Murder on the Orient Express

I don’t know what it is about the Kenneth Branagh version of Murder on the Orient Express. Whenever I watch it, whether on TV or DVD, I always either fall asleep or have my mind wander. Maybe it’s the mustache. To me it seems more Wyatt Earp than Hercule Poirot. Or maybe it’s how overly dramatic some scenes become. Whatever the reason, I have a hard time paying attention. However, I did do my best to concentrate this time, and I noticed this film adaptation is least like the book.

Murder on the Orient Express
Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Willem Dafoe
Penelope Cruz, Daisy Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer
Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Johnny Depp

Hercule Poirot’s adventure begins

Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) has been called back to London from Istanbul. To get there, he must travel on the Orient Express.

The first class car is unusually full for winter. Fortunately, Poirot’s train director friend, Bouc (Tom Bateman), is able to get him a berth. It will be shared with a man by the name of Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad). While Poirot accepts he will have to share, MacQueen is not so happy about the situation.

The situation changes for the second night on board the train. MacQueen is moved, leaving Poirot alone. He does not know where the other passengers are during the night. This is important information Poirot must find out later on, as another passenger is killed in the middle of the night.

Ratchett was an unliked man

The passenger killed is Edward Ratchett (Johnny Depp). His real name is John Cassetti, a man guilty of kidnapping and killing a young girl named Daisy Armstrong. This identity is found out after Ratchett dies, but the dislike of him was apparent before. He had an altercation with the very talkative American Caroline Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer) and offered Poirot a job which Poirot refused. Poirot's refusal did not go over well.

As the other passengers find out Ratchett’s true identity, they are very happy to have him dead.

Murder on the Orient Express
Kenneth Branagh

Poirot investigates Ratchett’s murder

Still, Poirot must investigate. To do this, he interviews the passengers. Some are more cooperative about this than others. A few are downright hostile.

The longer Poirot investigates, the more pieces come together. When he knows the answer of who killed Ratchett, he must decide whether or not to tell the authorities the truth. Would telling the world what happened on the train truly be justice?

A movie with many differences from the book

There are so many differences in this version of Murder on the Orient Express from the book. In this film, Dr. Constantine and Colonel Arbuthnot are one character. He is now Dr. Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom Jr.). Count Rudolph Andrenyi (Sergei Polunin) is a very violent man. His wife, Countess Helena Andrenyi (Lucy Boynton) is addicted to some sort of opiate. To protect his love, Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley), Dr. Arbuthnot attacks and shoots Poirot (this most definitely did not happen in the book). Branagh’s Poirot is also involved in far more action sequences than I have seen any other Poirot get into. Since the count for action sequences for other Poirots is pretty much zero, then the few from this one are a lot.

A movie full of stars

As with all the other film adaptations of Murder on the Orients Express, this film is full of stars. Other characters and their portrayers I have not mentioned yet are:

Ratchett’s valet, Edward Henry Masterman (Derek Jacobi)

(Note: MacQueen is Ratchett’s secretary.)

Train conductor, Pierre Michel (Marwan Kenzari)

Missionary Pilar Estravados (Penelope Cruz)

Professor Cyrus Bethman Hardman (Willem Dafoe)

Princess Natalia Dragomiroff (Judi Dench)

The princess’s maid, Hildegarde Schmidt (Olivia Colman)

Car salesman Biniamino Marquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo)

Some of these characters are different from what is in the book. 

An Agatha Christie adventure completed

Going through this Murder on the Orient Express adventure, I have discovered the Albert Finney adaptation is by far the closest to the book. Perhaps this is because, from what I have read, Agatha Christie was reluctant to give the rights to make a film. Because of this, I would not be surprised if the filmmakers had to make a lot of promises in order get the rights.

As fun as it is to watch Sean Connery take over the screen in Albert Finney’s adaptation, the David Suchet adaptation is my favorite. Part of the reason for this may be because Suchet is my favorite Poirot, so his Murder on the Orient Express already had points going for it. The Kenneth Branagh version has the most impeccable costumes, I must say.

Try this adventure out for yourself. Read Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie and watch all three film adaptions. Decide which one you like the best, no matter how close it is to the book or not.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express Albert Finney

Murder on the Orient Express David Suchet