Murder On The Orient Express (1974)

Murder On The Orient Express - 1974

Our next film is 1974's "Murder On The Orient Express", which features an all-star cast of magnificent proportions.  Someone is murdered aboard the famous and luxurious Orient Express train.  Stuck in a snowbank, the renowned detective Hercule Poirot must uncover the murderer who may still be aboard.

The film stars Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Paul Cassel, Sean Connery, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Rachel Roberts, Richard Widmark, Michael York, Denis Quilley, Colin Blakely, and John Gielgud.

The film opens in 1930 at the residence of Colonel and Mrs. Armstrong in Long Island.  Inside, tragedy has struck as their daughter Daisy is kidnapped.  Her body is later discovered having been murdered.  In all, five people died as a result of the kidnapping/murder.

Five years later, the Orient Express is departing from Istanbul.  Many colorful characters board, including the world famous detective Hercule Poirot (Finney).

Monsieur Poirot is traveling as the guest of the director of the line, Signor Bianchi.  He intends to relax and fully enjoy himself with the superb cuisine offered on board the train.

However, business soon encroaches upon his pleasure.  Mr. Ratchett (Widmark) requests that Poirot act as his personal bodyguard.  He has received many threatening letters and is in fear of his life.  Poirot refuses, taking a strong dislike to the way Ratchett presents himself and the way he is cagey about his business affairs.

During the night, Poirot is awakened by several noises.  In the morning, Ratchett (who was in the compartment next to him) is found dead.  Signor Bianchi immediately asks Monsieur Poirot to head up the inquiry into the murder.

The guests are told about the death of Mr. Ratchett and that Monsieur Poirot requires their passports and will interview them all separately.

Matters aren't helped by the fact that the train is stuck in a snowbank and no police help can be given until it is cleared.

Among all the passengers questioned in connection with the murder, I have three standouts.  The first is Mrs. Harriet Hubbard (Lauren Bacall).  She gives an absolutely stellar performance as the fast-talking lady whom everyone cannot wait to avoid.

The second is Ms. Greta Ohlsson (Ingrid Bergman), an endearing Swedish missionary who uses phrases like "bed-gown".  Ingrid Bergman received her third Academy Award for her portrayal of Ms. Ohlsson, a well-deserved accolade.

The third is the Princess Dragomiroff (Wendy Hiller).  Ms. Hiller does an excellent job portraying a lady several decades older than herself.  "You never smile, Madame la Princesse?" asks Monsieur Poirot.  "My doctor has advised against it," comes the Princess's reply.

The filmmakers really make you feel that she is a dowager princess of the Old World.  Everything about her is meticulous.  I love the scene when she is in her cabin and her maid is reading to her in German as she sleeps.

And the elegant personal mementos of a bygone era suggest a woman who continuously lives in the past.

During the course of his investigations, Monsieur Poirot comes across a burned note in Ratchett's compartment.  Upon closer inspection, the name "Daisy Armstrong" comes to his attention, and he begins to understand who Ratchett was and why he was getting the threatening letters.  He was the mastermind of the Daisy Armstrong kidnapping/murder.

Later in the investigation, the murder weapon comes to be discovered by Mrs. Hubbard, and is positively identified as having Ratchett's blood on it.

After piecing together the murder, Monsieur Poirot confronts the passengers in the Dining Car with the identity of the murderer (or murderers).  As it happens, each passenger on the train has a connection to the Daisy Armstrong kidnapping.

Monsieur Poirot solves the case, though tells the assemblage that justice has finally been carried out, and that a murderer has been deservedly murdered.  Just as he has finished his summation, the train is able to break through the snowbank and get underway again.

Cast rundown:

   Albert Finney......................................Hercule Poirot

   Lauren Bacall......................................Harriet Hubbard

   Martin Balsam....................................Bianchi

   Ingrid Bergman..................................Greta Ohlsson

   Jacqueline Bisset................................Countess Andrenyi

   Jean-Pierre Cassel..............................Pierre Michel

   Sean Connery....................................Colonel Arbuthnot

   Wendy Hiller......................................Princess Dragomiroff

   Anthony Perkins.................................Hector McQueen

   Vanessa Redgrave..............................Mary Debenham

   Rachel Roberts...................................Hildegarde Schmidt

   Richard Widmark................................Ratchett

   Michael York.......................................Count Andrenyi

   Denis Quilley......................................Antonio Foscarelli

   Colin Blakely......................................Dick Hardman

   John Gielgud......................................Mr. Beddoes

And that's it for Murder On The Orient Express.  Of all the Orient Express adaptations, this one remains my favorite.  The newer versions may be more sumptuous and flashier, but this one has much better performances.

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