Murder on the Orient Express

Name: Murder on the Orient Express
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Crime
Released: November 24, 1974
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Albert Finney, Anthony Perkins, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery

1974

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Ratings

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Murder On The Orient Express

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: November 24, 1974 | PG

Starring: Albert Finney, Anthony Perkins, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery

Summary: In December 1935, when his train is stopped by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before.

Director: Sidney Lumet

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Crime

Rating: PG

Runtime: 128 min

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Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby

Like the lovely, extravagantly overemphasized nineteen-thirties' costumes and production designed by Tony Walton, Murder on the Orient Express is much less a literal re-creation of a type of thirties movie than an elaborate and witty tribute that never for a moment condescends to the subject. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

No matter how good the performer you can’t escape Christie’s leisurely approach to characterisation — simple concoctions of quirk, guilt and red herring. But Lumet is having loads of credible fun with the formula, keeping up a genuine sense of claustrophobia in this isolated railway car surrounded by crisp white snow. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Elegant and stylish in the best Agatha Christie tradition--a thoroughly entertaining if poky whodunit. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Murder on the Orient Express is a splendidly entertaining movie of the sort that isn’t made anymore: It’s a classical whodunit, with all the clues planted and all of them visible, and it’s peopled with a large and expensive collection of stars. Read full review

Pauline Kael

This all-star version of an Agatha Christie antiquity promises to be a sumptuous spread, and so it is, but not as tasty as one had hoped. Read full review

Andrew Sarris

Murder on the Orient Express falls down so badly as escapist entertainment that it is as if it were designed to prove the proposition that movies and mysteries don't mix. Read full review

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User Reviews

FilipeNeto

Oct 5, 2018

Agatha Christie was one of the greatest writers of crime novels ever. However, its hard to doubt that the short episodes and films of "Agatha Christie's Poirot" set a new paradigm for the adaptation of these books to cinema or television and that it will be difficult, in the next years, toAgatha Christie was one of the greatest writers of crime novels ever. However, its hard to doubt that the short episodes and films of "Agatha Christie's Poirot" set a new paradigm for the adaptation of these books to cinema or television and that it will be difficult, in the next years, to surpass the interpretation of David Suchet. Anyway, this movie is prior to all this, dating back to 1974. The plot faithfully follows the book, so there is no great mystery here. What struck me most was the luxurious star-cast, worthy of a true super-production, with memorable names like Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean- Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins and Vanessa Redgrave. Impressive. Personally, I didn't find Finney convincing in the role of the Belgian detective. The way he moved and spoke seemed very unnatural, particularly the way he seemed to be hiding his neck all the time. But this is the only negative criticism for cast performance, which did a very good job. Particularly, I would point out Lauren Bacall for the intense and passionate way she was given to her character. Ingrid Bergman and Wendy Hiller also deserve a word of praise. The rest, however, did not have much room to truly shine. It even feels sometimes that the cast has not been completely taken advantage of.

Visually, the movie is very good. Cinematography uses a lot of light and the colors are pleasant, as well as the choice of locations, sets and costumes. The soundtrack was competent and did his job well, but it's far from iconic.… Expand

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Tyranian

Apr 12, 2019

Reasonably good adaption with good performances and script though its quite TVish.

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