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IMDbPro

The Man in the Brown Suit

  • TV Movie
  • 1989
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
939
YOUR RATING
Stephanie Zimbalist, Rue McClanahan, Nickolas Grace, Tony Randall, and Edward Woodward in The Man in the Brown Suit (1989)
CrimeMystery

An American woman is getting involved in a diamond theft in South Africa.An American woman is getting involved in a diamond theft in South Africa.An American woman is getting involved in a diamond theft in South Africa.

  • Director
    • Alan Grint
  • Writers
    • Agatha Christie
    • Carla Jean Wagner
  • Stars
    • Rue McClanahan
    • Tony Randall
    • Edward Woodward
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    939
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alan Grint
    • Writers
      • Agatha Christie
      • Carla Jean Wagner
    • Stars
      • Rue McClanahan
      • Tony Randall
      • Edward Woodward
    • 30User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Rue McClanahan
    Rue McClanahan
    • Suzy Blair
    Tony Randall
    Tony Randall
    • Rev. Edward Chichester
    Edward Woodward
    Edward Woodward
    • Sir Eustace Pedler
    Stephanie Zimbalist
    Stephanie Zimbalist
    • Anne Beddingfeld
    Ken Howard
    Ken Howard
    • Gordon Race
    Nickolas Grace
    Nickolas Grace
    • Guy Underhill
    Simon Dutton
    Simon Dutton
    • Harry Lucas
    María Casal
    María Casal
    • Anita
    • (as Maria Casal)
    Federico Luciano
    • Leo Carton
    Rose McVeigh
    Rose McVeigh
    • Valerie
    Jorge Bosso
    Jorge Bosso
    • Businessman
    José Canalejas
    José Canalejas
    • Arab #1
    • (as Jose A. Canalejas)
    Robert Case
    • Ship's Captain
    Tibi Costa
    • Arab #2
    • (as Tiby Costa)
    James Duggan
    James Duggan
    • Steward
    Gabriel Edu
    • Shop Clerk
    Bill Holden
    • John Eardsley
    Charly Mahdy
    • Taxi driver #1
    • Director
      • Alan Grint
    • Writers
      • Agatha Christie
      • Carla Jean Wagner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    5.7939
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    Featured reviews

    6Voyeur_Femme

    Throwback 70s Mystery- yes, Agatha Christie - no

    This is definitely nostalgic and reminiscent of those great unreal late 70s mystery-dramas, but this is IN NO WAY related to the Christie's book. The book is set in the early 1920s and deals with an orphan who spends her last few dollars to travel by ship to South Africa after witnessing an accident in the tube station and finding a scrap of paper (referencing the ship) on his body. This '89 version could have held its own as a made for TV piece and need not try to take credit as any sort of adaptation of the novel - because it definitely isn't. There are some great moments in this one though - the crossdresser is great but Zimbalist is FAR too precocious and the plot is ridiculous (it's filled with unreal 70s style nonsense - getting on the wrong plane by accident and ending up in Egypt for one, among others.) But all in all, it's cute if you like that early 80s made-for-TV mystery. And, incidentally, UK TV plays it periodically so even if you didn't tape it off American TV in 1989, you could still catch it from time to time in England.
    dac87

    Corny, but enjoyable!

    Being a fan of Agatha Christie, I searched for this rare TV movie for quite some time. All of the VHS copies I found were in PAL and as I live in America, I was unable to view them. When I located a DVD copy of this film I pounced on it and wasn't horribly disappointed. Anne Beddingford has purposely put herself on the wrong plane and ends up in Cairo. She encounters an accident when a man runs in front of a taxi to get away from someone. All that she has as a clue now is a small bit of paper and a glimpse of the "man in the brown suit" who has been linked to a beautiful night club singer's murder. The plot thickens and Anne finds herself in a sea of suspects and, later, on the killer's hit list. While the plot line has been changed quite a bit, this film still has the undeniable touch of Christie to it. Many of the characters are a bit phony (the heroine Anne) and others were almost unbearably BAD (Tony Randolff), but they are overshadowed by Rue McClannahan, whom I thought stole the show. The plot is far more exciting than other Christie books. There are a couple killings, a couple attempted killings, a love story, and a kidnapping sequence. I enjoyed the film, it had a campy edge to it which made it kinda fun.
    7jhaggardjr

    Fun Agatha Christie murder mystery

    "The Man in the Brown Suit", a made-for-TV movie adapted from an Agatha Christie novel, is lightweight entertainment. While its not quite in the same league as the great 1978 theatrical release "Death on the Nile" or even 1974's "Murder on the Orient Express", it's still an interesting murder mystery. Stephanie Zimbalist stars as a woman looking for adventure in Egypt. She stumbles across an accident that is linked to a recent murder. She follows a clue onto a cruise ship that features the usual assortment of odd, colorful characters. Among the passengers she meets: Edward Woodward as a man of English royalty; Rue McClanahan as a southern belle (who at times seems to be playing her "Golden Girls" character Blanche); Tony Randall as a reverend with a awkward speaking voice; and Ken Howard as a CIA operative who's tracking the mystery himself. She also meets the mystery man of the title. Most of the performances are good except for Randall who's miscast badly (especially when he turns up in a couple of different roles that I won't go into), and the film for the most part is entertaining. Worth a look if you can find it on TV.

    *** (out of four)
    silvia-23

    how heart can make things different

    Knowing perfectly this is not and extraordinary movie, I have liked it anyway.

    I find it especially light even sweet...I have been loving the book very much which is far better than the movie but I think every woman will like the romantic female (zimbalist) leading the film, though seeing the movie imagination has to work a little bit further.
    8istara

    Fun, based on a wonderful Agatha Christie novel

    This film is fun, but of course does not live up to the original novel. (It's been Americanised for one thing). That said, the cast is strong, and the plot has plenty of intrigue.

    But read the book - it's one of Agatha's best adventure novels (as opposed to Country- House-Body-in-the-Library novels) and the mystery is pretty good too.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      All entries contain spoilers
    • Connections
      Version of Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie: L'Homme au complet marron (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      The Man I Love
      (uncredited)

      Music by George Gershwin

      Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 4, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mord auf hoher See
    • Filming locations
      • Spain
    • Production companies
      • Alan Shayne Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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