Studiocanal’s ‘The Agatha Christie Collection' package is exemplary. Designed in the 1920s art deco style and coming with a 64-page booklet and striking artwork, this box set captures the era of the Roaring Twenties and offers fans of the great British crime author four of the best big screen adaptations of her work.
Across four films, ‘Murder on the Orient Express' (1974), ‘Death on the Nile' (1978), ‘The Mirror Crack’d' (1980) and ‘Evil Under the Sun' (1982), Studiocanal’s Vintage Classics label has pulled off a meticulous presentation of Christie’s golden-age mysteries. This box set reminds us why these stories and their celebrated film adaptations have endured in the popular imagination. These star-studded feature films bring together some of the most beloved British and American actors of their generation in impressive ensemble casts. They ooze class and genteel English charm.
‘Murder on the Orient Express' (1974)
Directed by Sidney Lumet (‘Network'), ‘Murder on the Orient Express' takes place on board the famous steam train. When an unpleasant American businessman is found stabbed to death in his cabin, Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney – ‘Saturday Night and Sunday Morning') must investigate. Every passenger harbours a secret and is the potential murderer, which muddies the waters considerably. Poirot must crack the case before the train reaches the next station and passengers disembark. Lumet’s adaptation remains one of the most luxurious-looking films of the decade. Albert Finney’s Hercule Poirot is a fascinating one-off. He plays it with a flinty detachment which is a million miles away from Peter Ustinov's portrayal, but these differences are partly what makes the collection so fascinating. The setting on board a train, with snow billowing beyond the windows, ensures a tight, claustrophobic atmosphere is maintained until the final revelation.
The all-star ensemble features a trio of top female talent: Lauren Bacall (‘The Big Sleep') at her imperious best, Vanessa Redgrave, and an Oscar-winning Ingrid Bergman (‘Casablanca') delivering a masterclass in quiet consideration. On the male side, look out for Sean Connery, who had only just hung up his Walther PPK and handed the mantle of James Bond to Roger Moore. His portrayal of Colonel Arbuthnot lends the film gravitas. An actor who has always fascinated me, Anthony Perkins (‘Psycho') plays McQueen with his customary nervous energy and twitchy features. It's a shame he never shook off the Norman Bates image, but this film is one of his better post-‘Psycho' big-screen outings. In 4K, Geoffrey Unsworth’s cinematography looks painterly; the interiors of the train reveal nuances in texture and lighting lost in older home entertainment releases.
‘Death on the Nile' (1978)
Directed by John Guillermin (‘The Towering Inferno'), ‘Death in the Nile' is my favourite of the four outings in this release, simply on account of its relentless stylishness. Sun-drenched, languid, impossibly glamorous and featuring sequences filmed on location around the treasures of Ancient Egypt, ‘Death in the Nile' is a pure big-screen adaptation of Christie's work. Getting that close to some of the wonders of the world would be impossible now, but Guillermin's location work adds enormously to the impact of the film. The director understands that the world of the story must be effervescent and witty, creating a compelling mystery but inviting the audience not to take the story too seriously. Fittingly, Peter Ustinov's Poirot is much warmer and more accessible than Albert Finney's.
While holidaying on a glamorous Nile paddle steamer, Hercule Poirot becomes embroiled in the fallout of a romantic triangle turned deadly when a beautiful heiress is murdered during the voyage. Nearly every passenger has a reason to want her dead. Only a mind as cunning as Poirot's could untangle the web of lies and deceit, then assemble everybody to reveal the murderer…
Peter Ustinov is a lot of fun, and the rapport of his partnership with David Niven (playing his sidekick Colonel Johnnie Race) is a joy to watch. Consider the sequence with the cobra in Poirot's cabin as a case in point. The impressive cast features a dashing Simon MacCorkindale (‘Jaws III') as the young man who breaks the heart of his fiancee (Mia Farrow – ‘Rosemary's Baby') to marry another woman (Lois Chiles, the Bond girl from ‘Moonraker'). The distinctive voice of Angela Lansbury (‘Murder She Wrote') immediately ensures she is noticeable as the ill-fated Salome Otterbourne. She delivers a very funny comic turn. You can also see Maggie Smith (‘Harry Potter'), screen legend Bette Davis and ‘The Naked Gun's George Kennedy among the cast. The first of the Peter Ustinov Poirot films has long been a fan favourite, and in 4K it’s every bit as opulent as its magnificent costumes.
‘The Mirror Crack’d' (1980)
Directed by ‘James Bond' regular Guy Hamilton, ‘The Mirror Crack’d' is a decent Miss Marple caper that probably isn't quite up to the sheer class of the first two films, but is nevertheless highly entertaining. It's the second film in this box set to feature Angela Lansbury, who breathes life into another of Christie's great detectives – Miss Marple.
A glamorous Hollywood star returns to the quiet village of St. Mary Mead, leading to murder at a charity fête. What at first seems like a case of mistaken identity soon expands into a psychological puzzle involving old feuds, a tragic accident from the past, and the corrosive effects of celebrity.
Part of the film’s pleasure lies in its insider Hollywood satire: Elizabeth Taylor and Kim Novak play rival film stars with such relish it’s easy to forget they’re acting. The film also stars Rock Hudson (‘Ice Station Zebra'), Tony Curtis (‘Some Like It Hot') and Edward Fox (‘The Day of the Jackal'). Overall, the story is a touch melodramatic, but Hamilton keeps it entertaining.
‘Evil Under the Sun' (1982)
Guy Hamilton is also behind the camera for ‘Evil Under the Sun', which is arguably the most playful film in the collection. Ustinov makes a welcome return as Poirot, this time navigating suspicion and sangria at an exclusive Mediterranean resort. When a self-absorbed stage star is found murdered on a nearby beach, and there is a hotel full of guests who either despised or envied the victim, Poirot must navigate an intricate tangle of rivalries, affairs, financial schemes and theatrical grudges to uncover the truth. Surrounded by dazzling coastal scenery and an eclectic cast of suspects, it’s a film that embraces glamour. Once again, Anthony Powell’s exquisite costumes are a large part of its visual appeal.
The supporting cast is also a who’s who of screen luminaries including Diana Rigg Maggie Smith, James Mason, Sylvia Miles and Roddy McDowall.
Together, these four films chart a fascinating evolution in Agatha Christie adaptations: they encompass Lumet’s austere, prestige drama, Guillermin’s exotic spectacle and Hamilton’s playful, character-driven mysteries. What unites them is the unmistakable allure of Christie’s intricate, ingenious plotting and the sheer calibre of the casts assembled to bring her stories to life.
With a host of new extra features, including contributions by surviving cast and crew, as well as archive featurettes, and available in a choice of 4K UHD and Blu-ray, ‘The Agatha Christie Collection' is a must-have for fans of her work. With Christmas just around the corner, ‘The Agatha Christie Collection' is an ideal gift for those who love the quintessentially British murder mystery and relish the turn-of-the-Twentieth Century period settings that are sumptuously brought to life in these four classic movies.
Cast: Albert Finney, Peter Ustinov, Angela Lansbury, Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Maggie Smith, Anthony Perkins, Simon MacCorkindale, Edward Fox, Kim Novak Directors: Sidney Lumet, Guy Hamilton, John Guillermin Writer: Agatha Christie Running time: 492 mins Released by: Studiocanal Release date: 24th November 2025 Buy ‘The Agatha Christie Collection'
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