Search - Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun on DVD

Poirot and Cole Porter

Tom S. | New York City | 04/04/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1981 film is based on the Agatha Christie novel, and it's sleek and colorful. It was the last of four Christie adaptations from the producers of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, and it's a stylish diversion. Filmed in Majorca by Guy Hamilton (who directed GOLDFINGER and several other James Bond movies), it features an all-star cast of suspects and victims, a witty script by Anthony Schaffer (SLEUTH, THE WICKER MAN, DEATH ON THE NILE), and Christie's usual smattering of clues and red herrings. Any film that features the wonderful Peter Ustinov as Poirot is worth a look, and he's joined by Diana Rigg, Maggie Smith, James Mason, Sylvia Myles, Roddy McDowall, and several other professional scene-stealers. The mystery and its solution are uncomfortably similar to one or two other Christie stories, but the film makes up for any flaws with its musical soundtrack, a collection of sparkling Cole Porter songs in beautiful symphonic arrangements ("You're the Top," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "I Concentrate On You," etc.). All in all, not great but fun. Try it."