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:

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

Goofs:

Continuity: As the Gardeners sit on the terrace watching Arlena's arrival, Odell calls Myra "Myrna."

Quotes:

Poirot: The "Arlena Stewarts" of this world do not count; their domination is of the moment. Really to count, a woman must have either goodness or brains.
Christine Redfern: You can't actually believe that men care for either of those things, can you?
Poirot: Oh yes I do, madam.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

You're the Top

Agatha's novel comes to brilliant life.

In a time when people consider the likes of Vin Diesel, Jack Black, and various three name actors as underated actors, people should realize what a brilliant talent Sir Peter Ustinov is. Ustinov, a two-time Academy Award winner, has done it all, whether it would be Kubrick films, children's programs, teleplays, feature films: you name it, he's done it. He also plays the definitive Hercule Poirot, the Agatha Christie creation.

Evil Under The Sun is done almost like a play, but a good play. Poirot is vacationing at a posh resort as the fee for helping a millionaire find out who stole his expensive diamond. Poirot meets up with plenty of the usual types that would be at these places in the mid-30's, including an ex-actress named Arlena Marshall (Diana Rigg) who is pretty much hated by everyone. As in all cases with murder mysteries, Mrs. Marshall is murdered, and Poirot uses his abilities to solve the crime.

This movie was great. It drew me in because Ustinov and the all-star cast work brilliantly together to make the film a joy. The acting and the story are superb. Also, despite the fact that it's an 80's movie, you won't see any of the trappings of that decade. Hey, any film with an English-speaking Jane Birkin is a must watch for me. I don't know if it's available on DVD, but I'm sure A&E or some other similar channel will air it. Recommended.