Evil Under the Sun (1982)

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writer:

Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)
(more)

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 | Whodunit

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
Richard Vernon	...	Mr. Flewitt
Robert Dorning	...	Concierge
Dimitri Andreas	...	Gino

Directed by
Guy Hamilton

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(novel) uncredited
Anthony Shaffer		(screenplay)
Barry Sandler		uncredited

Produced by
John Brabourne	....	producer
Richard B. Goodwin	....	producer (as Richard Goodwin)
Michael John Knatchbull	....	associate producer (as Michael-John Knatchbull)

Cinematography by
Christopher Challis

Film Editing by
Richard Marden

Production Design by
Elliot Scott

Art Direction by
Alan Cassie

Set Decoration by
Peter Howitt

Costume Design by
Anthony Powell

Makeup Department
Jill Carpenter	....	makeup artist
Ramon Gow	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jim Brennan	....	production manager
Jesús García Gárgoles	....	unit production manager: Spain (as Jesus Gargoles)
Barrie Melrose	....	production supervisor
Denise O'Dell	....	unit production manager: Spain

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Derek Cracknell	....	first assistant director

Art Department
John Paterson	....	construction manager

Sound Department
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
John Richards	....	sound recordist
Bill Rowe	....	sound recordist
Nicholas Stevenson	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Robin Browne	....	camera operator: second unit
John Palmer	....	camera operator
Bob Penn	....	still photographer
John Clarke	....	best boy (uncredited)
Nobby Cross	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rosemary Burrows	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joanna Johnston	....	assistant to costume designer
Barbara Matera	....	costume maker
Germinal Rangel	....	costume maker

Editorial Department
Roy Birchley	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John Dalby	....	music arranger: additional arrangements
John Lanchbery	....	conductor
John Lanchbery	....	music arranger

Other crew
Barbara Allen	....	production assistant
Gordon Arnell	....	publicist
Hugh Casson	....	title sketches
Robert Ellis	....	title designer
Brian Harris	....	supervising accountant
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Woody Shelp	....	hat maker
Freddie Fox	....	hat maker (uncredited)

Production Companies

• EMI Films
• GW Films
• Mersham Productions Ltd.
• Titan Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures
• Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia-EMI-Warner (1982) (UK) (theatrical)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1982) (Australia) (theatrical)
• EMI Film Distributors Overseas Limited
• Lumiere Home Video
• Lumière Home Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia
• Warner Home Video

Other Companies

• Berman's and Nathan's  costumes
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

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:

Last cinema film of Colin Blakely.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The first corpse (found in the moor at the beginning of the film) can clearly be seen breathing.

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

A delightful romp with wonderful characters

Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot is at his best in this movie that is worth the time for the soundtrack of Cole Porter classics or the magnificent cinematography alone. But the performances by Maggie Smith, Roddy McDowall, James Mason and others shouldn't be overlooked either. This is not what you'd call a classic film by any stretch of the imagination, but if you love a feast for the eyes and ears and enjoy quirky characters and Agatha Christie plots don't miss this one. If you've seen it before, see it again!!