Murder on the Orient Express

Rating:
Summary: Can't wait...
Review: "Murder on the Orient Express" probably had the most intense production values as any film in 1974. The period detail was exquisite and the ensemble cast was stellar, all put into perspective by the brilliant Sidney Lumet. 1974 saw "Godfather II" and "Chinatown", wonderful in their own right. Can't argue too much about comparisons, but the editing in "Orient" is a true work of art, shifting its time-frame constantly. The viewer always knows everything, but really knows nothing. Albert Finney is a terrific Hercule, and the whole ensemble cast was great! Ingrid Bergman won the Oscar for this, but I thought Rachel Roberts was the best of all. So VERY classy, and so very grisly... all done with aplomb by a brilliant cast and America's own, very underrated great director, Mr. Lumet. Don't forget, Lumet did the original "12 Angry Men" in the 50's, as well as "Long Day's Journey Into Night". The man has control. Experience it!

Rating:
Summary: Elegant, stylish murder mystery...
Review: ...but turn on the closed captioning, because as one reviewer pointed out Albert Finney's heavy accent and often garbled speech could try anyone's comprehension, not to mention patience. But Finney is still excellent, though he falls short of David Suchet, who is the quintessential Hercule Poirot.

But enough about that. They rarely make films this lavishly entertaining anymore. "Murder on the Orient Express" is visually striking to say the least; the Orient Express and its various set pieces are magnificently rendered, and at no small expense either. The all-star cast is impressive; from Lauren Bacall's scene-stealing American chatterbox to Anthony Perkins' disturbing, PSYCHO-reminiscent secretary, the cast list adds emphasis to the idea of the house-party whodunit. The film is, essentially, a Hollywood party on a grand scale.

Although the film is sluggish at times and the unraveling of Agatha Christie's labyrinthine plot doesn't work as well on the screen as it does on paper, this is still great fun, the perfect Saturday night movie for viewers who like a dose of wit and intelligence with their entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: Approved by Agatha Christie
Review: Having read the book many times I've come to know its complexities well enough. Albert Finney embodied Poirot from top to bottem so much so that all other portrails pale by comparison. Even the remarkable work of David Suchet cannot touch Finney. Poirot is an eccentric ego-ist who is also one of the most intelligent characters ever created and Finney captures his qualities perfectly. The rest of the cast is equally superb! With an interational cast of Vanessa Redgrave, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Wendy Hiller, Sean Connery, Richard Widmark, Jean-Pierre Cassel etc. one wonders why all of them were not nominated for Oscars. The entire film is a work of art from the production design to the costumes, make-up and music. All these elements under the direction of Sidney Lumet are kept flowing swifty so that you have to rewind over and over till you catch all the nuances. The book can be a bit confusing and plodding despite the wonderful prose but the film clears away any clutter and solidifies the story. Yes the film changes some names and some early locations but it also clarifies some plot points particularly the Armstrong case. Agatha Christie saw this version of her story brought to life on screen and approved of it. This film will delight the viewer with each repeated playing to the point that after a while you're going to have to get another tape the old one will become so worn!

Rating:
Summary: A Classy Whodunit
Review: Murder on the Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie's most famous stories, and in this film it is brought to life by an amazing cast. Businessman Richard Widmark is found dead with multiple stab wounds while aboard the famous train, and it's up to passenger and detective extraordinaire Hercule Poirot, played by Albert Finney, to solve the crime while everyone waits for the tracks to be uncovered from fallen snow. Surprisingly, my only criticism of the film is the lead performance by Finney, which is mannered, difficult to understand at times, and not at all what I picture Poirot as being like, having read a number of Christie's books. The rest of the cast is terrific, with special praise going to Ingrid Bergman and Wendy Hiller. The final scenes of revelation are very well done, and whether or not you already know the story and solution to the crime, I think you will find this movie to be very entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: AGATHA CHRISTIE's BEST
Review: This 2-tape movie is contagious, and well worn, here. Sharp dialogue, swift, and subtle clues that are planted right in front of your eyes. Traveling the Orient Express Train as a last moment plan, a common character with a superior mind, Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney), is forced into investigating a murder. But which mystery is more important, who was killed, why he was killed, or how and by whom?

ADD: Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, Richard Widmark, John Gielgud, Martin Balsam, Jacqueline Bisset, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Rachel Roberts, Michael York, and many others. The unbelievable is made real.

Rating:
Summary: On the Whole, Excellent
Review: This classic 1974 film is, for the most part, an excellent adaptation of Agatha Christie's most famous novel, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, which stars Hercule Poirot as the ingenious yet slightly egotistical little Belgian detective. The cast is filled with distinguished actors: Albert Finney, Ingrid Bergman, Dame Wendy Hiller, Lauren Bacall, Michael York, Richard Widmark, and many more. I must state right away that I don't care for Finney's interpretation of Poirot; perhaps I am simply biased, having been "brought up" on David Suchet's refined, humorous, yet never ridiculous characterization, which strikes me as definitive. The rest of the actors play their parts to perfection; particular standouts for me include Martin Balsam as Poirot's Italian friend, Bianchi (Balsam's Italian accent is wonderful; one would never guess that the actor was in fact Jewish and from The Bronx) and Sir John Gielguld, very witty as the murdered man's butler (!) Sidney Lumet's direction is, of course, beyond criticism. The elegant yet cramped atmosphere of the train is ideally conveyed, while such sequences as the opening, the discovery of the murdered man, and the flashback-reenactment of the murder are stunningly effective. You should watch this if you want to see a filmed version of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS; however, I would suggest also watching any of the "Poirot" episodes to experience David Suchet's interpretation of the title character.

Rating:
Summary: Elegant, Entertaining Murder Mystery
Review: This film is faithful to the book, which is always a plus for Agatha Christie adaptions. The set and cast are excellent, with the plot moving at a brisk pace. Albert Finney is a good but hyper Hercule Poirot, Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar for her Bible beating Swedish maid, Lauren Bacall is an American motormouth, Sean Connery is a Colonel, and Anthony Perkins and Martin Balsam are brought together again (echoes of PSYCHO?). An odious man is murdered while the famed Orient Express is caught in a snowdrift, which means the murderer is still on board. As Poirot questions each of the passengers, her learns the shocking truth of the solution to the murder. Excellent.