Evil Under The Sun (1982)

At an exclusive coastal resort, a glamorous stage star (Diana Rigg) vacations with her new husband (Denis Quilley) and stepdaughter (Emily Hone). But after she’s found murdered, it seems all the guests not only all had motives but they have air tight alibis! Guy Hamilton directs this, the third Agatha Christie/Poirot novel to reach the screen after the success of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS and DEATH ON THE NILE, and the law of diminishing returns applies. Oh, it’s a faithful adaptation of the Christie mystery and the sunny cliffs of Majorca in Spain never looked so enticing but it lacks the glamour, wit and style of the first two films. Peter Ustinov once again proves an estimable Poirot and the suspects also include Maggie Smith, James Mason, Roddy McDowall, Sylvia Miles, Jane Birkin, Colin Blakely and Nicholas Clay (Lancelot in EXCALIBUR). John Lanchbery adapted Cole Porter’s songbook into an underscore and it works marvelously.