Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
- kbroer
- Aug 16, 2024
- 4 min read
Albert Finney, Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Wendy Hiller, John Gielgud, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Available to stream on Prime Video
This week's "When They Were Older" film features an amazing ensemble cast of actors from the past, still at the top of their game in one of Agatha Christie's most beloved mysteries.
In December of 1935 the famous Orient Express becomes snowbound in Yugoslavia as it travels from Istanbul across Europe. While the train is stranded, one of the passengers is murdered in a mysterious way that only detective Hercule Poirot can unravel, just in time for the train to be rescued.
Why we love it: When this wonderful film premiered, it stood out among the many unmemorable movies of the 1970's. It has the glamour of a bygone era -- the beautiful clothes, the atmospheric settings, the luxurious steam train traveling across Europe, and an absolutely amazing cast. The music is so lush and dramatic and adds to the glamourous feel of the whole movie.
The film is just as magical now as it was in 1974. The consummate acting, the photography, the scenery - everything holds up and is just as wonderful fifty years later.
Fun Facts:
The all-star cast was a mix of famous movie stars and stage actors who, according to director Sidney Lumet, were all in awe of each other. Apparently Richard Widmark agreed to be in the movie just because he wanted to meet all of the other cast members. At the time of filming, five of the actors were also appearing in plays in the West End in London.
Lauren Bacall (1924-2014) was an 18-year-old model when she was photographed for the cover of Harper's Bazaar. Director Howard Hawks' wife spotted her and encouraged her husband to give her a screen test. At the age of 19 she was cast in her first film, To Have and Have Not (1944), with her future husband Humphrey Bogart. She continued to act in films and on stage for the rest of her career.
Sean Connery (1930-2020), known of course for portraying the original James Bond in 1962's Dr. No, was the first star that the director Sidney Lumet secured when casting this film. Lumet rightly judged that once he got one big star, the others would follow.
Wendy Hiller (1912-2003) was a British actress who started out on the stage. George Bernard Shaw saw her and invited her to perform in two of his plays, one of which was "Pygmalion." In 1938 she reprised her role as Eliza Dolittle in the film Pygmalion opposite Leslie Howard and was nominated for an Academy Award when she was 27 years old. She made more films throughout her career but preferred the stage to movies. Hiller was definitely older when she played the role of Princess Dragomiroff, but not quite as old as she was made to look. She was only 63.
Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982) won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this film. The film was nominated for several other Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Albert Finney), Best Score, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.
Bergman had originally been offered the role of the Princess Dragomiroff but she insisted on taking the role of Greta Ohlsson. Director Sidney Lumet remembered "She had chosen a small part, and I couldn't persuade her to change her mind. She was sweetly stubborn. But stubborn she was ... Since her part was so small, I decided to film her one big scene, where she talks for almost five minutes, straight, all in one long take. A lot of actresses would have hesitated over that. She loved the idea and made the most of it. She ran the gamut of emotions. I've never seen anything like it."(Ingrid: Ingrid Bergman, A Personal Biography by Charlotte Chandler)
Albert Finney (1936-2019) who played Hercule Poirot was only in his 30's at the time so he required quite a bit of makeup to transform into the middle aged detective. He was not the first choice for the part. Lumet wanted Alec Guinness, who was unavailable, or Paul Scofield, but he was happy with his third choice. Finney was performing in a play at the time of filming. In order to get him ready for his scenes, an ambulance would pick him up at home and drive him to the studio so he could stay in his pajamas and lie down and sleep while they started on his makeup.
Agatha Christie's original story was based on the real-life kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's baby in 1932.
Agatha Christie was reluctant to sell the film rights to her books because she hadn't ever approved of the film adapatations. She was, however, quite pleased with this film, her one criticism being about Albert Finney's mustache. Apparently it was not quite as magnificent as she had envisioned when creating Poirot. She was 84 years old when she attended the premiere in London (below meeting Queen Elizabeth II with Albert Finney in the background). She died 14 months later.
If you're interested in more behind the scenes details and interviews with the producers, director Sidney Lumet, Michael York, Jacqueline Bisset, and Sean Connery, watch the 48 minute documentary: "The Making of Murder on the Orient Express."
Featured cocktail:
Revolver
This modified Manhattan is another example of a seemingly weird combination of flavors actually being delicious.
2 oz (60 ml) bourbon
½ oz (15 ml) coffee liqueur
2 dashes orange bitters
Stir in mixing glass with ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with flamed orange peel. (Cut a “coin” or round piece of peel off an orange. Hold a lighted match over the top of the glass; while holding the peel colored side down about 2 inches above the flame, give it a quick, forceful squeeze which should express the oils and lightly caramelize them. Rub the peel around the rim of the glass and drop it into the drink.)
Comments