Today’s quick review: Murder on the Orient Express. The famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) is bound for England aboard the Orient Express, a train that runs from Istanbul across Europe, when his talents are called on to solve the murder of one of the train’s passengers. As Poirot conducts his investigation, he uncovers a wealth of inexplicable evidence and a surprising number of connections to a kidnapping five years prior.
Murder on the Orient Express is a classic murder mystery based on the story by Agatha Christie. Taking place aboard a snowbound train, the film has Christie’s brilliant detective Poirot take on the case of a man stabbed to death under mysterious circumstances. The suspects include a British colonel (Sean Connery), a Swedish missionary (Ingrid Bergman), a talkative widow (Lauren Bacall), and the victim’s personal assistant (Anthony Perkins).
Murder on the Orient Express is a whodunit in the classic mold. Poirot has his hands full with a perplexing murder, a bevy of clues, and a dozen potential killers. There’s little in the way of personal drama, but plenty in the way of intrigue. Albert Finney cuts a vivid figure as Hercule Poirot, the fastidious, somewhat quirky, and insightful detective, and he’s backed by an accomplished supporting cast playing a wide range of roles.
The type of mystery won’t be to everyone’s liking. The twists and turns of the case are enough to pique the viewer’s interest but not enough to let them beat Poirot to the punch. Poirot knows more than he first lets on, while the viewer is left to play catch-up after a series of late-game revelations. Still, the facts of the case are interesting on their face, the overall execution is sound, and the resolution is unique and memorable.
Give Murder on the Orient Express a shot if you’re a fan of the mystery genre. Its solid execution and well-known story cement its status as a classic; how much overt enjoyment you get from the film will depend on your taste in mysteries. For an irreverent spoof of Agatha Christie-style mysteries, try Murder by Death. For another Agatha Christie adaptation, check out And Then There Were None.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for an enticing plot.