And now, my inaugural post:
(Poster to be added at a later date.)
Murder on the Orient Express (1940)
A Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Written by Seton I. Miller, Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein
Adapted from the novel by Agatha Christie
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Music by Max Steiner
Cinematography by Sol Polito
CAST:
- Greta Ohlsson (Greta Garbo)
- Hildegarde Schmidt (Marlene Dietrich)
- Ratchett (Edward G. Robinson)
- Hercule Poirot (Bela Lugosi)
- Mary Debenham (Olivia De Havilland)
- Countess Andreyni (Myrna Loy)
- Col. Artbuthnot (David Niven)
- Count Andreyni (Basil Rathbone)
- Foscarelli (Don Ameche)
- Cyrus Hardman (Warren William)
- Pierre Michel (Erich Von Stroheim)
- Masterman (C. Aubrey Smith)
- Princess Dragomiroff (Maria Ouspenkaya)
- McQueen (Dwight Frye)
- Dr. Constantine (Edward Van Sloan)
- Bouc (Harold Huber)
The film received critical acclaim for its pacing, direction and faithfulness to the text, with the performances of the multinational ensemble cast receiving particular praise. The casting of Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi as the iconic Belgian sleuth (in a then rare heroic role, no less) was met with many a raised eyebrow. Nevertheless the actor proved himself up to the task, delivering a gleeful energetic performance, soaked with poise and command. Whilst the film alone was not enough to break Lugosi free from the shackles of his typecasting as one of "the faces of horror", it did showcase to audiences his versatility, and capability to be the hero. His career would soon change for the better.
Christie herself was pleased with the final result. Although taking umbrage with the quality of Poirot’s moustaches in the film, she found Lugosi’s performance to be “pleasantly adequate”. It satisfied her enough to ensure that the door remained open, regarding future screen version of her work.
The film is widely considered to be the best adaptation of the book, (rivalled only by Sidney Lumet's also excellent 1974 effort), and among the best overall dramatisations of Christie's work.