Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express
[DVD Murder]

Perhaps one of the most perfect films ever made, Sidney Lumet's Murder on the Orient Express is an exquisite adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's most memorable novels featuring Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot. Years before David Suchet's take on Poirot became so incredibly popular, Albert Finney's performance dominates this film completely. Which is hard to do when you've got a huge celebrity-filled cast that includes Lauren Bacall, Martin Balsam, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark and Michael York. The set design, costuming and camerawork are incredible, but in the end it all comes down to Finney's quirky performance as the vacationing detective, called upon to solve a brutal murder aboard an iconic railcar that has been stopped by an avalanche of snow on the tracks. This should be essential viewing for any and all mystery fans. This DVD edition features numerous extras, including a profile of Agatha Christie, and a four-part documentary on the making of the movie. I love David Suchet and his portrayal of Poirot in dozens of television episodes (including this very story!), but Finney is forever stuck in my mind as Poirot from just this single performance! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [Subscribe to Scott's monthly booklist newsletter It's All Geek to Me! - on the Books, Movies & More newsletter sign-up page]

[Also available as the original printed novel and as an episode of the Poirot mysteries starring David Suchet.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]
 
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