Murder on the Orient Express [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Sweden ]

I watched this movie when it was first in the theaters. Then I watched all the remakes and realized there is nothing better than the original. Yes, they could have cast it differently, but I don't think it would have improved the movie. The one thing, the BIG THING that makes this movie stand out is that they used the actual train cars and photos of the actual train. I've ridden on this train twice and the remakes ignored the fact that the train is out of this world! It speaks to an era that we've lost in this world and we need to get back (that's why the train is always booked solid).The opening scenes of the train were shot with cars that were not operating. At the time the movie was shot, if I'm not mistaken, the train was not running and the cars were shot as they were sitting unused. The car where Poirot does his interrogating is the Lalique car, named that because of the priceless Lalique panels gracing its walls. The shots of the corridors with a stained glass window? Those were shot in the current kitchen/baggage car. Wonderful movie and a great bit of acting (and sometimes overacting).

As a long-time lover of English mysteries, including Christie, Poirot and everything ever on PBS or the BBC, I so wanted to love this. Branagh is a brilliant actor, but he never inhabits Poirot. His acting here is always "acting." Despite the lush cinematography and sets and the wonderful cast, this movie never left the train station for me. With the central character so hammy, there was no cohesion. I love Johnny Depp, but he rseemed to phone this one in. No one else really sparkled after the little boy who fetched the eggs at the beginning. I hate to say I strongly disliked this. I even came back later and tried it again and was still disappointed. Maybe you'll like it better than I did, especially if your expectations are low.

This is a review for the *Kenneth Branagh* version -- reviews for different versions seem to be lumped together, and I think positive reviews for the old one are skewing the average under the new one.I couldn't get past Branagh's fake accent and fake moustache. It seemed very self-indulgent, since he was directing and starring. I feel like if the director and star had not been the same person, the director would have been like "ew, fakey accent." The rest of the characters are great actors too, but the rest of it also seemed melodramatic and caricatured and sort of fake to me. I rarely have trouble "suspending disbelief" because I don't expect stuff to be perfect, but this was one where I couldn't help seeing it as a bunch of famous actors dressed in Halloween costumes prancing around.

Sidney Lumen got great actors to participate ensemble. Richard Widmark said he took the role just to meet some of the other actors. Several of the actors said it was great fun. It all shows through. Beautifully and elegantly filmed. A must view movie. 40+ years later it looks as good as it did back in the day.

This movie was so well done! It is much better, in my personal opinion, than the newer film that just came out. It is an intriguing film, with lots of character plot, and the special effects are at a minimum. We loved the film!

Well made movie. Lots of big names that don't disappoint. Fortunately we didn't remember how the story went from previous iterations, so the ending was a good surprise. Thought provoking ending. Would recommend. Not as light-hearted as I would have thought the story would be. I had expected a bit of a spoof of the original, but it wasn't.

I bought the video, thinking Kenneth Branagh is so talented, he could hardly ruin this. Well, he did. Or someone did....He is not a good Poirot. Not close, not even a whiff of the character of the great detective.Then: Penelope Cruz playing the role previously performed by Ingrid Bergman? No. Michelle Pfeiffer playing the role previously performed by Lauren Bacall? No. She is the lightest of lightweights and very lucky to have married David E. Kelley, who DOES think she has great acting capabilities.Johnny Depp is kind of perfect in his role, however. He shines in this turkey of a film, which throws every politically correct trope into the mix.There is that Jewish family (all of a sudden) , the interracial couple (all of a sudden), and here we are in modern day Hollywood, where Agatha Christie would have probably sued the company that adapted her work this way. I bought this movie on amazon, based solely on the Branagh participation. I wish I could have that money back. Ugh.I have not even been able to finish watching it. I expect some LGBT character to become part of the plot, but I hope not. If there is a twist to the story that involves climate change, I'll have to throw a tomato at the screen. A non-GMO tomato, of course.

I loved the movieI loved the plot ( for once the murderers don't go to jail and we are happy for them!)The stars are all big but they all play at the same level.The Orient Express is pure sophistication.The outfits are so glamorous ( those of Lauren Bacall and Jacqueline Bisset!!!).To me this movie is still a feast for the eyes !PS : Look also at the costumes in Evil Under The Sun!).Fun fact : The Orient Express still offers trips from Istanbul to Paris!I should not say offers since the tab is between $7000 and $15.000 per person !!!! But you will have your own butler lol.

I really like Kenneth Branagh but his version of the story and the character is PANTS! Albert Finney is fabulous as HP and there are a host of fantastic actors who ALL get a chance to shine unlike in the KB version which was a travesty. Even the scenery and the overall setting of the film was better in the AF film. Stylish, very well acted, well written, true to the source and the characters: buy this version...now!

The first five minutes of this film are some of the most disturbing and memorable in any film. This blue tinted opening sequence, showing the kidnap of a young child, are particularly eerie and atmospheric - in marked contrast to the opulent pink satined titles and grand orchestral theme tune.This film continues to be one of contrasts: around the murder things are kept tight, whilst the interviewing of the passengers, perhaps inevitably, contain some longeurs. I don't know a thing about film lighting, but can say that they brilliantly capture the super white glare caused by being surrounded by snow, and the dimmed light of the carriages at night are used to great effect.Albert Finney is an acquired taste as Poirot, but turns in a performance just the right side of ham. Occasionally though the plot plays second fiddle to the hugely impressive cast, but again this perhaps cannot be helped. The music is brilliant throughout. Not the easiest of the Agatha Christies to put on film, but this is entertaining and well put together.

A sad theme, perhaps, to make a film about, but a clever use of an actual historical parallel, so fiction only mirrroring reality - and anyway what a superb and timeless production! The cast is a star-studded list of famous names. We have, of course, become used since to the part of Poirot being played on the medium of televison by the exquisitely-mannered David Suchet, so this earlier and slightly more abrasive character portrayal by Albert Finney jars a little at first but soon becomes part of the story style.My favourites are the introductory music and titles and, even more, the train departure scene at the Istanbul railway station. All shot apparently in the one take and with no second chance next day, as the cast were all booked to be elswhere then. What camera work (perfect synchronisation and no modern digital studio to put in corrections)!I shall be viewing this again and again.

At last - a fantastic quality print available on DVD!!! This is one of my favourite films and I've lost count how many times I've seen it. Released in 1974 and based on Agatha Christie's classic , Albert Finney is especially good in his portrayal of Hercule Poirot trying to work out who killed Mr Ratchett (played by Richard Widmark) but it's the array of international film stars working alongside him that make this movie exceptionally fun and exciting. With a memorable soundtrack by Richard Rodney Bennett, terrific cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth, and brilliant direction by Sidney Lumet, this movie is a great whodunit.Not much in the way of extras on this DVD but for the price it's great to have the movie in excellent quality!

I think that this is the best film version of Murder on The Orient Express with Kenneth Brannagh's a close second. The atmosphere, the acting and the black and white images of Daisy being abducted along with the sinister music make this a gripping film.