APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH. Cannon Group, 1986. Peter Ustinov (Hercule Poirot), Lauren Bacall, Carrie Fisher, John Gielgud, Piper Laurie, Hayley Mills, Jenny Seagrove, David Soul. Based on the novel by Agatha Christie. Director: Michael Winner.

   Appointment with Death begins with chicanery. Wealthy widow and domineering stepmother Emily Boynton (Piper Laurie) uses the threat of blackmail to persuade attorney Jefferson Cope (David Soul) to tear up the latest version of her late husband’s will; instead, he presents an earlier copy of the document which leaves the Boyton adult children largely out of the will. This infuriates the Boyntons, some of whom even ponder the notion of killing their stepmother.

   Despite these new family dynamics, Emily Boynton takes her brood on a cruise vacation to first England, then Italy, and then the Holy Land. While romance blooms between one of the Boyntons and Dr. Sally King (Jenny Seagrove), Lady Westholme (Lauren Bacall), one of the fellow cruise members and an American-born Member of Parliament, uses her time to work with the British authorities on a partition plan for Mandatory Palestine.

   When Emily Boyton is found murdered, there are innumerable suspects. She was not very well liked, even by her own family. Enter Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov), who is on hand in Jerusalem and ready to help the British authorities solve this crime.

   While I overall enjoyed watching Appointment with Death, I can’t really say that it’s a very good film. The pacing is off and, more significantly, the characters aren’t introduced properly. At times, it’s difficult to ascertain who is doing what with whom. That said, the on location setting works well, as does the score by Pino Donaggio. A mixed bag with a solid cast.