Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
If you’ve never seen Murder on the Orient Express or read Agatha Christie’s novel, the 1974 version will have you at the edge of your seat. I recommend starting with this one because it has such a classic feel to it, with the costumes, music, and old actors all pulling together in an ensemble production. You can really imagine Christie’s characters coming to life. This doesn’t feel like a regular 1970s disaster flick, it feels like a 1930s novel brought up to the silver screen – only in Technicolor. Director Sidney Lumet puts the sequences together so well, interspersing flashbacks with interviews, altering perspectives, and including subtleties that can only be appreciated when you see them for the second and third times.
An unrecognizable Albert Finney is covered up in tons of makeup and an adorable Belgian accent while playing Hercule Poirot. He brings a lot of warmth to the character, which is why I always prefer this version to the David Suchet 2010 one. Suchet plays Poirot at the end of his rope, and he’s constantly scolding the other characters in the story. Finney starts off looking forward to his vacation, overjoyed to see his old friend who gets him a last-minute seat on the Orient Express, and curious to solve the mystery. He never comes close to losing his temper, and he's a true professional in every scene. Plus, his mustache gets a little hairnet to sleep in – how cute is that?
“He did it! He did it!” I know he’s not by any stretch of the imagination the show-stopper, but I just love Martin Balsam in this movie. Donning an Italian accent and fully fitting into the nickname I gave him (Martini Balsamic), he plays Poirot’s right-hand man. Full of warmth and humor, Martini is even more anxious to crack the case than the famed detective. After every interview with a new suspect, he announces, “He did it!” He’s very funny, and he leaves a lasting impression. Every time I have seen him in a movie (and I’ve seen close to 50 of his films), I point at the screen and accuse, “He did it!”
I’m happy for Richard Widmark to act in one of the most popular films of the year, but I do feel sorry for him that he was cast as Ratchett. I always found him to be so likeable, so why did he frequently play villains or scoundrels? As is the case with many Agatha Christie classics, everyone in the ensemble cast gets his day in the sun. Wendy Hiller is excellent as the dowager empress, as is Rachel Roberts as her loyal maid. Lauren Bacall has a large role with some subtle expressions, and Michael York puts on an accent while protecting his wife, Jacqueline Bisset. Anthony Perkins nervously sits through his questioning, and John Gielgud feigns calmness while secretly loathing his boss. There’s also Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Colin Blakely, George Coulouris, and Denis Quilley – which is why it was ridiculous for Ingrid Bergman to win her third Academy Award for her “little brown babies” monologue. Her performance wasn’t any greater than anyone else’s to be singled out and awarded the best of the year.
But I digress; there really isn’t any reason to criticize this excellent movie. Written with tons of subtleties, beautifully directed by Sidney Lumet, expertly costumed by Tony Walton, and set to two beautiful, old fashioned themes by Richard Rodney Bennett, Murder on the Orient Express is one of the best pictures of the year. Had it been released a year later, it probably would have swept up some Hot Toasty Rag Awards, but the sweep of 1974 was The Great Gatsby. I’m sure everyone understands.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Martin Balsam movies here!
More Ingrid Bergman movies here!
More Richard Widmark movies here!
More Michael York movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Agatha Christie's original novel here!
An unrecognizable Albert Finney is covered up in tons of makeup and an adorable Belgian accent while playing Hercule Poirot. He brings a lot of warmth to the character, which is why I always prefer this version to the David Suchet 2010 one. Suchet plays Poirot at the end of his rope, and he’s constantly scolding the other characters in the story. Finney starts off looking forward to his vacation, overjoyed to see his old friend who gets him a last-minute seat on the Orient Express, and curious to solve the mystery. He never comes close to losing his temper, and he's a true professional in every scene. Plus, his mustache gets a little hairnet to sleep in – how cute is that?
“He did it! He did it!” I know he’s not by any stretch of the imagination the show-stopper, but I just love Martin Balsam in this movie. Donning an Italian accent and fully fitting into the nickname I gave him (Martini Balsamic), he plays Poirot’s right-hand man. Full of warmth and humor, Martini is even more anxious to crack the case than the famed detective. After every interview with a new suspect, he announces, “He did it!” He’s very funny, and he leaves a lasting impression. Every time I have seen him in a movie (and I’ve seen close to 50 of his films), I point at the screen and accuse, “He did it!”
I’m happy for Richard Widmark to act in one of the most popular films of the year, but I do feel sorry for him that he was cast as Ratchett. I always found him to be so likeable, so why did he frequently play villains or scoundrels? As is the case with many Agatha Christie classics, everyone in the ensemble cast gets his day in the sun. Wendy Hiller is excellent as the dowager empress, as is Rachel Roberts as her loyal maid. Lauren Bacall has a large role with some subtle expressions, and Michael York puts on an accent while protecting his wife, Jacqueline Bisset. Anthony Perkins nervously sits through his questioning, and John Gielgud feigns calmness while secretly loathing his boss. There’s also Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Colin Blakely, George Coulouris, and Denis Quilley – which is why it was ridiculous for Ingrid Bergman to win her third Academy Award for her “little brown babies” monologue. Her performance wasn’t any greater than anyone else’s to be singled out and awarded the best of the year.
But I digress; there really isn’t any reason to criticize this excellent movie. Written with tons of subtleties, beautifully directed by Sidney Lumet, expertly costumed by Tony Walton, and set to two beautiful, old fashioned themes by Richard Rodney Bennett, Murder on the Orient Express is one of the best pictures of the year. Had it been released a year later, it probably would have swept up some Hot Toasty Rag Awards, but the sweep of 1974 was The Great Gatsby. I’m sure everyone understands.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Martin Balsam movies here!
More Ingrid Bergman movies here!
More Richard Widmark movies here!
More Michael York movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of Agatha Christie's original novel here!
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Picture of 1974
Best Director: Sidney Lumet
Best Actor: Albert Finney
Best Dramatic Screenplay
Best Musical Score: Richard Rodney Bennett