Murder on the Orient Express (DVD, 2004)

We have all heard the saying "an all star cast," but usually it amounts at best to 3 or 4 stars. In this movie, the saying is an understatement. There is Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Martin Belsam, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark and Michael York.
There is so much talent assembled for this movie, it must have been fun for these professionals just to show up for work on the set. And, they work wonderfully together. The director, Sidney Lumet, did a wonderful job in getting the most out of each actor in this movie.
Albert Finney plays the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who happens to be on "The Orient Express," a luxury passenger train, when a murder takes place. The year is 1935. Not only is this a wonderful who-done-it, the acting by the various stars is delightful. There are many individual scenes between the various characters that are intriguing in themselves. Finney is terrific in his portrait of the detective with all his idiosyncracies.
There is a murder of a rich American businessman, played by Richard Widmark. Poirot agrees to try to solve the crime prior to the Yugoslavian police get there. He undertakes the opportunity, and starts to interview the various passengers, some which are reluctant to reveal information, for personal reasons.His diligence in obtaining and understanding the clues is the core of the story. There are, or course, many people that he investigates that appear to have both a motive and an opportunity for the crime. Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for her role in this movie.
Believe me when I tell you this is one of the very best mysteries ever made. No exaggeration! This has excellent acting, direction and plot. You really don't know the conclusion until the very end. And what an ending.
An exellent Who-done-it.