Evil Under the Sun (1982)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writer:

Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 March 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil is Everywhere. Even in Paradise.

Plot:

Trying to find how a millionaire wound up with a phony diamond brings Hercule Poirot to an exclusive island resort frequented by the rich and famous. When a murder is committed, everyone has an alibi.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Hercule Poirot | Murder | Hotel | Agatha Christie

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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	...	Captain Kenneth Marshall
Diana Rigg	...	Arlena Stuart Marshall
Maggie Smith	...	Daphne Castle
Emily Hone	...	Linda Marshall
John Alderson	...	Police Sergeant
Paul Antrim	...	Police Inspector
Cyril Conway	...	Police Surgeon
Barbara Hicks	...	Mr. Flewitt's Secretary

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Ireland:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:16 (1982) | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

Peter Ustinov designed the bathing suit he wears in one scene in the movie..

Goofs:

Continuity: The first time Patrick and Christine Redfern are heard arguing about Patrick's relationship with Arlena, Patrick says "I can't even speak to a pretty woman without you jumping to the conclusion that I'm having an affair with her". Later when Poirot flashes back to the scene, Patrick is heard saying "I can't even speak to a pretty woman with out you jumping to the conclusion that I'm... well, having an affair with her." The scenes are supposed to be identical but they are not.

Quotes:

Myra Gardener: There she goes, not a care in the world.
Odell Gardener: I'll make her care.
Myra Gardener: Oh, what do you know about care? If it had been up to you, the good Samaritan would have passed by on the other side.
Odell Gardener: I have an idea but I need to work it out.
Myra Gardener: Yeah, well don't forget about my cousin, Hatty Heimenheimer. It took her so long to "work out an idea," they finally had to stash her away in the booby hatch!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun' (1982) (TV)

Soundtrack:

You're the Top

Best Ustinov Poirot

Many people blame Ustinov for not being authentic enough to the Agatha Christi novel but I think that the artistic licence worked well with him. Out of all 6 Ustinov=Poirot films this is the one I like most. One of the reasons is that it is shot at location on the beautiful Mallorca island of Spain and not in L.A.(as 3 of the others). The overall cast is also the best of the series. In the dubbed German version Peter Ustinov dubbed himself which gives his character the foreign touch of Mr. Poirot. One of the best and the prettiest whodunit I have seen so far. If you think that a mysterious plot can develop only in fog and rain then this one isn't the right one for you. The Evil is here under the sun.

9 / 10.