Back in 1974, director Sidney Lumet adapted what is probably Agatha Christie’s most famous murder mystery novel, aside from And Then There Were None.
Murder on the Orient Express, which she penned in 1934, hit cinemas just 14 months before the author’s death.
During that time, she confessed that the film and Witness for the Prosecution were the only adaptations of her books that she liked.
However, she was disappointed by Albert Finney’s Poirot for his moustache, which she thought wasn’t extravagant enough compared on how she described it in her writings.
Perhaps Kenneth Branagh’s enormous tash in the 2017 version would have sufficed?
The 1974 adaptation, like the remake, boasts an all-star cast including Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Vanessa Redgrave and Michael York. A critical success and box office smash, the film was nominated for five Oscars, with one win for Bergman in the Best Supporting Actress category.
Murder on the Orient Express is on BBC Two at 5:55pm this Saturday evening and will be streaming on BBC iPlayer for a limited time afterwards.
