Death on the Nile (1978) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Given that StudioCanal restored Death on the Nile in 4K Dolby Vision as part of their four-film Agatha Christie Collection (and solo single-title releases), I don’t have a whole lot to add to my previous review of this film. This will ultimately be my third outing for Death on the Nile, and it’s a grand whodunit. It might not recapture the grand majesty of Lumet’s Murder on the Orient Express, but it’s still a lavish production with an incredible cast, headlined by an amusing take on the famous Belgian detective by Peter Ustinov. It’s a favorite film, I watch it at least once every summer, so watching it again in the winter for the domestic release from Kino Lorber Studio Classics wasn’t exactly a chore. 

Here’s my previous coverage for Death on the Nile

1. The Agatha Christie Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review 
2. Death on the Nile - Blu-ray Review

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
Death on the Nile returns to the United States physical media scene with a new two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. The 4K is pressed on a BD100 disc with a BD50 serving the 1080p and the smaller extra features. The discs are housed in a two-disc case with reversible insert artwork, complete with a slipcover. The discs load to a static image main menu with standard navigation options.

KLSC packages StudioCanal’s new restoration for this domestic 4K UHD release, providing the same restoration info card before the film begins as the UK Agatha Christie Collection disc. Essentially, this is the exact same restoration master, albeit with a different disc encode, and that’s where a slight but what I see as notable difference between releases rests. KLSC seems to have clocked the bitrate a little higher, and while that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, in this instance, it’s made the otherwise fine film grain a bit noisier. Some scenes, even in the StudioCanal disc, stood out in that way, but now they really stand out. Like when Linnett first arrives at her new estate or when we first see Ustinov’s Poirot, the film grain becomes much more pronounced, almost blocky, and maybe even a little distracting. I do have a hunch that if I hadn’t just reviewed this film and the others coming from KLSC, I might not have noticed it. Altogether, I don’t think this is a serious issue, but it’s one I pegged pretty quickly. If I could do ".25" ratings I would knock this to something around 4.75/5. Otherwise, this disc offers the same excellent transfer, so I’ll simply repost my previously published thoughts. 

This film, like the rest of the box set, opens with a title card explaining the restoration process, so I don’t need to speculate that this Dolby Vision 1.85:1 transfer is sourced from a new 4K 16-BIT scan by Silver Salt Restoration - UK from the original 35mm negative. And boy, is it beautiful. I was impressed with the 2K restoration StudioCanal delivered and KLSC used for their disc, but I guess they felt they had more work to do! Fine details are so cleanly rendered with a nicely natural cinematic veneer of film grain, and there are moments that look like they were shot yesterday. The first time we see Peter Ustinov’s Poirot in Egypt, the close-up is so clear and lifelike that it was startling to see that big, round head on my screen! Where the previous Blu-ray was a notable upgrade over my vastly inferior older DVDs, this transfer takes all of that work and refines it further. The Dolby Vision grade doesn’t drastically overhaul the color scheme but gives primaries a little more life and heft. Skin tones are naturally human and healthy without looking too peached or pink. Black levels are nice and deep, and with the extra attention for shadowy spaces, that sense of three-dimensional depth is immediately noticeable. A truly lavish travel film, I am still in awe that they got to film at the pyramids and other locations, so it’s a highlight to see these monuments in such detail. I can’t see things getting better for this one.

On this release, we have a DTS- HD MA 2.0 mix, that sounds very close to the the LPCM 2.0 mono tracks of the StudioCanal disc. And as I mentioned in that review, I did feel the need to raise my volume levels a tad for this review of Death on the Nile. Not a substantial amount to knock the overall score for, but enough to make it worth mentioning. Otherwise, dialog is clear throughout, sound effects have the same presence, and the Nino Rota score remains a delightful piece of work for the film.

While there may be negligible niggling differences between the A/V presentation from KLSC and StudioCanal releases, the notable difference between them is in bonus features. KLSC recycles the same extras from their previous 1080p Blu-ray - the commentary is still excellent - but sadly it misses out on a number of excellent interviews and the video essay of the StudioCanal disc. If extensive extra features are important to you, that UK import is worth considering. 

• Audio Commentary featuring film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
• The Making of Death on the Nile
• Interview with Peter Ustinov (In Spanish with English Subtitles)
• Interview with Jane Birkin
• Teaser Trailer
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Trailer Gallery
• Murder on the Orient Express
• Evil Under the Sun
• Endless Night
• The Mirror Crack’d
• Ordeal by Innocence
• Ten Little Indians

While it might not be as strong out of the gate as Murder on the Orient Express, John Guillermin delivered an excellent adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. Peter Ustinov shines as the eccentric Poirot while sharing screentime with the likes of Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, David Niven, and a hilarious Angela Lansbury, among numerous others. KLSC brings the film to U.S. shores on 4K UHD with a fitting release. The same excellent 4K Dolby Vision restoration was used for this release, with a slight difference in disc encoding, strong DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono audio, and a smaller set of extras. While I have to say there is a slightly better release on all fronts out there, if you don’t feel like importing, I can’t really argue against this release. Highly Recommended