Peter Ustinov first appeared as famed detective Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile (1978) and returned as the titular character, once again leading an all-star cast in 1982’s Evil Under the Sun that includes Colin Blakely, Jane Birkin, Maggie Smith, Roddy McDowall, Sylvia Miles, James Mason, and Diana Rigg.
While looking into an insurance matter, Poirot travels to an isolated hotel on an island in the Adriatic Sea. The focus of his inquiry is a diamond the company was supposed to insure, until it was revealed to be fake. Poirot soon learns that it was purchased by millionaire Sir Horace Blatt (Blakely) for famous stage star and noted gold digger, Arlena Stuart Marshall (Rigg) who is on the Island for her honeymoon. Unfortunately for her, Arlena has made lots of enemies through the years, so when she’s found dead, the island is full of potential suspects.
These include Arlena’s new husband Kenneth Marshall (Denis Quilley) and his spiteful pre-teen daughter Linda (Emily Hone); her current paramour Patrick Redfern (Nicholas Clay) and his sullen wallflower of a wife, Christine (Birkin); hotel owner Daphne Castle (Maggie Smith), who was Arlena’s rival early in her career; Arlena’s would be biographer Rex Brewster (McDowall), who’s written a manuscript she would never approve for publication; theater producer Odell Gardener (Mason) and his wife Myra (Miles) who’s finances were ruined when Arlena left their hit play mid-run.
While the setup isn’t all that different from any Agatha Christie novel, the screenplay by Anthony Shaffer (with uncredited rewrites by Mirror Crack’d writer Barry Sandler) offers a series of witty putdowns to a story that may otherwise feel strictly formulaic. When it comes, the resolution will not be much of surprise, but this trip to a sunny island will be fun for mystery fans.
Kino Lorber has provided a brand-new master from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. Presented in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the results are fantastic. Filmed largely on location in Majorca, Spain, the cinematography by Christoper Challis is stunning. Colors are vivid and bright throughout. flesh tones look natural, likely given an assist by the HDR/Dolby Vision which usually enhances the overall image quality, The image is sharp with a light grain that gives things a filmic quality. There are no scratches or other anomalies.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono sound mix suits the film well. The Cole Porter music has been arranged well, offering nice fidelity. Environmental sounds are clean. Dialogue is clean, clear, and concise throughout.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available:
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
- The Making of Evil Under the Sun
- Radio Spots
- Theatrical Trailer