Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer:

Paul Dehn (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 November 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The greatest cast of suspicious characters ever involved in murder.

Plot:

In 1935, when his train is stopped by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before.

Plot Keywords:

Hercule Poirot | Train | Detective | Snow | Orient Express

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Hercule Poirot
Lauren Bacall	...	Mrs. Harriet Belinda Hubbard
Martin Balsam	...	Signor Bianchi
Ingrid Bergman	...	Greta Ohlsson
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Countess Andrenyi
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Pierre Paul Michel (as Jean Pierre Cassel)
Sean Connery	...	Colonel Arbuthnot
John Gielgud	...	Mr. Beddoes
Wendy Hiller	...	Princess Dragomiroff
Anthony Perkins	...	Hector Willard MacQueen
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Mary Debenham
Rachel Roberts	...	Hildegarde Schmidt
Richard Widmark	...	Mr. Ratchett
Michael York	...	Count Andrenyi
Colin Blakely	...	Mr. Cyrus Hardman

Also Known As:

Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Turkish | French | German | Italian | Swedish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Iceland:12 | Ireland:PG | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:PG (certificate #24034) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

EMI Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

G.W. Films

Trivia:

The photo gallery on the German DVD by Kinowelt includes one photo hinting at a scene not used in the final film. It shows Bianchi in his bed on the train with Pierre standing beside him.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film takes place in 1935, but many of the extras (in the Turkish restaurant, at the railway station, etc.), and even actor Michael York (playing Count Andrenyi), have long, 1970s hairstyles.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ferry conductor: Your ticket, please.
Mary Debenham: Oh, yes.
Ferry conductor: Welcome aboard, Miss Debenham.
Mary Debenham: Thank you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Skenbart - en film om tåg (2003)

Soundtrack:

On the Good Ship Lollipop

I love this movie!

There isn't a single wasted minute of film here - Sydney Lumet is brilliant in this regard. Albert Finney is perfect, not a missed note - he IS Hercule Poirot, for as long as we in the audience want him to be! The supporting performances are all right on the mark, neither overplayed nor underplayed. And the twist ending is delivered in a manner that would make Agatha Christie jealous. Bravo to all concerned!