If you read over the reviews for APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH you will discover that more people like it than dislike it but those that do, really dislike it. Although I align myself with the former, there are certain things that I don’t like and number one on that list is the score by Pino Donaggio. While there is nothing musically wrong with it, its bright boppiness (most unusual for Donaggio who usually composes for thrillers) is out of character with the nature of the story which is set in 1937. This can be attributed to director Michael Winner whose taste in film scores often runs counter to what is being viewed on the screen.
Winner is a director that some people, mostly film critics, love to hate. I am not one of those people. To me, he seems like a throwback to the old Hollywood studio director of yore who took whatever material was assigned to him and made the most of it. Of course Winner did choose his material and made movies in many genres including Westerns, horror films, action films, and contemporary (1960s and 70s) comedies. Today he is best remembered for the first three DEATH WISH movies he made with Charles Bronson, an actor he worked with many times and with great success although away from the camera, they were rarely seen in each other’s company.
Bronson is not in APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH but, as in most of his films, Winner was able to attract a top notch cast of thorough professionals (some old, some not so old) who help to give the movie added entertainment value. In addition to Ustinov there are Lauren Bacall, Hayley Mills, John Gielgud, David Soul, Carrie Fisher and, in a wonderfully nasty performance as the victim, Piper Laurie who dominates every scene that she is in. Everyone has a reason to do her in and, as in the best Agatha Christie mysteries, the solution comes as a big surprise. No surprise is Winner’s good use of the Israeli locations where the film was shot.
In addition to a more appropriate soundtrack, better performances from the young Americans in the cast would have helped. Carrie Fisher, still trying to get out from under the shadow of STAR WARS and David Soul of STARSKY & HUTCH fame aren’t bad but as one pair of young lovers, there is no real chemistry between them. Jenny Seagrove and Nicholas Guest as the other pair, fare much better. Ustinov is his usual genial self while the others, especially Laurie, do add spice to what is admittedly a bland mix. There are far worse ways to spend a couple of hours so just sit back and enjoy APPOINTMENT for the modest entertainment that it is.
The Capsule Critic 