Ustinov, as Poirot, is invited quite casually to a party at a mansion in the country by mystery writer, Jean Stapleton. Nobody ever invites me to a party at a country estate and I've begun to resent it. I'm more handsome than Hercule Poirot, and more charming and witty too, especially when drunk. If you doubt, ask my psychiatrist or any of my ex wives.
Peter Ustinov, sadly, looks older and perhaps a bit less vigorous than in his big-screen portrayals like "Death on the Nile" although he was only in his mid-60s. He was an enormously talented man who wrote plays, directed operas, and was chancellor of Durham University from 1992 on. He devoted much of his later years to UNICEF, and not just on ceremonial occasions.
Jean Stapleton still looks and sounds like Archie Bunker's wife, but it's largely a comic part and she fits the role. Jonathan Cecil is Captain Hastings. I'm afraid he has the face of one of the seven dwarfs -- I forget which one. Maybe Dopey, if Dopey were caught and stretched while in the embrace of a celestial black hole. It lacks all dignity. You'll see what I mean.
There is the usual assembly of guests at the party -- one victim and many suspects. The beautiful but brainless bride of the host is Nicolette Sheridan, who is I gather famous for some reason or other. At any rate, nobody in the movie seems to like her very much. Hubby is the jealous and arrogant Sir George Stubbs, played by Tim Piggot-Smith, whose narrative voice has added euphonious elaborations to several documentary films.
One of the sneakier characters in the tale is Jeff Yager as Eddie South, slick, with disgustingly even features,a big yacht, medallions, and a Hollywood hair style with a pompadour up front. It was a disappointment when he didn't turn out to be the killer.
Well, actually, there was no single murderer but rather two people who had cooked up an elaborate plot, and there are several red herrings strewn across the path to the solution. Nice photography, though, and scenic location shooting.
Peter Ustinov, sadly, looks older and perhaps a bit less vigorous than in his big-screen portrayals like "Death on the Nile" although he was only in his mid-60s. He was an enormously talented man who wrote plays, directed operas, and was chancellor of Durham University from 1992 on. He devoted much of his later years to UNICEF, and not just on ceremonial occasions.
Jean Stapleton still looks and sounds like Archie Bunker's wife, but it's largely a comic part and she fits the role. Jonathan Cecil is Captain Hastings. I'm afraid he has the face of one of the seven dwarfs -- I forget which one. Maybe Dopey, if Dopey were caught and stretched while in the embrace of a celestial black hole. It lacks all dignity. You'll see what I mean.
There is the usual assembly of guests at the party -- one victim and many suspects. The beautiful but brainless bride of the host is Nicolette Sheridan, who is I gather famous for some reason or other. At any rate, nobody in the movie seems to like her very much. Hubby is the jealous and arrogant Sir George Stubbs, played by Tim Piggot-Smith, whose narrative voice has added euphonious elaborations to several documentary films.
One of the sneakier characters in the tale is Jeff Yager as Eddie South, slick, with disgustingly even features,a big yacht, medallions, and a Hollywood hair style with a pompadour up front. It was a disappointment when he didn't turn out to be the killer.
Well, actually, there was no single murderer but rather two people who had cooked up an elaborate plot, and there are several red herrings strewn across the path to the solution. Nice photography, though, and scenic location shooting.