
Evil Under the Sun is a Poirot mystery (Ustinov is Poirot), and this is one of my favorite movies. It's a cozy mystery set in the 1930's in an exotic locale, over-the-top characters and even over-the-top-er costumes. (Wait for the very end for Jane Birkin's!) Costumes were by Anthony Powell.


It has some fantastic lines:
-
Arlena Stuart (Diana Rigg's character) to her step-daughter: "Do stop standing there like a cough drop and say good morning to Monsieur Poirot!"
Arlena Stuart about her taxi ride: "This may come as a nasty surprise to you but shock absorbers have been standardized equipment on motorized vehicles for thirty years!"
- Daphne Castle: "How about a cocktail, Mr. Poirot? White lady, Sidecar, Mainbrace or Between the sheets?"
Poirot: "Thank you, but if I could have a crème de cassis? Or a sirop de banane? Banana syrup?"
Arlena Stuart arriving for dinner: "Oh dear! I'm the last to arrive!"
Daphne Castle (Maggie Smith): "Have a sausage. You must be starving having to wait all that time in your room."
Daphne Castle: "Arlena and I were in the chorus of a show together, not that I could ever compete. Even in those days, she could always throw her legs up in the air higher than any of us. And wider."
Myra Gardner (Sylvia Myles) to her husband (James Mason): "If you were a man I would divorce you!"
Poirot's swimming scene is also not to be missed. The soundtrack is also very good (Cole Porter arrangements) and the opening titles are charming (and give the murderer away).
There's a funny scene of Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith having a catfight while singing "You're the Top" here.
It's a great movie, and if you haven't seen it, you should!
(Photos from Cineplex, Audio Boo, The Guardian and Movie Actors.)







