Mar 13, 20237 min read

Death on the Nile

I watched Death on the Nile for the the first time in January, and it reminded me of The Great Gatsby with its themes of eccentricity and tragic love triangles accompanied with chic flapper girl fashion and dapper men in suits. I have come across three of these films: the 1978 John Guillerman film, the 2004 Poirot episode, and lastly the 2022 Kenneth Branagh version which I have not seen yet starring…yes, Armie Hammer. I have not read the novel yet, so I am not sure which of these versions most accurately depicts Agatha Christie’s work, but the 1978 film and Poirot episode were very similar. The only differences were lied in some of the dynamics of the relationships of some of characters.

1978 John Guillerman film

The film begins with heiresses Jackie de Bellefort greeting her friend Linnet Ridgeway at her enormous estate in England with the news of her new beau, Simon Doyle, whom Jackie wants Linnet to employ. As soon as Linnet lays eyes on Simon, it appears the two are attracted to one another. The next scene cuts to the news of their marriage, and their lavish honeymoon that will take place in Egypt. What is shocking is Jackie and Simon were making plans of going to Egypt together before she introduced him to her friend. I will say the casting of this film fits perfectly with the plot. Linnet in my opinion is absolutely gorgeous. I would not advise anyone to introduce their man to this beautiful lady let alone have them work for her. Am I jealous much? Anyway, as the news unfolds of the newlyweds’ lavish holiday, Linnet’s family’s attorney, Andrew Pennington, with his colleague Sterndale Rockford discuss how this marriage is a crisis, since Simon is not wealthy. Wanting to break it off, as her trustee, he sets off to Egypt himself.

Next, we see the other characters being introduced chronologically. We first meet Mrs. Van Schuyler and her androgynous nurse/assistant Bowers, who gives her client a really hard time with her cynical nature. Against Bowers’ dissent, Mrs. Van Schuyler wants to book a trip to Egypt. The next scene shows Linnet and Simon riding off into the dessert sun atop horses and climb atop a pyramid, where Jackie ruins their moment by surprising them with her unwelcome appearance. After they all exchange expletives and Linnet accuses her of following them everywhere, Jackie bids them an unconvincing goodbye and goes away. As Linnet and Simon ride off from the ruins, Hercule Poirot is shown observing them while smoking a cigar and sitting on a bench.

Following these turns of events, we see a soirée in a lavish hotel taking place in Egypt and the rest of the characters are shown. We see a group of people including Bowers and her employer watching Linnet and Simon dance. Poirot makes his appearance and immediately recognizes one of the men as his former colleagues, Colonel Johnny Race, whom he greets and sits with. Both men claim they are on holiday and will aboard the steamboat to a new destination on the Nile. Then another man walks in who introduces himself as Doctor Ludwig Bessner to an unimpressed young man, Jim Ferguson, who we learn quickly is a communist. He claims he is there to “observe the decline of the capitalist system”. Dr. Bessner is quick to point out Linnet Ridgeway to Jim, since she comes from a very wealthy family, and Jim refers to her as a “parasite”.

In comes Pennington as Linnet and Simon’s dance comes to an end, pretending to conveniently run into the couple and acts surprised to see them. She hugs him and introduces “Uncle Andrew” to Simon. Then we are shown a hysterical (or very drunk) woman approach Poirot with her quiet daughter Rosalie letting him know how happy she is to meet him. As many others have done so in the past, she refers to him as French, which he shoots down reminding her he is Belgian. But she actually said “Hercules Porridge, the French sleuth.” I am sure he has never heard that before. Rosalie introduces her mother as Salome Otterbourne, the novelist. This dramatic encounter leads to Poiriot dancing the waltz with Rosalie and Salome dancing with Colonel Race alongside Linnet and Simon. As if Salome’s dancing was not chaotic enough, in walks Jackie to stir the pot. Linnet storms off and Simon follows after yelling at his ex.

In the next scene, Jackie watches from a balcony in the morning as Linnet is running towards Poirot, who is standing by the Nile, leaving anyone to assume she is inquiring about his services. Then, while perusing a local shop, Jackie confronts Poirot on what Linnet said. He adamantly denies wanting to deal with the hostile battle between the two women, but then Jackie reveals that she has thoughts on wishing she could murder Linnet, and reveals a small handgun in her purse. Poirot gives her a firm warning and advises her to move on, saying time heals everything.

Later, everyone but Jackie is shown to board the Kanak steamboat, and a sense of normalcy and adventure is restored. But each of the passengers is revealed to hold a grudge against the Ridgeway family as they confront Linnet on the boat, beginning with Mrs. Van Schuyler, who is unimpressed by they unethical way Linnet’s pearls are sourced. Bowers then claims one of Linnet’s family members ruined her family. As they make their way back to their cabin, Salome appears and Linnet confronts her about a book she wrote that clearly she was not amused by, citing Salome calling her a “nymphomanaical baboon”. Linnet tells Salome she only wants to communicate through their lawyers, before throwing her book in the Nile.

In the evening during cocktail hour, Pennington attempts to get Linnet to sign off on some legal documents, but she tries to refuse because her father taught her to read everything before she signs. Pennington said he already read everything and continues to try to convince her. But Colonel Race, an attorney, interferes and praises Linnet for her values. Pennington leaves defeated. Later, Poirot observes Linnet arguing with her maid, going back on her promise of letting her go with a dowry so she could meet her lover. Poirot tells Colonel Race that she has made many enemies, and Colonel Race reveals he is working with her attorneys to investigate Simon Doyle.

The next day, the group takes a day trip to the pyramids. The trip begins pleasant, with everyone riding animals like camels. Certain characters are seen to become closer, like Rosalie and Jim. Rosalie makes a rather peculiar comment regarding death, and Pennington to Poirot. Then as everyone goes about sightseeing the pyramids by themselves, an ominous, quiet presence seems to linger in the air and everything is shown to be on edge. Simon and Linnet are standing under a ruin, all of a sudden a huge piece of debris nearly hits them. Simon cries that it must be Jackie, and Linnet admits she feels like someone wants her dead. One by one the others run to the couple. Poirot finds the timing of the ancient ruin collapsing very suspicious. Dr. Bessner advises Jackie to rest on the boat, and she agrees to do so for a couple hours so she can see the Temple of Abu Simbel. Jackie tells Simon he scares her, to which he replies, “He’s harmless.”

“Do you think he’ll sing a note for me?” “Why not, you’re divine.” When the couple arrive at the Temple of Abu Simbel, a huge gust of wind engulfs them and Jackie emerges from a crevice, manically welcoming them to the site as if she is a tourist guide. “Get away from me!” “Darling, don’t let her spoil everything!” A proud villain, Jackie stands powerfully and smirks down on them. They run away, frightened. Poirot finds Jackie on the edge of the steamboat at night, staring at the waves beneath her as if she is suicidal. She says “I cannot stay away.” He confronts her by saying “Forgive me but you’re embarking on a hazardous journey in troubled waters to face who knows what currents of misfortune.”

Dr. vs. Linnet- both wish each other’s funeral

Sleepy Poirot walks a drunk Salome to her room

Poirot sees Jackie dressed up before he goes in his own cabin

Jackie intrudes on Colonel Race, Pennington, Simon and Linnet playing smoking, drinking and playing cards, and Rosalie who is sitting by herself drinking in the observation saloon. Jackie purposefully acts disruptive and makes herself a drink. Everyone retires to bed except for Simon, Rosalie and Jackie. Rosalie tries to excuse herself but Jackie insists she stay. Simon yells at Jackie and Jackie taunts him with "Simon says." Jackie shoots Simon in the leg, and Rosalie finds Jim entering through the door as she leaves to seek help. He hoists Simon onto a sofa and says he will get Dr. Bessner for help. Simon tells Jim to have Bowers watch over Jackie all night since she is a nurse. Dr. Bessner and Jim bring Simon to his room. Jim enters the room and says the gun is not there.

The next morning as the boat is docked by land, a shrill scream is emitted by Louise, who runs away from what she just saw after entering into a room. What she found was Linnet Doyle’s dead body in bed with a bullet in her right temple. Next we see Poirot at the scene of the crime with Dr. Bessner and Colonel Race. The letter J appears to be written on the wall beside the bed in blood, as if to implicate Jackie as the perpetrator, and one of Linnet’s fingers is also covered in blood. Dr. Bessner believes this to be ludicrous, claiming that Linnet would have died instantly. Poirot declares the act to be childishly dramatic. He starts to go over scenarios of anyone who could be guilty. Poirot starts to interrogate all of the passengers with Colonel Race assisting him. They then enter Simon’s room and let him know Jackie has been ruled out- to his relief- before Louise walks in to check on Simon. Poirot confronts Louise and announces he noticed Linnet’s pearls are missing from her dressing table.

Poirot and the Colonel make it a mission to find the missing gun and pearls. They decide to take a break to freshen up. Poirot finds a poisonous snake in his bathroom, and signals Race to help him by tapping rhythmically on the wall. They both believe the killer intentionally put the snake there to disrupt the investigation. As the men were speaking with Mrs. Van Schuyler, the boat manager explains that the gun has been recovered from the water.

The have a drink with Salome at the bar

They recover a revolver in Pennington’s room

They arrange a meeting for Jackie and Simon

The body of Louise holding money is discovered by an employee as the guests finish dinner

Salome is shot while recounting who she knows killed the maid

Poirot assembles all the guests in a room and explains who the killers are: Jackie and Simon plotting together so have Linnet together so they could live happily ever after on her inherited money.