Bette Davis, Maggie Smith and Angela Lansbury in Death on the Nile, 1978, Part 1

[DRush76]

I wonder if Maggie Smith remembered Bette Davis' "grande dame" act in this movie, when she did "GOSFORD PARK" and "DOWNTON ABBEY".

[promiseofanewday]

Hey, that's Jessica Fletcher!  This movie is delicious. But where is the beginning??

[TheZaffarumair]

boat manager is Indira Singh Johar, a famour indian actor who died in 1984 or around that time

[TheZaffarumair]

beautiful film, clasy actors in a classy era, ustinov, niven et al. great stuff

[williamjon28]

if not mistaken Anthony Powell won oscar in this film for best costone designer

[Wolfcrag85]

The tango scene is made even funnier by the contrast it establishes between the disastrous Lansbury/Niven pair and the elegance exuded by the other two (Hussey/Ustinov and Chiles/MacCorkindale). Priceless.

[bluewingtip]

I say, “Camera man! Put that camera on Angela Lansbury when she is doing the tango!” For heaven’s sake, I could care less about looking at anyone else while Angela is being brilliant! …..And I just love Bette’s body language at 6:39!

[JDCT37]

@omarinem... What a shame that many people don't read these days... And many people won't read or watch anything they consider "Old". "Old" meaning more then say 5 or 10 years ago of course... They are truly missing out on so much...

[JDCT37]

I LOVE AC's book... Ive read most of them... They are extremly suspenceful and entertaining... Its fun to guess who the murderer is... When I was a kid, We'd stop the AC movie before the end, write down who we thought the murderer was,Then watch the end of the movie to see who was right...

[peymaania]

Personally I love being in heat with heathens! Tummy...

[sanity333]

Hi Im french could u tell me if Bette davis is doing a british accent and if nowadays angela lansbury has an american accent?? thank you!!

[picturefan2009]

@sanity333 Ms. Davis' character is American. I would say that Ms. Lansbury speaks like a Brit who have lived most of her life in States.

[sanity333]

@picturefan2009 thank you for your answer!! Is it better to have a british or american accent when you are a foreign actor and u want to work worldwide?

[Buondelmonte123]

@bellagoose333 Not so much a stereotype really. Its all very much how members of the far-flung British Empire saw themselves in relation to their clients, [in this case] and those they considered [at the time] their, 'social betters' generally, in those days. That cloying sense of humour and misguided attempts at ingratiation are still being encouraged in Indian Call Centres as I write this.

[MrSwifts31]

jinkerbell16

You are quite right about the Boat Manager Mt Chaudry being Indian.

However,it is a correct piece of casting.

The Victorian/Edwardian Nile Cruise companies usually had Indian staff,they didn't seem to traust the native Arab population as empolyees.

This was because the Indian recruited staff spoke (relatively) good English,something the native Arab population (at the time) did not.

You may ask why they didn't employ English staff.The Indians took lower wages!

[Buondelmonte123]

@MrSwifts31 Thank you.

[MrSwifts31]

Peter Ustinov is Angela Lansbury's brother in law.

He was married to her half sister Isolde,and the actress Tamara Ustinov is their daughter.

[nivtal20]

Professor Mcgonagall!:D

[DanDaSimmer]

I LOVE Angela Lansbury and Maggie Smith!

[omarinem]

@bellagoose333 As much as I love Agatha Christie's works, she was a rather racy conservative if I remember correctly :\

[Buondelmonte123]

@omarinem A little bit further to The Right than most I'd say. She was anti-Semitic and loathed the British working class and makes fun of them in her books. 

[omarinem]

@Buondelmonte123 Yet, she remains the Queen of Crime. She was one hellava genius. And who knows? Perhaps she had other intentions in her marvelous mind, you know, allegories and such.

[Buondelmonte123]

@omarinem Yes, you are right, who knows? I wish she had an editor though, who could have edited some of her wilder remarks and as she got older, the mistakes that creep into her books.

[Buondelmonte123]

@omarinem bizarrely enough even during the 60s and 70s in the Soviet Union, Russians who could speak and read English adored her books, because AG presented an England which was a dream for them, the village life, the upper class values and in spite of the murders, a sense of safety. Even a great-grand-daughter of Pushkin's closest friend had her shelf of Miss Marple & Poirot.

[omarinem]

@Buondelmonte123 Well said. I guess, sometimes, you can't just blatantly hate something just because of some reason. Sometimes there are a few things you have to overlook, because people sometimes are too emotional and they end up banning and disliking and such. Maybe, just maybe, AG may not like me for being, well, not Caucasian, but still, I adore her works and I praise her elaborately marvelous mind.

[Buondelmonte123]

@omarinem Thank you, in most cases, certainly in AG's, you can, and must, separate the author from their work.

Not all the time, of course, I mean, look at Mein Kampf! Do you know what I love most about AG? You can re-read them 100 times and still enjoy them.

[Buondelmonte123]

@omarinem Also, she has saved my bacon about 100 times, stuck next a dinner partner with low conversation skills I ask them: "Do you like Agatha Christie?" 9 times out of 10 their eyes light up and the conversation flows like champagne.

[omarinem]

@Buondelmonte123 Hahahaha, that's just awesome. But most kids these days...my age but not of acquired taste like I am....they don't enjoy books. Oh well...c'est la vie!

[Buondelmonte123]

@omarinem Yes, this thing of being too kewl to read books. Awful. Reading is the great consolation of my life, and I hope it will be in yours, too. I read my first AG, "Sad Cypress" on holiday in Italy aged 12, the following year I solved "A Mirror Crack'd" before the end, because I understood why Heather Badcock murdered almost straightaway. Have you read any of Somerset Maugham's short stories? They are great. His novel, "Theatre" was ruined as a film, "Being Julia." Ruined.

[omarinem]

@Buondelmonte123 I think we're spamming this video. I'll reply to you in a message :p

[jinkerbell16]

Sorry but the boatman's accent is definitely Indian. Surprisingly, they didnt put an arab on that role.

[wiimania9]

The world is definitely in the middle of the decline of the capitalist system. The US is one step away from a fascist state.

[laauurence]

What's the name of the song that starts at 0:50? It's awesome!

[Buondelmonte123]

@laauurence Isn't it "Destiny"?

[jimmyhd1969]

@bellagoose333 Their not indians, their Arabs and your right about the stereotypes.

[islandanka]

All 3 ladys are just amazing

[bjarnelee]

This is just before all the medical problems..Bette Davis said growing older is not for sissys.

[barbarasprague]

Sorry but, this is NOT part 1!! What Happened???

[picturefan2009]

@barbarasprague I've only uploaded the scenes with those three actresses.

[yodasodaskoda]

@picturefan2009 fucking retarded

[msinvincible2000]

God, I love Angela Lansbury. She can be sooooo funny

[miniwidge]

I love Dame Magg's wonderful performance of the sentence "go ahead and fire me"... so full of venom and spit

[1955JAFO]

The last one with David Suchet was really not great. I like this version best.

[brit1955]

@ 19myself91 The tango is called "Jalousie" (Jealousy) and was composed in 1925 by the Danish composer Jacob Gade. It was written as part of Gade's accompaniment to the silent American film, Don Q, Son of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks and first heard in public during the Danish premiere of that film on September 14, 1925. Search youtube for 'Jalousie' to hear full version - best is Tango Jalousie (Celos)

[goolagong68]

Oliva Hussey must have been in acting heaven that day surrounded by Davis, Lansbury, Smith, Ustinov, Warden and Niven etc,

[sweeney60]

@goolagong68 amen to that! What a cast!

[19myself91]

does anyone know the name of that tango song? thanks!

[miniwidge]

@19myself91 jalousie (pronounced - roughly - "jealousy")... when I was a kid and saw this movie I looked it up in the credits

[miniwidge]

@19myself91 Jalousie (pronounced - roughly - "jealousy")... when I was a kid and saw this movie I looked it up in the credits

[19myself91]

@miniwidge thanks!

[deriter64]

I really enjoy the Suchet versions of Poirot but damn these old pros just blow me away. Classy Angela Landsbury as an old drunk, David Nivenl, beautifully understated, Maggie Smith so wonderful, Bette Davis!, and of course Peter Ustinov. I'd like to think they had some fun making this. Thanks.

[maxwesty]

"How thrillingly clever of you to deduce that..."

they don't make films like this anymore! You could watch these over and over without ever getting bored...

[yournotrandom]

Haven't seen this movie in years!

[samgotekgun]

Maggie plays the bitter viper tongued secretary to perfection. She is just so damn good. Britain should have declared her a national treasure.

[ultracairo]

why's the beginning, a whole 15 min cut off?

[pavlov04]

one of my fav movies! superb cast, real scenery, amazing costumes, terrific music , colorful eccentric chararcters and fun whodunit. i saw this movie when i was 13 and i will never forget it.

[19GirlBad]

i never knew it was Bette Davis the white gown. 

[FaliciaB]

I dont get why they put an indian guy when there in Egypt lol

[lovely17yemeni]

@FaliciaB haha i know right?

[tecdessus]

" Good strong sex" LOL, love Angela :-)

[stmarymead58]

this is a great version of this book.

[psisky]

RIP Simon MacCorkindale. You were a bloody good cad. Handsome one too.

[omarinem]

It looks like Salome Otterbourne's appearance is somewhat similar to an owl and an ostrich.

[MsSarjen]

Poor mr. Ferguson trying to ask ms. Otterbourne for a dance and was far to late, and nobody even bothers to notice him. LOL

[georgerannie]

God they were so good together!

[OrangeQueenie]

can anyone guess what yr(s) poirots are set in ?

[johnyzero2000]

Love this scene, especially Lois Chiles' mint green beaded evening gown designed by Anthony Powell!! I've ripped off that dress in a majority of my designs! Best costume in movies ever!!!

[MPL029]

Much lesbian overtures between Davis and Smith's charachters.

[fatheranthony4pope]

Love Lansbury's Tango!!

[MsSarjen]

@fatheranthony4pope I love David Niven trying to follow. He was always so correct about everything, fun to see him out of touch.

[bronteteri]

LOL Peter Ustinov kicking up his feet...so cute...altho i know that is correct it just looks so cute on him...and David Niven trying to follow Angela around...LOL... the Tango...funny movie

[777amol]

Being an Indian, I was pleasantly surprised to find a great Indian actor of the 1970s, I. S. Johar, in a not-so-minor role as the boat Carnak's manager in this movie which is an all-time classic just like the original story. Especially Peter Ustinov (as Poirot) and Mia Farrow (as Jacqueline De Bellefort) were superb.

[ClarinetMadeofSteele]

I never get tired of watching Maggie Smith perform. She is my acting idol.

[MsSarjen]

@ClarinetMadeofSteele I've loved her since I was a wee one - she has such talent.

[Alexaklr]

Okay, I think I just figured out why the story isn't making sense. These are just SCENES from the film, not the entire movie, right? I watched three parts and was thinking I fell asleep when they discovered the body because they were talking about a murder and I hadn't seen one, or even heard anyone telling Poirot about it. Thought I was going crazy. However, these ladies are great!

[omarinem]

My God Angela Lansbury was one hell of an old lush, especially when she tangoed! Salome and Colonel Race would've made a cute and kooky couple.

[Missbusy21]

Wow! How great is this? Angela Lansbury acting in a Hercule Poirot movie,

While she has also played Miss Marple. The other Great character Agatha Christie has created.

[Jitpring]

"If there's two things in the world I can't abide, it's heat and heathens!" LOL

[soulgirl66]

I first saw this back in '78. In school I was in a creative learning program and we had a unit on Agatha Christie and we took a field trip to see this movie. I was too young to appreciate the caliber of this cast back then, but now...WOW! Bette Davis, Dame Maggie Smith, Peter Ustinov, Angela Lansbury, David Niven....Amazing!!

[Cool2BCeltic]

When I first saw this in 1978 (I'm the same age as J K Rowling) I never thought that Miss Bowers would mature into Professor McGonagall. Don't know if the Steffi Graf lookalike I mentioned in brackets in the previous sentence saw this when it was first released.

[antitum]

Beautiful clothes these people wear!

"Wrongie!" -lol.

[lilygreen12]

angela lansbury is so funny haha i love her!!!

[buddy69r]

"There's two things I can't abide it's heat & heathens!" Bette & Maggie were hysterical together!

[darrinthebold]

i.s johar

[ozzylover411]

OMG AMAZING CASTTTTT!!! SUCH TALENT

[jkfromcincty]

"Go ahead and fire me." I love the way Smith delivers that line.

[19myself91]

the whole team who made this did an awesome job, it's really a perfect flashback to the 1930s. the clothes, the makeup, everything! you can't see at any time in the movie that it was actually 1978.

[speriencer]

Watch at 5:00 in this clip. One of the subtle funny parts of this film and pure genius Ustinov. He resigns to having to introduce Mrs. Otterbourne and Rosalie to Colonel Race, but he only mutters something - totally uninterested in who they are. Ok, not the Suchet precise Poirot, but brilliant nevertheless.

[quadling]

Suchet may be precise, but Ustinov adds a humour to him which is unbecoming of Suchet's character. I always preferred a good but subtle sense of humour. :)

[InsomniaCafe]

@speriencer I think it's more because Mrs. Otterbourne slurred the names and, to be honest, Salome Otterbourne is a difficult name for a man for whom English is a second language! But your idea of him being uninterested is so much funnier!

[GeoStratocaster]

You'll never see a better whodunit than this! Just brilliant! :)

[MRDEREVKO]

I love Maggie Smith.

[Buondelmonte123]

@MRDEREVKO Me too. Did you see her onstage as Hedda Gabler? It was like a rip-roaring comedy until she shot herself at the end.

[ctap4]

Poor Colonel Race!!!! Dancing with Angela Lansbury like that must have created some interesting outtakes!!!

Also poor James Ferguson!!!

[antonic75]

Love Angela Lansbury dancing tango!

[Buondelmonte123]

@antonic75 and choreographed by Wayne Sleep no less. :}

[MsOrlandos]

love bette davis, this is a great clip, she has such a great voice

[albierte]

Peter Ustinov is a genius in putting life into the role of Hercule Poirot. It's a once in a life-time chance to play a great detective from an Agatha Cristie Novel. Here, Poirot is an extrovert with a zest for life. Poirot in this artistic temperament fits into the more accentric well to do circles.

Poirot has to prove for answers before he could point a finger to the criminal, or else get sued by one of these rich losers.

You should also watch Evil Under The Sun.

[cloud9west]

The best part fo this is this first :49seconds. "Bowers, pack!" LOL!

[bucks8789]

Three great actresses ! They all go over the top,and we love em.Who today can go over the top and remain a great actress ?

[kawaiisis86]

@bucks8789 I AGREE!

[MsKeepinItReal]

where is the whole movie?

[ciroalb3]

Davis had it wrong "trip down the Nile" and Poirot (of course) was right "up the Nile"

[davie12]

Angela Lansbury, possibly one our greatest actresses. Here totally hilarious. How she must have enjoyed this....

[kaejae24]

Hercules Porridge - Got to love Angela Lansbury

[goldenrenxito]

it's Poirot not Porridge...

[dlwke2]

yes, it's kind of a gag, golden

[shelyr]

Love Bette Davis! One of the most fascinating people of all time. Love Maggie Smith!

[ptrck85]

Does anyone know the name of the song Lynette(?) and Simon are dancing to?

[ronchilansbury]

If still you're intersted in this charming song, the title is: "Ive got a feeling you're fooling" Even though almost all themes on the original score were composed by the great Nino Rota, this isn't hims, I don't know who was the composer.Sorry

[vidiegoquam]

Believe it first appeared in "Broadway Melody" (film of 1929).

[brav0wing]

Peter Ustinov, one of the greatest actors ever!

[CaroleBoudreau58]

The beginning of the movie is missing. Great scene showing how Nanette stole the boyfriend and got marry after.... Wish someone could upload the whole movie

[janab71]

lansbury and davis are absolutely fantastic.........maggie is lovely but doesnt have much space here.............thanks a lot........so wonderful

[andreasscholl]

Lansbury in GREAT form!!!!!!!!

[krazysonn]

The best of the Agatha Christie Adaptations!!!

[jazzy84]

"Bowers,PACK!!" :0)

[ffrancesccaaaa]

she was always in movies with peter.

[tirayi]

The three Great Grotesques of the silver screen in one movie!

[coralarch]

Bette- the classiest bitch of all.

[boundsreveries]

The tango is called "Jalousie" and was composed by Jacob Gade in the thirties. There beautiful examples on YouTube.

[happylilsunbeam]

Bette Davis and Maggie Smith. That's magic.

[tallyho2008]

Absolutely! I adore Maggie, and the crackling interplay between them onscreen is a dream!!!

[hugsieflugsie]

That's exactly what i thought :D

[MVFris]

DAVID SUCHET FOREVER

[vegetables88]

I always had a little crush on the communist guy! lol

[OrangeQueenie]

this is much better than the new one with david suchet ... anyone agree?

[AnnaMinerva93]

What s the name of the tango at 6:45?

I love the song and I love the movie!

[Jakthong2626]

I think its Csardas by Vittorio Monti :)

[tirayi]

OMG i'm in gay heaven. The three greatest grotesques in all of screen history in one film! Four Oscars between them and dozens more nominations. Only these three women can make you howl and break your heart at the same time.

Merci. xxxxx

[Andremedia]

PLEASE! Lansbury & Smith in your top three grotesques? You need to get out more! Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell in Mame, Marlene Dietrick,...get busy!

[josecarltc]

Russell only in Gypsy, Crawford and Dietrich love them. Sara Montiel was also a great actress and one of the most beautiful ever

[iiiiiccccc]

dietriCH

[Andremedia]

Dietrich

[iiiiiccccc]

;-) smartypants :-)

[ffrancesccaaaa]

Lansbury, Smith, and Davis DEFINITELY top crawford, russell, and DietriCH

[RosemaryWeir]

Don't know who Davies is/was but I completely concure!

[spiderorchid81]

Bette Davies was one of the biggest stars of the '30s and continued to make movies until the '80s. She's most famous for "All about Eve", "What really happened to Baby Jane?", "Jezebel", "The little Foxes", "Now Voyager" and many more.

[BetteDavisMimic]

WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? you don't know WHO BETTE DAVIS WAS?!?!?!?! Wow.....2 oscars, 15 or so nominations, film immortality....about 300 you tube videos about you and people imitating you still like the brilliant ALFRED LEWIS (LOL)....and to not be known!!! Rough crowd.....

[happylilsunbeam]

I know isn't it amazing. I can't believe Bette Davis and Maggie Smith in one movie. Those women are so magnetic!

[pkunzip501]

It was Lansbury that stole the show. She won Best Supporting Actress (National Board of Review) and was nominated for the British Academy Award. What a shame she didn't receive an American Oscar nod since she eclipsed every other nominee that year.