Appointment with Death

"An invitation to murder!"

1988 1h 42m EN

😐

6.1

MID

⭐

6.1

IMDB

★6.1TMDB · 196★6.1IMDB · 6,432

ThrillerCrimeMysteryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Emily Boynton, the stepmother to three children, blackmails the family lawyer into destroying a second will of her late husband that would have freed the children from her dominating influence. She takes herself, the children, and her daughter-in-law on holiday to Europe and the Holy Land. At a dig, Emily is found dead and Hercule Poirot investigates.

“An invitation to murder!”

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Cast

Peter Ustinov
Hercule Poirot
Lauren Bacall
Lady Westholme
Carrie Fisher
Nadine Boynton
John Gielgud
Colonel Carbury
Piper Laurie
Emily Boynton
Hayley Mills
Miss Quinton
Jenny Seagrove
Dr. Sarah King
David Soul
Jefferson Cope

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Winner
Writers: Anthony Shaffer, Michael Winner, Peter Buckman
Languages: English
Countries: Israel, United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 16% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Israel, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Winner, shot by David Gurfinkel. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Pino Donaggio. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Michael Winner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Peter Ustinov and Lauren Bacall and Carrie Fisher carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Winner directs. David Gurfinkel behind the camera. Pino Donaggio scores. Michael Winner cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Israel, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 16% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
238 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 3 countries: Israel, United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Part of the "Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Michael Winner, shot by David Gurfinkel. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Pino Donaggio. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Michael Winner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Peter Ustinov and Lauren Bacall and Carrie Fisher carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "An invitation to murder!".
10IMDB entry: tt0094669 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.