The 1974 Murder on the Orient Express is a British mystery film directed by Sidney Lumet and based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie. It stars Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot, a Belgian detective who investigates the murder of an American businessman on the Orient Express train.
The film features an all-star cast, including Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael York, Rachel Roberts, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Perkins, Richard Widmark, and Wendy Hiller.
The film begins with Poirot boarding the Orient Express in Istanbul. He is joined on the train by a group of diverse passengers, including the American businessman, Samuel Ratchett (Richard Widmark), who is being blackmailed by a mysterious group of people.
The next morning, Ratchett is found murdered in his compartment. Poirot is asked to investigate the case, and he soon discovers that all of the passengers have a motive for the murder.
Poirot interviews each of the passengers and examines the evidence. He eventually concludes that Ratchett was killed by a group of twelve people, all of whom were victims of Ratchett's past crimes.
The film ends with Poirot revealing the identity of the murderers to the other passengers. He tells them that they are all complicit in the murder, and that they must all share the blame.
Murder on the Orient Express is a classic whodunit mystery film with a star-studded cast and a clever plot. It is a must-see for fans of Agatha Christie and mystery films in general.
Cast
- Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot
- Lauren Bacall as Mrs. Hubbard/Linda Arden
- Martin Balsam as Bianchi
- Ingrid Bergman as Greta Ohlsson
- Jacqueline Bisset as Countess Helena Andrenyi
- Jean-Pierre Cassel as Pierre Paul Michel
- Sean Connery as Colonel Arbuthnott
- John Gielgud as Edward Beddoes
- Wendy Hiller as Princess Natalia Dragomiroff
- Anthony Perkins as Hector McQueen
- Vanessa Redgrave as Mary Debenham
- Rachel Roberts as Hildegarde Schmidt
- Richard Widmark as Ratchett/Lanfranco Cassetti
- Michael York as Count Rudolf Andrenyi
- Colin Blakely as Cyrus B. Hardman
- George Coulouris as Dr. Constantine
- Denis Quilley as Antonio Foscarelli
- Vernon Dobtcheff as Concierge
- Jeremy Lloyd as A.D.C.
- John Moffatt as Chief Attendant
Director: Sidney Lumet
Writers: Paul Dehn
Box Office Gross: $27,659,517
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: November 24, 1974