Evil Under The Sun (1982)

Evil Under The Sun - 1982

Our next film is 1982's murder/mystery "Evil Under The Sun", a film about murder, diamonds, sparkling blue seas, and an island in the Adriatic.

The film's cast includes Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, Colin Blakely, Nicholas Clay, James Mason, Roddy McDowall, Sylvia Miles, Denis Quilley, Diana Rigg, Maggie Smith, and Emily Hone.

A London insurance agency enlists the help of famed detective Hercule Poirot in tracking down a diamond that the company insures.  They currently have a fake copy.  The real diamond was given by Sir Horace Blatt to his mistress, the actress Arlena Stuart Marshall.  When the relationship ended, she gave him a fake one instead.  Now, it's up to Poirot to find the real thing.

He heads to a hotel on an island in the Adriatic.  The hotel was the former summer residence of the King of Tyrania and was a gift to his mistress, Daphne Castle, for "services rendered".

It seems everyone gathered at the hotel has some sort of connection with Arlena.  And we quickly find out that not everyone has a cozy relationship with her.

The hotel seems the ideal place to lie around and soak up some sun.  But, as Poirot says, "The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and yet you forget that everywhere there is evil under the sun."

Arlena goes off alone one day.  What she doesn't realize is that she won't be coming back.  She's found strangled on the beach later that day.

And the list of suspects is long.  First up, we have Arlena's own husband and stepdaughter.  The husband finds out his wife has been unfaithful, and the stepdaughter already has a hateful relationship with her.

There's a Broadway producer and his wife who need Arlena to do a show their producing.  Everything they have is riding on this, and they get very angry when Arlena refuses them.

There's also Patrick and Christine Redfern.  He seems to be outgoing, and she is shy and retiring.  Patrick also seems to know Arlena very well, to the puzzlement of the other guests.

Rex Brewster is an author who is writing a book about Arlena and needs her to sign a release so that it can be published.  He promises that she'll regret it when she doesn't do as he wishes.

Hotel owner Daphne Castle is an old Broadway rival of Arlena's.  There's definitely no love lost between them, especially as Daphne is a very good friend of Arlena's husband, Ken.

And finally, we have Sir Horace Blatt, the owner of the missing diamond and former lover of Arlena.  He'll do anything to get his jewel back.

Fortunately, Hercule Poirot is there.  After listening to all of their stories and alibis, he puts the pieces of the puzzle together and solves the case.

A funny moment in the film is when Arlena is singing "You're The Top".  Old rival Daphne can't resist stealing a little of Arlena's thunder, making as much noise as possible and on occasion joining in to Arlena's annoyance.

Another great moment in the film is when Monsieur Poirot decides to go for a "swim".  His outlandish bathing costume is hilarious, as is his swimming routine.

And, for me, one of the greatest things about this film is the area in which it was filmed.  The house and grounds are very beautiful.

Cast rundown:

   Peter Ustinov................................Hercule Poirot

   Jane Birkin...................................Christine Redfern

   Colin Blakely.................................Sir Horace Blatt

   Nicholas Clay................................Patrick Redfern

   James Mason................................Odell Gardener

   Roddy McDowall............................Rex Brewster

   Sylvia Miles..................................Myra Gardener

   Denis Quilley................................Kenneth Marshall

   Diana Rigg...................................Arlena Stuart Marshall

   Maggie Smith...............................Daphne Castle

   Emily Hone..................................Linda Marshall

And that's it for Evil Under The Sun.  As I mentioned, the film is set in some beautiful locations.  The exterior of Daphne's hotel was shot at the Raixa Estate in Majorca, Spain.  Of course, the real scene stealer here is the star of the show himself, Peter Ustinov.  He's perfect as the Belgian sleuth who needs to work to stimulate "the little gray cells".

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Murder On The Orient Express (1974)

Murder On The Orient Express - 1974

Our next film is 1974's "Murder On The Orient Express", which features an all-star cast of magnificent proportions.  Someone is murdered aboard the famous and luxurious Orient Express train.  Stuck in a snowbank, the renowned detective Hercule Poirot must uncover the murderer who may still be aboard.

The film stars Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Paul Cassel, Sean Connery, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Rachel Roberts, Richard Widmark, Michael York, Denis Quilley, Colin Blakely, and John Gielgud.

The film opens in 1930 at the residence of Colonel and Mrs. Armstrong in Long Island.  Inside, tragedy has struck as their daughter Daisy is kidnapped.  Her body is later discovered having been murdered.  In all, five people died as a result of the kidnapping/murder.

Five years later, the Orient Express is departing from Istanbul.  Many colorful characters board, including the world famous detective Hercule Poirot (Finney).

Monsieur Poirot is traveling as the guest of the director of the line, Signor Bianchi.  He intends to relax and fully enjoy himself with the superb cuisine offered on board the train.

However, business soon encroaches upon his pleasure.  Mr. Ratchett (Widmark) requests that Poirot act as his personal bodyguard.  He has received many threatening letters and is in fear of his life.  Poirot refuses, taking a strong dislike to the way Ratchett presents himself and the way he is cagey about his business affairs.

During the night, Poirot is awakened by several noises.  In the morning, Ratchett (who was in the compartment next to him) is found dead.  Signor Bianchi immediately asks Monsieur Poirot to head up the inquiry into the murder.

The guests are told about the death of Mr. Ratchett and that Monsieur Poirot requires their passports and will interview them all separately.

Matters aren't helped by the fact that the train is stuck in a snowbank and no police help can be given until it is cleared.

Among all the passengers questioned in connection with the murder, I have three standouts.  The first is Mrs. Harriet Hubbard (Lauren Bacall).  She gives an absolutely stellar performance as the fast-talking lady whom everyone cannot wait to avoid.

The second is Ms. Greta Ohlsson (Ingrid Bergman), an endearing Swedish missionary who uses phrases like "bed-gown".  Ingrid Bergman received her third Academy Award for her portrayal of Ms. Ohlsson, a well-deserved accolade.

The third is the Princess Dragomiroff (Wendy Hiller).  Ms. Hiller does an excellent job portraying a lady several decades older than herself.  "You never smile, Madame la Princesse?" asks Monsieur Poirot.  "My doctor has advised against it," comes the Princess's reply.

The filmmakers really make you feel that she is a dowager princess of the Old World.  Everything about her is meticulous.  I love the scene when she is in her cabin and her maid is reading to her in German as she sleeps.

And the elegant personal mementos of a bygone era suggest a woman who continuously lives in the past.

During the course of his investigations, Monsieur Poirot comes across a burned note in Ratchett's compartment.  Upon closer inspection, the name "Daisy Armstrong" comes to his attention, and he begins to understand who Ratchett was and why he was getting the threatening letters.  He was the mastermind of the Daisy Armstrong kidnapping/murder.

Later in the investigation, the murder weapon comes to be discovered by Mrs. Hubbard, and is positively identified as having Ratchett's blood on it.

After piecing together the murder, Monsieur Poirot confronts the passengers in the Dining Car with the identity of the murderer (or murderers).  As it happens, each passenger on the train has a connection to the Daisy Armstrong kidnapping.

Monsieur Poirot solves the case, though tells the assemblage that justice has finally been carried out, and that a murderer has been deservedly murdered.  Just as he has finished his summation, the train is able to break through the snowbank and get underway again.

Cast rundown:

   Albert Finney......................................Hercule Poirot

   Lauren Bacall......................................Harriet Hubbard

   Martin Balsam....................................Bianchi

   Ingrid Bergman..................................Greta Ohlsson

   Jacqueline Bisset................................Countess Andrenyi

   Jean-Pierre Cassel..............................Pierre Michel

   Sean Connery....................................Colonel Arbuthnot

   Wendy Hiller......................................Princess Dragomiroff

   Anthony Perkins.................................Hector McQueen

   Vanessa Redgrave..............................Mary Debenham

   Rachel Roberts...................................Hildegarde Schmidt

   Richard Widmark................................Ratchett

   Michael York.......................................Count Andrenyi

   Denis Quilley......................................Antonio Foscarelli

   Colin Blakely......................................Dick Hardman

   John Gielgud......................................Mr. Beddoes

And that's it for Murder On The Orient Express.  Of all the Orient Express adaptations, this one remains my favorite.  The newer versions may be more sumptuous and flashier, but this one has much better performances.

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