Murder on the Orient Express (Film): Review.
The following review makes reference to the 1974 film Murder on the Orient Express, and does not contain spoilers of any type.
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Year: 1974
Category: Mystery.
Director: Sidney Lumet.
Cast: Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Rachel Roberts, Richard Widmark, Michael York.
Plot
Adaptation of a novel written by Agatha Christie. It tells the story of a murder perpetrated during a trip on the legendary Orient Express. The investigation of the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot encounters great difficulties, because the illustrious passengers have an alibi that excludes them as suspects.
Opinion
Yesterday I decided to watch the 2017 version of Murder on the Orient Express without knowing it was a remake, but just before I saw it I discovered that it was, so finally decided to see the original first and consecutively to see the new version, being without a doubt the first I liked the most, although this obviously has its own flaws.
In 1935, the peculiar detective Hercule Poirot to return to London decides to take the Orient Express, where he meets his friend Signor Bianchi, director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (International Sleeping Car Company), which owns the line. Along with them travel a series of curious characters such as; businessman Samuel Ratchett, with his English manservant Beddoes and secretary Hector McQueen; Russian Princess Natalia Dragomiroff and her German maid Hildegarde Schmidt, Hungarian Diplomat Count Rudolf Andrenyi and his wife; and others.
Once on the train, Samuel Ratchett receives letters containing death threats, so in a conversation between him and Poirot offers $15,000 for his services, but the detective refuses. That night, the train stops because the snow obstructs the road, thus being stranded in Yugoslavia. The next morning, Ratchett is found dead after being stabbed, so Signor Bianchi asks Poirot to investigate and find out who murdered Ratchett. Beginning a series of interrogations that Poirot makes to each of the passengers.
The direction is good, however, it makes some mistakes according to my perception, although that may be the result of watching the film outside of its time. The first 30 or 40 minutes of the film were incredibly boring for me, however, when the interrogation of Mr. Poirot began the desire to know who was the killer generated intrigue and the way in which the story was developing made me entertain a lot. The script is fine, it is acceptable and includes a final resolution that is quite satisfactory and original.
The performances are fine, a cast full of great actors. The most predominant performance is that of Albert Finney as the characteristic detective Poirot, I heard both positive and negative reviews about his performance, but because I never read the novel, since this is the first interpretation I have seen of the character, I must say that it was satisfactory.
The greatest virtue of the film is in turn its greatest limitation, however, and although I must admit that this film is not for all types of audience, I think the final result is acceptable.
Trailer
Score
7/10
Good film, good performances, good direction, good script, an excellent final twist, although I must say that the years affected the film a bit, which becomes very slow at the beginning, and therefore, somewhat boring, but luckily It takes strength on the road. A vintage film, recommended if you do not have very high expectations about it.
