"Murder on the Orient Express" What are the difficulties of adapting the world's best-selling author's novel into a movie? ?

Some arrangements as a current movie

And so, for the first time in 43 years, the film "Murder on the Orient Express" was revived. Kenneth Branagh was the director and played the role of Hercule Poirot. In reviving this classic work in modern times, what changes were made to the novel and the 1974 film adaptation? Several major adjustments were made.

First, the opening scene. In this Branagh version, a prologue is inserted that does not exist in the original novel, in which a church relic is stolen in Jerusalem and Poirot tracks down the culprit. This shows the audience just how great a detective Poirot is. It seems that the aim was to make the character of Poirot memorable, as there had been no major Christie films for a while.

From this point on, there are some minor adjustments, such as changing the name of the missionary Greta Olsson, played by Ingrid Bergman in the Lumet version, to Pilar Estravados (perhaps because the role was played by Penélope Cruz?), but the story generally stays almost faithful to the original.

The biggest change is the location where the Orient Express gets stuck. In the novel and Lumet's version, heavy snow covers the tracks, immobilizing the train. This time, there is not only heavy snow, but also a massive avalanche, blocking the tracks. What's more, the train stops just before a tunnel, on a viaduct running along the mountainside. Unlike Lumet's version, which only takes place inside the train, this version includes scenes in which Poirot and other characters go outside. There is also some action, incorporating mountain slopes and bridges. This is typical of a modern film. The tunnel is also put to good use.

Hercule Poirot's pride and joy, his moustache, seems rather exaggerated in this Branagh version. However, Christie herself declared that Poirot's moustache was "the most magnificent of any English man," which is not an exaggeration. This time, Poirot's obsessive personality is also depicted at key points, such as his obsession with the subtle size of his eggs for breakfast. Albert Finney's moustache in the Lumet version was also meticulously groomed, but Branagh's Poirot seems more "annoying." This is also typical of modern films that highlight the character settings.

“Murder on the Orient Express” © 2017Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

While adhering to the golden rule of an all-star cast that includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Daisy Ridley, and the world-famous ballet dancer Sergei Polunin, the film must appeal to modern audiences. By watching the film while feeling the painstaking process, even those who already know the story in detail will be able to discover something new and accompany Poirot on his journey to solve the mystery.

Text: Hiroaki Saito

Became freelance in 1997, contributing movie reviews and interview articles to various media such as movie magazines, theater pamphlets, and movie sites. The column is constantly updated on Yahoo! News. Star Channel's program "GO! Theater" introduces the latest released works.

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Distributor: 20th Century Fox Movies

© 2017Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation