Forget Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot unraveling the deadly mendacities of a steamer full of wealthy foreign tourists. Divorce your gaze from the spray-tanned Elizabeth Taylor and her cast of genuflecting thousands. For a cinematic glimpse of what life was like along the Nile in the glorious old and not-so-old days, check out these overlooked classics of exploration, identity, betrayal, and fear on the world’s longest river. (A video slideshow at the Huffington Post.)
I think Rafelson or Harrison, one or both, was/were trying to be provocatively artsy, or artsily provocative with that “flurry of kisses”, or is there evidence somewhere that something “happened” out there? An unwelcome contrivance in an otherwise great flick.
Fascinating African scenes, for anyone considering renting it. If you can endure the stodgy English parts, you’re home free.
There are some great B&W stills of it on the IMDb site.