Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
(Sidney Lumet, UK 1974, 122 min., 35mm)
Albert Finney. Starting off a short series of lavish Agatha Christie adaptations, this film introduces Albert Finney as the author’s most famous character, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Returning to England from Istanbul on the title train, Poirot is called upon to solve the murder of the mysterious Mr. Ratchett (Richard Widmark), who had earlier sought Poirot’s protection from death threats he had been receiving. The all-star cast of suspects includes Ingrid Bergman (in an Oscar-winning turn), Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Anthony Perkins, John Gielgud, Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Balsam, Jacqueline Bissett, and Michael York. Finney received his second Academy Award nomination for his performance.