- Appointment with Death! I've had an old paperback on my bookshelf for years, but have never read this Hercule Poirot mystery, so I'm really looking forward to it!
