Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Peter Ustinov, Jane Birkin, Colin Blakely, Nicholas Clay, James Mason ... see more see more... , Roddy McDowall , Sylvia Miles , Denis Quilley , Diana Rigg , Maggie Smith , Emily Hone , John Alderson , Paul Antrim , Cyril Conway , Robert Dorning , Barbara Hicks , Richard Vernon , Dimitri Andreas

Peter Ustinov makes his second appearance as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in this adaptation of the popular Agatha Christie mystery. When noted stage star Arlena Marshall (Diana Rigg) is found mur... read more read more...dered while visiting a posh island resort, Poirot is called upon to find the culprit, but given Marshall's shrewish personality and propensity for making enemies, the question isn't "Who wanted to see her dead?" but "Who didn't?" The suspects include Rex Brewster (Roddy McDowall), a writer penning a biography of Arlena that the actress tried to stop; Odell and Myra Gardener (James Mason and Sylvia Miles), theatrical producers who were financially shafted when Arlena refused to appear in a show; Arlena's husband, Kenneth (Denis Quilley); Kenneth's lover, Daphne (Maggie Smith); Patrick Redfern (Nicholas Clay), who was having an affair with Arlena; and Christine (Jane Birkin), Nicholas' wife. Ustinov would play Poirot again three years later in the made-for-TV feature Thirteen at Dinner. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

61% liked it

6,128 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

PG, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Guy Hamilton

Release Date: March 5, 1982

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: February 27, 2001

Get It:

Stats: 206 reviews

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (206)


  • August 20, 2011
    A star is murdered on an island resort. Poirot is called to investigate the many suspects. Good plot. Great cast.
  • April 4, 2007
    Fun Christie, great cast, beautiful location.Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith make great sparring partners.
  • March 31, 2007
    Peter Ustinov is as affable as always, but Agatha Christie's dreary formula just looks silly in this day and age.
  • March 24, 2007
    One of my fave Agatha Christie films, all star cast with twists and turns all the way.
  • October 8, 2011
    I love Maggie Smith trying to solve this along with Poirot's nose, Diana Rigg is a pretty glorious victim.
  • April 16, 2007
    She could always throw her legs up higher than anyone. And wider!

    What time is it, Linda?
    Five to Twelve.
  • January 17, 2007
    Very good murder mystery! Great cast. Peter Ustinov is a fabulous Poirot and Maggie Smith and James Mason were great like always. Guy Hamilton is a fabulous director for his genres. I loved it!

Critic Reviews


Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
February 4, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Evil Under the Sun is a nifty screen adaptation of a 1940 Agatha Christie novel. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 26, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jeffrey Westhoff
February 6, 2003
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

John J. Puccio
August 3, 2002
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

No review available.

Ken Hanke
July 30, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians (And Then There Were None)
    Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians (And The... (100%)
  • The Sittaford Mystery
    The Sittaford Mystery (0%)
  • Ein unbekannter rechnet ab (Ten Little Indians)(And Then There Were None)
    Ein unbekannter rechnet ab (Ten Little Indian... (100%)
  • Thirteen at Dinner
    Thirteen at Dinner (100%)

Facts


    • Daphne Castle: The 'Arlena Stewarts' of this world do not count; their domination is of the moment. Really to count, a woman must have either goodness or brains.
    • Hercule Poirot: Little boys laugh easily if it keeps them away even for a moment from their study of Latin.
    • Hercule Poirot: Little boys laugh easily if it keeps them away even for a moment from their study of Latin.
    • Hercule Poirot: The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and yet you forget that everywhere there is evil under the sun.
    • Myra Gardner: Well, what the hell do we do now, Odell?
    • Odell Gardener: Just leave it to me. I'll think of something.
    • Myra Gardner: Hmmph, my hero. I swear, if you were a man I would divorce you.
    • Daphne Castle: Arlena and I were in the chorus of a show together, not that I could ever compete. Even in those days, she could always throw her legs up in the air higher than any of us... and wider.

Evil under the Su... : Watch Free on TV


Evil under the Sun Trivia


  • Who played Hercule Poirot in Evil Under The Sun?  Answer »
  • James Mason who acted in films such as The Verdict, Evil Under The Sun, The Assisi Underground and Ivanhoe (1982) also acted in this movie.....  Answer »
  • In the Poirot-movie "Evil Under The Sun", Poirot gets sick. What's wrong with him?  Answer »
  • The 1982 Roddy McDowall film EVIL UNDER THE SUN was based on a novel by what author?  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Evil under the Sun. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent Lists


Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?