Death on the Nile (1978 film)
Updated: 12/30/2025, 12:46:05 PM Wikipedia source
Death on the Nile is a 1978 British mystery film based on Agatha Christie's 1937 novel of the same name, directed by John Guillermin and adapted by Anthony Shaffer. The film features the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, played by Peter Ustinov for the first time, plus an all-star supporting cast that includes Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Jane Birkin, David Niven, George Kennedy, and Jack Warden. The film is a standalone sequel to the 1974 film Murder on the Orient Express. It takes place in Egypt in 1937, mostly on a period paddle steamer on the Nile. Various famous Ancient Egyptian sights are featured in the film, such as the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and temples at Abu Simbel and Karnak. Death on the Nile won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 51st Academy Awards.
Infobox
Directed by
John Guillermin
Screenplay by
Anthony Shaffer
Based on
Death on the Nileby Agatha Christie
Produced by
mw- John BrabourneRichard Goodwin
Starring
Peter UstinovJane BirkinLois ChilesBette DavisMia FarrowJon FinchOlivia HusseyI. S. JoharGeorge KennedyAngela LansburySimon MacCorkindaleDavid NivenMaggie SmithJack Warden
Cinematography
Jack Cardiff
Edited by
Malcolm Cooke
Music by
Nino Rota
Productioncompanies
Mersham ProductionsEMI Films
Distributed by
EMI Distributors
Release dates
29 September 1978 (1978-09-29) (United States) 23 October 1978 (1978-10-23) (United Kingdom)
Running time
140 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Budget
$7.92–8 million
Box office
$18 million (Worldwide)
Tables
· Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Costume Design
Subject
Anthony Powell
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Subject
Nominated
BAFTA Awards
BAFTA Awards
Award
BAFTA Awards
Category
Best Actor
Subject
Peter Ustinov
Result
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Angela Lansbury
Subject
Nominated
Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith
Award
Maggie Smith
Category
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Anthony Powell
Subject
Won
Edgar Award
Edgar Award
Award
Edgar Award
Category
Best Motion Picture
Subject
Anthony Shaffer
Result
Nominated
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Award
Evening Standard British Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Subject
John Guillermin
Result
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Peter Ustinov
Subject
Won
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actress
Subject
Angela Lansbury
Result
Won
| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
| Academy Awards | Best Costume Design | Anthony Powell | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Actor | Peter Ustinov | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actress | Angela Lansbury | Nominated | |
| Maggie Smith | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Anthony Powell | Won | |
| Edgar Award | Best Motion Picture | Anthony Shaffer | Nominated |
| Evening Standard British Film Awards | Best Film | John Guillermin | Won |
| Best Actor | Peter Ustinov | Won | |
| National Board of Review Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Angela Lansbury | Won |
References
- The Canberra Timeshttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110881785
- "People". Chicago Tribune, 2 December 1977: 20.
- "Death on the Nile"https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=deathonthenile.htm
- "Death on the Nile"https://web.archive.org/web/20110915101733/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16698/Death-on-the-Nile/
- Evening Standard
- Filminkhttps://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-moguls-michael-deeley-and-barry-spikings/
- The Guardian
- Filminkhttps://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-film-moguls-nat-cohen-part-five-1971-1988/
- Screen International
- Filminkhttps://www.filmink.com.au/john-guillermin-action-man/
- "The case of the vanishing mystery writer: Christie liked only two of the 19 movies made from her books." Mills, Nancy.
- The Guardian
- Death on the Nile – Interview with Dame Angela Lansburyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vmY6_WMbeU
- The New Bedside, Bathtub, & Armchair Companion to Agatha Christie, Riley, Dick and Pam McAllister, ed. Ungar, New York,
- Los Angeles Times
- Los Angeles Times
- Movies: David Niven Likes Living in Luxury. Mann, Roderick. Los Angeles Times, 1 October 1978: o31.
- The Times, 24 October 1978, page 20, Court Circular: "The Queen, with The Duke of Edinburgh and Admiral of the Fleet the
- "Murder on the Orient Express"https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=murderontheorientexpress.htm
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1980-05-07_299_1/page/502/mode/2up?view=theater
- National heroes : British cinema in the seventies and eightieshttps://archive.org/details/nationalheroesbr0000walk/page/131/mode/1up?
- The Times, 27 October 1978, page 12: Dame Agatha's own serpent of old Nile – Found in the Times Digital Archive 2014-01-
- 5001 Nights at the Movies
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- "Death on the Nile"https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/death_on_the_nile/