Review of Murder on the Orient Express (1974) by Stephen M — 18 Mar 2008

THIS is the ONE. At least for my money it is. I find Albert Finney to be the perfect Poirot and that is a great place to start. Then there is this extraordinary all star cast led by Lauren Bacall (who, for some reason, many do not consider a real actress, which I just don't get). You know the rest of the cast, right? One Redgrave, a beauty named Bisset, an Englishman named York, a Sir called Gielgud, a Dame named Hiller, a former Bond named Connery, a one time matinee idol named Widmark, a character named Balsam, two chameleons named Perkins and Bergman and these very special European character actors named Quiley, Blakeley, Cassel and Roberts. It truly is one of the best all star casts ever assembled in what many consider to be Dame Agatha's best mysery ever (even over Poirot's last one, Curtain).

The film has everything. An unforgettable score by Richard Rodney Bennett, Oscar winning art direction by Tony Walton and all the other elements from cinematography to breathtaking location shots and it is all due to the tireless efforts of director Sidney Lumet.

I remember all the twists and turns and surprises and gasps I went through when, as a teenager, I first saw this film and fell in love with every actor, every character, every line, every camera angle... every frame. I watch the movie at least twice every year and when I am not watching it, I find myself thinking about it. It is a true gem in the perfect setting.

Worth noting: the famous and collectible movie poster artwork by the great Richard Amsel.

AND the trivia that Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar for this movie and is one of the record holders for an Oscar win with the least amount of time onscreen. I believe some of the others are Anthony Hopkins, Beatrice Straight and Dame Judi Dench.