TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

Rijndri Load of rubbish!!

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

DeuceWild_77 Disappointing third theatrical released adaptation from Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, featuring Peter Ustinov as the Belgian detective, this time produced by Cannon Group, the well-known second class company headed by the Israelite cousins, Menahen Golan & Yoram Globus, which raised to fame during the 80's producing action B-movies such as the "Death Wish" sequels starring Charles Bronson or the "Missing in Action" franchise starring Chuck Norris. "Appointment with Death" was one of the several high profiled productions when Cannon was trying to establish itself as a rather serious company to directly compete with Hollywood, but even if more money was invested on it, it still looks cheap, trite and unpolished. English film director, Michael Winner was one of the "directors-for- hire" that Cannon used a lot during its peak, responsible for the relative successes of "Death Wish II & III", so he was hired to helm this kind of all-star production (succeeding to the likes of Sidney Lumet, John Guillermin & Guy Hamilton, who directed the early Poirot's adaptations to the big screen, before Cannon bought the rights), but unfortunately, this task was way ahead of him. His direction is shapeless and lacklustre, suiting more a "made-for-TV" film than a theatrical released feature, visually it looks bland: the camera-work and the staging of most of its scenes were poorly executed (an awfully out of place opening montage, which suited more the beginning of a comedy flick, such as Chevy Chase's "Vacation" films; pointless close-ups at all the wrong moments; a laughable staged running chase and so on...) and it's a shame because the movie benefited of being filmed on really beautiful and exotic locations. The editing is atrociously bad, it looks like the movie was in a hurry to tell its story in just a hour and a half, and it's filled of amateurish cuts and quick edits that not only gave it an odd pace, but also some plot resolutions doesn't make sense at all (probably, some key scenes were left in the cutting room floor). The screenplay, the last one penned by the English playwright & screenwriter, Anthony Shaffer, which came from co-writing the three previous Poirot ventures on-screen: "Murder on the Orient Express" ('74); "Death on the Nile" ('78) & "Evil Under the Sun" ('82), had potential, but needed a better production and director to match the quality of the earlier films. The cast, even if it wasn't on the same all-star caliber, it's still pretty impressive for a Cannon film: Peter Ustinov, which returned to playing the character for the sixth time (if you count the three TV movies made between "Evil Under the Sun" and this one) looks a bit jaded, but despite that, Sir Peter never delivered a bad performance; Lauren Bacall almost reprises her role in "Murder on the Orient Express" as the loudmouthed & inconvenient, Lady Westholme; Piper Laurie acted here in a 'over-the-top' creepy mode, which looked like she was still acting in "Carrie"; Sir John Gielgud was completely underused in a thankless / boring role; Carrie Fisher looks and acts as if the movie was set in the 80's and David Soul is charming, but sleazy as his character required.The rest of the cast list is as bland as the overall production, except maybe for Hayley Mills, but her character was as necessary to the plot as an umbrella in a sunny day and that was one of the major flaws, either from the writing or the Winner's decisions when directing it, the characters were seriously underdeveloped and the actors' misdirected.In short, "Appointment with Death" lacks in so many levels that was an unfortunate finale for Sir Peter Ustinov and Anthony Shaffer's working on this films. Agatha Christie herself would have hated.The only redeeming factor, if re-watched nowadays, it's in the nostalgic valour of seeing this group of truly great actors, chewing the scenery, when they were alive...

Cristi_Ciopron The cast was good: Ustinov, Gielgud, Lauren Bacall, Carrie Fisher, Piper Laurie as the matriarch Boynton. Jenny Seagrove overacts annoyingly and should be counted among the least professional players here. I thought David Soul made a good role as Jefferson, he reminded me of Widmark. And it was heartrending and very unlikely to see Poirot quoting Gide.I believe neither Cannon nor the director had a knack for this kind of puzzle plot, or for the social satire of a bygone foreign world. This wasn't something they could master.The movie seemed to me devoid of excitement. While Gielgud was decorative (as much as he could afford …), the other oldsters have been subverted by the director's silly storytelling. Carrie F. delivers the only convincing performance, and here, as a passionate woman, she looked well in a Mimi Rogers way; usually, in these adaptations, the romance is indigestible, but here the passionate lady was believable.The two breakdown meetings orchestrated by Poirot are undermined by the silly behavior of the suspects, who hug affectionately when reassured, etc., in a carefree joyful atmosphere; the phony confessions are annoying.A mediocre movie, with uninspired direction and uninteresting characters, very unlike the literature it rips off. These strong, thoughtful stories would need equally strong directors, and this is why so many masterpieces of popular literature become mediocre movies. But such movies also give an idea of what most consumers do perceive. The movie makers represent a slice of the audience; many in the audience do not care for what is missing, the movie is faithful to what they understand, this is how much they get, and they are pleased with the movie.It was made in '88 by Cannon.

mark.waltz You thought Piper Laurie was nasty as Carrie's mother? Wait until you meet her character of Emily Boynton, the nastiest of all wicked stepmothers. A former prison warden, she runs her home as the wealthy widow as if it were Riker's Island, keeping tabs on each of her stepchildren to the point that they wish her dead, unaware that it was her manipulations that left them to wait for her death rather than share in the estate of her late father. Determined to keep tabs on them, she "suggests" a European vacation followed by a trip to the Holy Land, and there, some very unholy activities lead to murder, and a most predictable conclusion.Peter Ustinov is back as Hercule Poirot, and if his trips to the Nile and the Adriatic Sea weren't enough to warn people to watch what they say when he's a mile within vicinity, nothing is. Lauren Bacall plays an American widow of a British nobleman who somehow became a member of the British Parliament, with Hayley Mills as an aspiring archaeologist and Jenny Seagrove as a doctor who has several run-ins with the obnoxious Laurie. Her character is a bit hard to take, seemingly directed to overact in every scene she's in. Carrie Fisher, John Gielgud and David Soul are other familiar faces among some relatively unknown actors as the unfortunate step-children. The highlight of the film is Ustinov's revelation of the killer as the culprit watches from afar, their feeling of doom and self-destruction erupting into making you actually feel sorry for them.

solar12 Peter Ustinov is an absolute joy to behold in the role of Hercule Poirot! He played Poirot in three theatrical films: Death On the Nile, Evil Under the Sun, and Appointment With Death. He also played Poirot in three TV movies: Thirteen At Dinner, Murder in Three Acts, and Dead Man's Folly. It's always a delight to spend time with Ustinov's Poirot. He's so much fun! The three Poirot TV movies starring Ustinov are now available in a three DVD set. I've had a great time watching these with friends and family and all of Ustinov's Poirot movies are worth watching and re-watching. My deep affection for Ustinov's Poirot grows with each viewing. He's brilliant and each of his Poirot movies are fantastic fun!