Movies - Death on the Nile

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	Movies - Death on the Nile

Death on the Nile (published in 1937) is an Agatha Christie mystery novel featuring the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The action takes place in Egypt, mostly on the Nile River.

Plot

The beautiful, wealthy Linnet Doyle is one of the travellers on a cruise down the Nile, with her new husband – the man her best friend, Jackie, was once engaged to. Jackie is also aboard the steamer. Poirot, the detective, senses trouble from day one, so it is no surprise when, before too long, a murderer strikes. One of Christie's longest works, it also remains one of her most artistic and popular novels, and was a favorite of Christie herself. The novel features her famous detective, Hercule Poirot, the brilliant Belgian with the "most luxurious moustaches" and little grey cells. Undoubtedly one of Christie's most ingenious plots, the book was a runaway success following its publication in 1937.

Suspects

Simon Dolye, Linnet's husband
Jacqueline de Bellefort, Simon's former fiancee'
Louise Borget, Linnet's maid
Andrew Pennington, Linnet's American lawyer and trustee
Ms. Van Schulyer, a very wealthy elderly American snob
Ms. Bowers, her nurse
Ms Cornelia Robson, her niece
Salome Otterbourne, writer of risque romantic novels
Gladys Otterbourne, her daughter
Signor Ritchetti, an Italian archeologist
Mr. James Ferguson, a shy Englishman
Dr. Bessner, a German doctor
a sailor on the S.S Karnak

Quotes

Poirot (to Colonel Race): "We know almost all there is to know. Except that what we know seems incredible. Impossible."

----

Mrs Van Schuyler: You perfectly foul French upstart!

Hercule Poirot: Belgian upstart, please madam. ----

Salome Otterbourne (referring to the juice she is drinking): Barman. This crocodile has lost its crock. ----

(Simon and Linnet Doyle arrive at the Temple of Abu Simbel, the wind picks up, and an uninvited guest appears)

Jacqueline De Bellefort: Welcome to the Temple of Abu Simbel. The façade is 84 feet long. Each of the statues is 65 feet high.

Linnet Ridgeway Doyle: GET AWAY FROM ME! GET AWAY! GET AWAY FROM ME! ----

(POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Rosalie Otterbourne (on learning of her mother's murder): I can't believe it. Mother dead. Why?

Jim Ferguson: She must have found something out.

Rosalie: Oh, God. Poor darling. I loved her in spite of it all (starts crying). And now she's gone. I can't take it in. Suddenly, I'm...

Jim: All alone.

(Rosalie nods)

Jim. No you're not. I'll look after you.

Rosalie: Oh, Jim (she cuddles up to him). Poor mother.

Jim: You would never have got away from her. Not while she was alive. ----

(Mrs Van Schuyler is using her magnifying glass to study a picture of Linnet)

Mrs Van Schuyler: So that's the Ridgeway girl.

Miss Bowers: What are you studying so closely? The picture, or her pearls?

Mrs Van Schuyler: Keep a civil tongue in your head, Bowers, or you will be out of a job.

Miss Bowers: What do I care? This town is filled with rich old widows willing to pay for a little grovelling and a body massage. You go ahead and fire me,

Mrs Van Schuyler: Temper, temper, Bowers. It's obvious you need a holiday (picks up newspaper). How would a little trip down the Nile suit you?

Miss Bowers: There is nothing I would dislike more. If there are two things in the world I can't abide, it's heat and heathens (snatches the paper while she speaks).

Mrs Van Shuyler: Good. Then we'll go. Bowers, pack.

(Bowers throws down the paper) ----

Film versions

In 1978 it was made into a successful film directed by John Guillermin, starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot, alongside David Niven, Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Mia Farrow, Olivia Hussey, Simon MacCorkindale, Lois Chiles, Jane Birkin and Angela Lansbury.

In 2004, ITV made a UK TV movie starring David Suchet as Poirot alongside James Fox and David Soul.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Death on the Nile ]

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