Making of Death on the Nile (1978) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'The Making of Death on the Nile' is a 22 minute behind the scenes featurette on the making of the 1978 film 'Death on the Nile'.

The featurette begins with footage from the steamboat Karnak replica at Pinewood Studios, and it's transformation into the Nile.

The documentary features interviews with:
- actor Sir Peter Ustinov on his portrayal of Poirot
- producer John Brabourne on Agatha Christie's thoughts on her books being filmed
- actor David Niven, who is reading a vintage newspaper
- actor Jon Finch, who talks about his character
- production designer Peter Murton who talks about his set design
- co-producer Richard Goodwin on the all-star cast
- Actor George Kennedy on the professionalism of actress Bette Davis

Clips from the film are also featured throughout the special.

Death on the Nile (1978) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

"Come on, Bowers, it's time to go. This place is beginning to resemble a mortuary." - Bette Davis (as Mrs. Van Shuyler in 'Death on the Nile')

'Death on the Nile' is a 1978 filming of the great Agatha Christie murder mystery,

We journey down the nile with Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, David Niven, Maggie Smith, George Kennedy, jack Warden, Olivia Hussey, Lois Chiles, Jane Birkin, Simon MacCorkindale, Harry Andrews, Jon Finch and Sir Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot.

Jacqueline de Bellefort (played by Farrow) introduces her best friend Linnet Ridgeway (played by Chiles) to her boyfriend Simon Doyle (played by MacCorkindale). Shortly after the introduction Simon & Linnet marry and take a honeymoon to Egypt. In a jealous rage they are followed by Jacqueline.

Also in Egypt are Linnet's Uncle Andrew Pennington (played by Kennedy); the rich Mrs Van Shuyler (played by Davis) and her companion Miss Bowers (played by Smith); bohemian Mr. Ferguson (played by Finch); eccentric novelist Mrs. Otterbourne (played by Lansbury); her daughter Rosalie (played by Hussey); Dr. Bessner (played by Warden); Colonel Race (played by Niven); and his friend, the world famous Belgian detective Hercules Poirot (played by Ustinov.

The group take a cruise along the Nile on the boat the SS Karnak, where suddenly Linnet is found murdered.

The suspects

Virtually everyone on the boat is considered a suspect except for Colonel Race & of course, Poirot.

Was it Mrs Otterbourne, whom Linnet is taking to court? (or her daughter Rosalie?)
Was it Andrew Pennington, who is trying to embezzle Linnet's money?
Was it Jacqueline jealous of her marriage to Simon?
Was it Mrs Van Shylur, who had her eyes on Linnet's pearls?
Was it Dr. Bessner, whose reputation as a doctor Linnet is discrediting?
Was it Miss Bowers, whose father was ruined by Linnet's family?
Was it Jim Ferguson who said: "in a sane world, she'd be bumped off as a warning to the others"

As you can see, all of the above characters have a strong motivation to kill Linnet. Poirot says it best: "Mon dieu, how she makes enemies of them all"

Did you know...

• Filming was stopped each day at noon for two hours as temperatures reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit - make up for the stars began at 4am, with shooting scheduled for 6am
• Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury and Mia Farrow shared a dressing room during filming
• The film was shot on board paddle steamer, Memnon - one of few paddle steamers remaining on the Nile
• Albert Finney was initially asked to reprise the role of Poirot (after playing Poirot in 'Murder on the Orient Express' (1976)), however Finney the make up he wore too uncomfortable and declined the role
• Michael York was attached to the project at one stage
• Cybill Shepherd declined the role of Linnet Ridgeway
• The film was originally going to be called 'Murder on the Nile'
• The second Brabourne-Goodwin production of an Agatha Christie novel
• The first of six films where Peter Ustinov played Hercule Poirot
• Bette Davis allegedly brought her own make up, mirrors and lights to Egypt, in case they didn't have any there

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award winner for Best Costume Design (Anthony Powell)
• BAFTA Award winner for Best Costume Design (Anthony Powell)
• BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actor (Sir Peter Ustinov)
• BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Angela Lansbury)
• BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Maggie Smith)
• Edgar Allen Poe Award nomination for Best Motion Picture
• Evening Standard British Film Award winner for Best Film
• Evening Standard British Film Award winner for Best Actor (Sir Peter Ustinov)
• Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Foreign Film (England)
• National Board of Review Award winner for Best Supporting Actress (Angela Lansbury)

Closing remarks

'Death on the Nile' is my favourite filming of an Agatha Christie novel. It has a first class all star cast, beautiful location filming in Egypt and a compelling storyline - although it does take just over an hour for the first murder to take place.

The film presents spectacular footage of many Egyptian landmarks such as the Sphinx, the Great Pyramids, and the temples of Abu Simbel and Karnak.  Intricate Oscar winning costume design features Bette Davis wearing shoes made from the scales of 26 pythons and Lois Chiles in diamond-studded heels.

First class murder and death on the Nile!

The Mirror Crack'd (1980) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

"Out flew the web and floated wide - the mirror crack'd from side to side; 'The curse is come upon me', cried the Lady of Shalott." - Angela Lansbury (as Miss Marple in 'The Mirror Crack'd')

'The Mirror Crack'd' is a 1980 Agatha Christie murder mystery directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Kim Novak, Geraldine Chaplin, Edward Fox and Charles Gray.

The film is based on the Agatha Christie novel "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side". 

Kim Novak, Rock Hudson & Elizabeth Taylor in the film

Set in 1953, American star Marina Rudd (played by Taylor) and her director husband Jason Rudd (played by Hudson) have visitied the town of St. Mary Meades to make a movie on 'Mary, Queen of Scots & Elizabeth I'. Co-starring with Marina is her rival Lola Brewster (played by Novak), who was cast due to her husband Marty Fenn (played by Curtis) producing the film.

Shortly after arriving, Marina meets a devoted fan, Heather Babcock (played by Maureen Bennett) who is poisoned shortly after meeting her. As Heather drank a cocktail which was made for Marina, it is presumed Marina was the intended murder victim and she becomes paranoid.

It is now up to Miss Marple (played by Lansbury) and her detective nephew Inspector Craddock to solve the mystery before Marina or anyone else is killed.

Watch some clips from the film

Did you know...

• The title of the film is taken from the poem "The Lady of Shalott" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• Natalie Wood turned down the role of Marina Rudd due to disagreeing with cast billing and the way the character was being portrayed
• The last film appearances of Anthony Steel, Dinah Sheridan and Charles Lloyd Pack
• Angela Lansbury was only 54 when she portrayed the elderly Miss Marple 
• Stars Angela Lansbury, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis were all born in the same year, 1925
• Keep your eye out for an early film appearance by Pierce Brosnan as James
• The movie was filmed at Twickenham Film Studios in Twickenham, London, and on location in Kent
• The poster for the pretend film within a film "Murder at Midnight", features the real actor's names appearing in the sequence
• After this film, Angela Lansbury was meant to star in a second Miss Marple film "Appointment with Murder", but it did not eventuate
• The third Agatha Christie movie in the Brabourne-Goodwin series, following 'Murder onthe Orient Express' (1974) and 'Death on the Nile' (1978)
• Production for this film was delayed as a year as Angela Lansbury was starring in the Broadway production of 'Sweeney Todd'

Award nomination....

• Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Film Saturn award nomination for Best Actress (Angela Lansbury)

Closing remarks

'The Mirror Crack'd' is an entertaining Agatha Christie mystery. Angela Lansbury was very game to take on the role as Miss Marple, especially after the brillant portryal of Miss Marple by the great Margaret Rutherford in four films. Although Lansbury's performance is not bad, I can't help comparing it to Rutherford's fantastic portrayal. That said, we finally see Elizabeth Taylor give one of her better performances of her late career.

Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak are both fantastic in their roles as the bickering rival film stars. This film would have been a perfect film for Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had it been made 15 years earlier.

The Mirror Crack'd (1980) - Star of the month... Elizabeth Taylor

"Out flew the web and floated wide - the mirror crack'd from side to side; 'The curse is come upon me', cried the Lady of Shalott." - Angela Lansbury (as Miss Marple in 'The Mirror Crack'd')


'The Mirror Crack'd' is a 1980 Agatha Christie murder mystery directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple, with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Kim Novak, Geraldine Chaplin, Edward Fox and Charles Gray.

The film is based on the Agatha Christie novel "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side". 

Kim Novak, Rock Hudson & Elizabeth Taylor in the film

Set in 1953, American star Marina Rudd (played by Taylor) and her director husband Jason Rudd (played by Hudson) have visitied the town of St. Mary Meades to make a movie on 'Mary, Queen of Scots & Elizabeth I'. Co-starring with Marina is her rival Lola Brewster (played by Novak), who was cast due to her husband Marty Fenn (played by Curtis) producing the film.

Shortly after arriving, Marina meets a devoted fan, Heather Babcock (played by Maureen Bennett) who is poisoned shortly after meeting her. As Heather drank a cocktail which was made for Marina, it is presumed Marina was the intended murder victim and she becomes paranoid.

It is now up to Miss Marple (played by Lansbury) and her detective nephew Inspector Craddock to solve the mystery before Marina or anyone else is killed.



Watch some clips from the film

Did you know...

• The title of the film is taken from the poem "The Lady of Shalott" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• Natalie Wood turned down the role of Marina Rudd due to disagreeing with cast billing and the way the character was being portrayed
• The last film appearances of Anthony Steel, Dinah Sheridan and Charles Lloyd Pack
• Angela Lansbury was only 54 when she portrayed the elderly Miss Marple 
• Stars Angela Lansbury, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis were all born in the same year, 1925
• Keep your eye out for an early film appearance by Pierce Brosnan as James
• The movie was filmed at Twickenham Film Studios in Twickenham, London, and on location in Kent
• The poster for the pretend film within a film "Murder at Midnight", features the real actor's names appearing in the sequence
• After this film, Angela Lansbury was meant to star in a second Miss Marple film "Appointment with Murder", but it did not eventuate
• The third Agatha Christie movie in the Brabourne-Goodwin series, following 'Murder onthe Orient Express' (1974) and 'Death on the Nile' (1978)
• Production for this film was delayed as a year as Angela Lansbury was starring in the Broadway production of 'Sweeney Todd'

Award nomination....

• Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Film Saturn award nomination for Best Actress (Angela Lansbury)

Closing remarks

'The Mirror Crack'd' is an entertaining Agatha Christie mystery. Angela Lansbury was very game to take on the role as Miss Marple, especially after the brillant portryal of Miss Marple by the great Margaret Rutherford in four films. Although Lansbury's performance is not bad, I can't help comparing it to Rutherford's fantastic portrayal. That said, we finally see Elizabeth Taylor give one of her better performances of her late career.

Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak are both fantastic in their roles as the bickering rival film stars. This film would have been a perfect film for Bette Davis and Joan Crawford had it been made 15 years earlier.

Murder is Easy - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

"As long as no one suspects you, murder is easy" - Helen Hayes (as Lavinia Fullerton in 'Murder is Easy')

Olivia de Havilland with co-star Shane Briant

'Murder is Easy' is a 1982 television movie adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel, starring Bill Bixby, Lesley Anne Down, Olivia de Havilland, Jonathan Pryce, Shane Briant and Helen Hayes.

The first edition cover of the novel
'Murder is Easy'

Whilst travelling on a train Lavinia Fullerton (played by Hayes) meets Professor Luke Williams (played by Bixby). Fullerton tells Williams she is on her way to Scotland Yard to provide information on some murders. Shortly after, Miss Fullerton is killed in a hit and run incident. Williams believes Miss Fullerton's death was intended to silence her and decides to continue her crusade. Aided with villager Bridget Conway (played by Down), Williams seeks to uncover who is murdering the villages. 

Closing remarks

Average murder mystery is not one of Christie's best stories or film adaptations. Luke Williams is no Hercule Poirot, but manages to get the job done (although I managed to figure out who the murderer was long before he did).


Olivia de Havilland is perfection in her portrayal of the eccentric Honoria Waynflete, as is Helen Hayes in her very brief appearance.