Poirot : Murder on the Orient Express: Differences dictate I read the book!

Murder on the Orient Express: Differences dictate I read the book!

Just caught the Suchet episode last night and was surprised at the different interpretation to the 70's film. I don't believe in 'vigilante' style justice, although in this case, it was understandable. In fact the one thing that really annoyed me about the Sidney Lumet version was the tone of smugness in the final scene (toasting with champagne etc), when they realise that Poirot is going to let them off. Found this version to be much darker than I expected it to be.

I am not Catholic ( and refute the insinuation that Catholics have a monopoly on the high 'moral' ground spirituality), but can well understand Poirot's revulsion at what had occurred. The tv episode introduced an extra element in the failure of the US Prosecutor to have the case tried fully, due to threats to his family. If that is in the film, I missed it or have forgotten it. So must go to Dame Agatha for the definitive version. In print.

Re: Murder on the Orient Express: Differences dictate I read the book!

The 70s version is much closer to the original. Though I don't remember if they toast each other at the end of the book.

Re: Murder on the Orient Express: Differences dictate I read the book!

In the book, there is no toast but I found it appropriate in the Sidney Lumet film --a nice little touch. These people were all united by grief, all connected to the death of little Daisy Armstrong that spun into a tailspin of tragedy and I believe the toast was bittersweet, sad, and satisfying all at the same time. They all celebrated their idea of justice but at the same time honoring and remembering those who died at the hand of Samuel Ratchett (aka Cassetti).

I felt that the David Suchet version was hitting the viewers over the head with this "justice" theme way too much, whereas in the version with Albert Finney, the word "justice" to my memory isn't mentioned once but you can insinuate that, especially towards the end of the film. What I didn't get in the David Suchet version was towards the end, after Poirot offers the first solution where an intruder enters the compartment, he walks away in the snow but where in the world is he walking to??

Re: Murder on the Orient Express: Differences dictate I read the book!

Yes, it does make a nice touch. Your point about Poirot walking away in the snow is a very interesting one which I had not thought of before. they are meant to be stuck somewhere remote aren't they, otherwise i suppose they wouldn't stay on the train. If they'd been near a station you'd think it would have been mentioned.

Re: Murder on the Orient Express: Differences dictate I read the book!


he walks away in the snow but where in the world is he walking to??


Hopefully to fire the script writer....

probably to whatever vehicles the police arrived in

What i don't really like about it is that is playing up the "Justice" side of things, poirot gets to a point where he atctually goes out of character, the portrayal doesn't ring true to poirots "No man is turned away from the kingdom of heaven." view of his own religion from the books.

It's one that i want to like, There are good things, Just getting the amount of plot points from the book into 90 minutes is an achievement in itself (admittedly most are brushed upon in passing dialogue, like the toothache) and the cinematography is very nice, the whole thing does really give a claustrophbic feeling. But there is a major problem becuase it doesn't translate the feeling and mood of the book porperly, the characters are supposed to act distant wth each other at first, then slowly barriers break down and the act wears thin.

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