A remarkable ensemble cast brings Agatha Christie’s story to life in an enjoyable adaptation. Sidney Lumet directed Murder on the Orient Express, with Paul Dehn adapting the screenplay from Agatha Christie's novel of the same name. The film features Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, Michael York, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark, Anthony Perkins, Martin Balsam, Jacqueline Bisset, and John Gielgud. Richard Rodney Bennett composed the music, and Geoffrey Unsworth was in charge of photography. The story takes place in 1935 as the Orient Express travels from Istanbul to London. On board is the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who finds himself needing to investigate when a passenger is discovered stabbed to death, with the train stopped by a heavy snowfall. The situation proves complicated since many of the passengers seem connected to the victim. Among adaptations of Christie’s Poirot stories for the big screen, "Orient Express" stands out thanks to Lumet's direction and the talented cast. Finney portrays Poirot as having a certain toughness that suits the narrative well. From the opening scene, which delivers some sad and impactful information, through to Poirot’s explanation of who committed the crime and why, the film maintains a somber atmosphere around all the actors involved. The scenery is beautiful, but being set on a train from another era creates a believable sense of confinement that builds tension within the plot. While those paying close attention might guess the outcome, it remains an impressive moment enhanced by thoughtful development of the characters. The movie may be darker than some anticipate, but there’s still plenty of entertainment to be found in trying to identify all the actors and figuring out who committed the crime. It earns a rating of 8/10.

Source on TMDB