} Crítica Retrô: A morte no Nilo / Death on the Nile (1978)

Tradutor / Translator / Traductor / Übersetzer / Traduttore / Traducteur / 翻訳者 / переводчик

Friday, September 16, 2016

A morte no Nilo / Death on the Nile (1978)



Ler Agatha Christie é quase uma tradição familiar. Minha avó gosta muito dela, e minha mãe tem uma respeitável coleção (foto acima). E é natural que eu tenha herdado estes livros. Tenho predileção pelas histórias que foram adaptadas para o cinema, e foi uma surpresa quando encontrei o livro “A Morte no Nilo” ainda lacrado, sem ser lido desde sua publicação, em 1984 – e tendo na capa o elenco do filme de 1978, com um brilhante elenco. Coube a mim ser a primeira a ler o livro.

Reading Agatha Christie is kind of a familiar tradition. My grandma likes her a lot, and my mother owns a respectable collection (picture above). And it is natural that I inherited those books. I usually prefer the stories that were adapted to the screen, and I had a surprise when I found “Death in the Nile” still with the plastic cover on: nobody read the book since it was published and bought in 1984. Moreover, there was on the cover a picture of the all-star cast of the 1978 adaptation. I knew I had to be the first to read it.

#AgathaChristieBookshelf
 
É a história do assassinato de uma moça muito rica, Linnet Ridgeway (Luise Chiles), em sua lua de mel, a bordo de um navio no Egito. Todos os passageiros são suspeitos, seja por causa do dinheiro de Linnet, ou pelo fato de ela ter se casado com o ex-noivo da melhor amiga, Jacqueline de Bellefort (Mia Farrow). Mas não há problema: a bordo está também o detetive belga Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov), que não deixará o caso sem solução.

It is the story of the murder of a very rich girl, Linnet Ridgeway (Luise Chiles), in her honeymoon, aboard a ship in Egypt. All the passengers are suspects, considering Linnet’s fortune or the fact that she had just married the former fiancée of her best friend, Jacqueline de Bellefort (Mia Farrow). But there are no troubles: on the ship we also have the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov), and he won’t leave the case without a solution.
Sempre haverá decepção quanto a adaptações de livros de mistério para o cinema. Quando você já teve contato com a obra, já irá consumir o filme sabendo o final – salvo os raros casos em que a história é modificada. A comparação é inevitável, mas felizmente temos pontos positivos tanto no livro quanto no filme em questão.

There will always be disappointment when mystery books are adapted to the screen. When you had already read the book, you’ll see the film knowing “who did it” – not considering the rare cases in which the storyline is changed. We can’t avoid the comparison, but fortunately we have positive points for book and movie here.
Agatha Christie sempre cria uma galeria memorável de personagens, e nem todos têm o merecido destaque em pouco mais de duas horas de filme. E alguns personagens ainda foram cortados, como o patinho feio Cornelia Robson, o arqueólogo Richetti, a senhora Allerton e seu filho Tim. O mesmo acontece em outro filme com grande elenco adaptado de um romance de Christie, “Assassinato no Expresso do Oriente”, feito em 1974.

Agath Christie always creates a memorable gallery of characters, and not all of them have the screen time they deserve in the 135-minute film. And some characters were cut during the book to film transition, including ugly duckling Cornelia Robson, Signor Richetti the archaeologist, Mrs Allerton and her son Tim. The same thing happens in another all-star adaptation of a Christie novel, “Murder on the Orient Express”, made in 1974.
É impagável a “dança conceitual” entre a excêntrica e bêbada senhora Salome Otterbourne (Angela Lansbury) e o Colonel Race (David Niven). Ustinov, em sua primeira de seis vezes como Poirot, é excelente. Suas cenas com David Niven nos dão vontade de ver mais da dupla Poirot e Colonel Race.

We have a priceless dance with the eccentric and drunk Mrs Salome Otterbourne (Angela Lansbury) and Colonel Race (David Niven) Ustinov, in his first of six times as Poirot, is excellent. His scenes with David Niven make us wish to see more of the Poirot – Colonel Race partnership.
#SquadGoals
O papel do guia do navio Karnak (interpretado por I.S. Johare) é ingrato e desconfortável. Ele é construído em cima de preconceitos: o guia usa um turbante, tenta ser agradável a qualquer custo e tem um sotaque engraçado.

The role of the guide of the ship Karnak (played by I.S. Johare) is uncomfortable to be seen. He is built on prejudices and stereotypes: the guide wears a thick turban, tries to please all the passengers and has a laugh-inducing English accent.

É muito interessante como são mostrados os motivos que cada passageiro tinha para matar Linnet: Poirot narra a “reconstituição hipotética” e a cena se passa na tela, o que nos dá a oportunidade de ter diversos pontos de vista e probabilidades. Mas talvez já houvesse indícios muito fortes desde o início que apontavam para o culpado...

I found especially interesting the scenes with the “hypothetical reconstruction” of the crime: Poirot narrates all the reasons each passenger had to kill Linnet, and the scene appears on the screen, giving us the chance to see several points of view, different perspectives and analyze the odds. But maybe there were, in the very beginning of the film, things pointing out to the guilty person…
SPOILERS!!!
Jacqueline parece desequilibrada desde o começo no filme. Há até uma metáfora (que eu enxerguei, pelo menos) quando ela e Simon se beijam num carro em movimento, o carro sai da estrada, mas volta logo depois. Eles se desencontrarão na vida, mas voltarão a se juntar logo depois – e se juntam para matar.

Jacqueline looks disturbed since the beginning of the movie. There is even a metaphor (at least, I interpreted the scene this way): when Jacqueline and Simon kiss in a moving car, the car leaves the road and enters the field, but re-enters the road a few seconds later. They will be separated briefly in life, but they will get together again later – and they’ll get together to kill.
FIM DOS SPOILERS
END OF SPOILERS
A fotografia do filme é maravilhosa, e isso só é possível porque ele foi de fato gravado no Egito. Claro que isso significou desconforto para os atores, que enfrentavam dias de mais de 40 graus Celsius. Bette Davis, que tem um papel relativamente pequeno, reclamou de ter de ir ao local de filmagem, dizendo que “antigamente eles construíam o Nilo no estúdio”!

The cinematography is wonderful, thanks to the film really being shot on location in Egypt. Of course it meant discomfort to the cast, who faced temperatures higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Bette Davis, who has a relatively small role, complained about going to shoot on location, saying that “In the older days, they’d have built the Nile for you”!
Além das belas paisagens, os cenários e figurinos são deslumbrantes, e podem até desviar a atenção da ação principal – o mesmo acontece em “Assassinato num Dia de Sol” (1982), a empreitada seguinte de Ustinov como Poirot.

Besides the breathtaking Egyptian nature, the sets and costumes are gorgeous, and they can even take your focus off from the main action – the same happens with “Evil Under the Sun” (1982), the following work of Ustinov as Poirot.
“A Morte no Nilo” é bonito e astuto, em especial para quem ainda não conhece a obra. Veja o filme, sim, e depois faça um favor a si mesmo e corra atrás do livro. E depois, se tiver coragem, vá fazer uma viagem de barco pelo Nilo.

“Death on the Nile” is visually beautiful and very clever, in special to the ones who haven’t read the book. Watch the movie, and then do yourself a favor and go read the book. And, if you still have courage, it’s time to travel the Nile on a boat!

This is my contribution to the Agatha Christie Blogathon, hosted by Christina and Domi at Christina Wehner and Little Bits of Classics.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be lovely to take a trip on the Nile! Though that's a great quote from Bette Davis about building the Nile for her. :)

I've read the book, but not seen this movie, but I'm definitely going to have to. What a stunning cast! Isn't it lovely to read an unread book for the first time? New books always feel so nice and fresh.

Thanks so much for participating and highlighting this movie! Can't wait to see it! :)

Unknown said...

I also thank you for participating, Le, your review made me think of what Agatha Christie would have thought of this adaptation. I know she was a harsh critic of all the movies based on her books and I think it's a shame they waited until after her death with this one or with Murder on the Orient Express (I've seen that, but not this). She might have prefered them more than the previous movies. Even so, my favourite Poirot has always been Mr. Suchet, he just can't get him wrong :)
Domi

Caftan Woman said...

I think this film is the closest I will ever get to sailing on the exotic Nile. If I were to do so, I would prefer it with all the glamour associated with this Agatha Christie story.

I loved your personal and thorough review of this rewarding story in both novel and film. Well done!

Anonymous said...

Hey, Le
Gosh, this is my favorite Poirot case, why have I not seen this film? Your descriptions are quite lovely, and I agree wholeheartedly, mysteries tend to lose their excitement when we know who the murderer is. However, I am looking forward to seeing this film, thanks for the recommendation.

If you are a Poirot fan or a mystery fan I highly recommend the comedy "Murder By Death." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXn8CsQU1-U

Ciao for now, Summer!

FictionFan said...

Great review! This is my favourite of all the Poirot books, and the film is wonderful. I agree the gorgeous clothes and locations are almost too good - lovely to watch. And Mia Farrow'd perfomance as Jacqui is brilliant - so vulnerable. No wonder Poirot develops a soft spot for her, eh? Really must re-watch the film and re-read the book - thanks for the reminder! :)

The Metzinger Sisters said...

I really enjoyed this post! I can just imagine Bette saying that Old Hollywood would have built the Nile for her. How true! Thanks for including the cover artwork sketch too, I love looking at poster sketches. Death on the Nile is one of my favorite of the Hercule Poirot films. Everyone seems to tout David Suchet as being the ideal Hercule but I love Peter Ustinov the best. Even when I read Agatha Christie's stories I give Hercule a Peter Ustinov accent.

Realweegiemidget Reviews said...

I loved your take on this especially your spoiler comment which is so true... This film version is the best take on this Agatha Christie novel, and it's score and cast is unbeatable. I would definitely recommend Agatha Christie's Endless Night from 1972, even if you know the book...

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