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Today marks 50 years since the theatrical debut of 1974’sMurder on the Orient Express . This fashionable murder closed book film from director Sidney Lumet ( 12 Angry Men , Dog Day Afternoon ) is the first cinematic adaptation of author Agatha Christie ’s classic novel . This Greco-Roman story shows detective Hercule Poirot , in one of his many iconic adventures , enquire the gruesome death of a shady businessman on board the nominal train as it bring stuck in the snow .
New audience may be most familiar with Christie ’s account from theater director Kenneth Branagh ’s 2017 movie of the same name . However , 1974’sMurder on the Orient Expressremains one of cinema’smost beloved and definitive Agatha Christie movies , winning an Oscar ( for Ingrid Bergman ’s support performance ) out of six Academy Award nominations , admit Best Actor , Best Adapted Screenplay , and Best Original Score . Both version have their meritoriousness , but there are multiple reasons why Lumet ’s film persist a classic of detective fiction .
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The cast
To doMurder on the Orient Expressjustice on the grownup cover , Lumet assembled a hurl of renowned player from classical cinema to bring the novel ’s several characters to sprightliness . This movie most notably featuresCasablanca‘s Ingrid Bergman , the original James Bond doer Sean Connery , and Norman Bates himself , Anthony Perkins .
It also has asterisk like Lauren Bacall ( The Big Sleep ) , Martin Balsam ( Psycho ) , John Gielgud ( Arthur ) , Jean - Pierre Cassel ( La Cérémonie ) , Vanessa Redgrave ( Julia ) , Michael York ( Cabaret ) , Rachel Roberts ( Yanks ) , Jacqueline Bisset ( The Deep ) , Richard Widmark ( Kiss of Death ) , and Wendy Hiller ( Pygmalion ) .
While Lumet ’s picture show has several equal to actors , contribute Albert Finney carries this film on his shoulders , taking hold of his hearing with his quirky , charismatic enactment of Hercule Poirot . Though Kenneth Branagh delivered a star interlingual rendition of Poirot , Finney remain the only actor to recreate the character and receive an Academy Award nomination for his public presentation . One role player did meet an Oscar in Lumet ’s film , as Ingrid Bergman advance Best confirm Actress for her portrayal of missionary Greta Ohlsson .
The movie’s mystery plot kept people guessing
With a script write byGoldfingerscreenwriter Paul Dehn , 1974’sMurder On The Orient Expresspresents a fascinating and complex mystery that grows more surprising and exciting by the second . While police detective storey often present a black - and - white ethics , this adaptation stays faithful to the source textile by showing how the suspect ’ lives were all involve by the at rest ’s slaying of an innocent youthful miss .
Though their methods for vengeance were uttermost , they were all trying to win the justice the law denied them . Though their celebration in Lumet ’s celluloid may be too sentimental , it hand them all a expectant signified of Leslie Townes Hope and closure as they endeavor to move past their tragedy . Unlike Branagh ’s film , Lumet ’s adaptation presents a great sense of oneness among the defendant through their shared distress and triumph in the final stage .
It looked great
Unlike Branagh ’s advanced remake , Lumet’sMurder on the Orient Expressdoesn’t rely on CGI to land its level to life . What audiences see in the film are vivacious and veritable snow - covered landscapes , with the gear on screen being 100 % real . However , Lumet does n’t rely on flashy , high - technical school visuals or action at law - tamp down thrills to abstract its consultation .
Like one of his previous films,12 Angry Men , Lumet ’s adaptation creates a greater sentience of claustrophobia with its cinematography and limited setting . With most of the movie taking position inside the gearing , Lumet takes advantage of the confine place and use rigorous close - ups to accentuate the touch of anxiety and pressure that the characters have . This counseling adds smashing chroma to the write up as Poirot interrogate his suspect for such a dark deed in such close quarter , make for a tardily - incinerate but immersive cinematic experience .
In all candor , Branagh present a sheer and beautiful film that succeeded in doing something different with Christie ’s novel . But in the end , Lumet’sMurder on the Orient Expressis a gem of classic cinema thanks to its mesh performances , enthralling visuals , and gripping story that come after in honor the reference fabric ’s content while gift an gratifying slaying mystery .
slaying on the Orient Expressis cyclosis onParamount+ .
