Review of Murder on the Orient Express (1974) by Anna H — 02 May 2009

I think this is one piece of literature that did not translate well to screen at all. While perhaps the overly complex murder scheme and it's bizarre characters worked effectively in Agatha Christie's novel, in Sidney Lumet's 1974 film both elements just come across as way over the top and unbelievable.

The only really remarkable thing about this movie is Albert Finney, who puts on such an effective disappearing act I didn't even recognize it was him until midway through the picture. His physical acting work is incredibly deceptive, and aided with the thick costume and make-up design, fooled this particular movie-goer completely.

The rest of the cast of stars stick out like sore thumbs and give enormously eccentric and irritating performances, including Ingrid Bergman in an Oscar winning performance. Lumet although no stranger to absurdly dialogue heavy scripts, has no trouble shooting on the constrictive train set, but struggles with how to keep the choppy screenplay running smoothly, and the murder flashbacks during Finney's final monologue are evidence of it.

They are so out of place in the movie, to me it was clear that they were just something for the audience to watch while Finney talked for eight pages after Lumet ran out of things to do with the camera.

Really disappointing flick. Hardly deserving of the classic status it has gathered.