Murder On The Orient Express (1974)
C. – 128m.
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 – Widescreen
Dir.: Sidney Lumet.
Starring: Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Martin Balsam, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean–Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, John Gielud, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark and Michael York.
Detective Hercule Poirot must solve a murder that occurred on the train that he is traveling on. As with most film or television adaptions of Agatha Christie’s works, the film is better than the book in this reviewer’s opinion. A great cast with stalwart performances and richly decorated sets make this a must. Slight complaint though: The pacing could have been quickened a bit.
Trivia: Agatha Christie, 84 years old at the time, attended the premier. It was the only film that was adapted from her works that she liked, though she was note pleased with Hercule’s moustache. Sadly it was her last public appearance. She died 14 months later on January 12, 1976. Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar for her performance in this film. The basis for the win was from a nearly five minute long interrogation she had from Hercule (Finney). Director Sidney Lumet thought that if he signed the biggest star first, the rest would follow. At the time it was Sean Connery. Lumet and Connery previously teamed on three films: The Hill (1965), The Anderson Tapes (1971) and The Office (1973). Sean Connery was in two films that feature murders on The Orient Express: From Russia With Love (1963) and this one. Richard Widmark agreed to do the film just so he could meet the other actors. As in Psycho (1960), Anthony Perkins plays a man who lost his mother and has issues with trying to have a relationship with women. And finally: The final scene required multiple takes to get all the close-ups of the actors, since the set only made it possible for one camera to be set up in the space.
Rated: [PG]
Out Of Print on VHS & Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.
Murder On The Orient Express (2017)
C. – 114m.
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Dir.: Sir Kenneth Branagh. Book By: Agatha Christie.
Starring: Sir Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Josh Gad, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dame Judi Dench.
Detective Hercule Poirot must solve a murder on the train he is traveling on. While the cast is just as good as the original’s cast, this adaption of the Agatha Christie novel suffers quite a bit. The makeup isn’t believable, the hair colors on Branagh and Pfeiffer lack continuity, and why is no one breathing clouds of steam while they breath in a cold setting? This showed a lot of promise in the trailers but ultimately comes up muddled. If one considers this a chance to watch a game cast in an expensive play and can look past the aforementioned issues, and then some, one may stand a chance of liking this film. Even the C.G.I. is obvious! It is never dull, but not something recommended in place of the original.
Trivia: This was Sir Kenneth Branagh’s second film to be shot on 65mm film. The first was Hamlet (1996). While this was shot on 65mm film, it played in theaters on 70mm film and it was the forth film since 2010 to do so. The Master (2012), The Hateful Eight (2015) and Dunkirk (2017) were the others. That is Michelle Pfeiffer singing “Never Forget” over the end credits. The song was written by Patrick Doyle and Kenneth Branagh. Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron were originally in line for Pfeiffer’s role but ultimately Pfeiffer got it. And finally: Both Johnny Depp and Dame Judi Dench were in films about the Jack The Ripper murders. Dench was Sally in the Sherlock Holmes VS Jack The Ripper film: A Study In Terror (1965), while Depp was in From Hell (2001).
Rated: [PG–13] – Violence & Thematic Elements.
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.