Murder on the Orient Express 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Murder on the Orient Express 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 22, 2025

Sidney Lumet's "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with Jacqueline Bisset; archival program with producer Richard Goodwin; recent audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson; archival documentaries; and more. In English, with optional English SDH, French and German subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Sidney Lumet’s Murder on the Orient Express is a prime example that a great cast is not enough to deliver a great film. A good one is a possibility, but the stars would have to be ego-free and willing to remain silent for a long period of time.

The film opens with a couple of flashbacks that highlight important facts about a famous case: the kidnapping and killing of Daisy Armstrong, the daughter of a wealthy American couple. The facts are delivered in the form of quick newspaper headlines. The action then moves to Istanbul, where the famous Orient Express is prepped for a long journey. While final deliveries are made, various colorful characters board the train. Amongst them is the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney).

Soon after the Orient Express leaves Istanbul, the wealthy businessman Ratchett (Richard Widmark) is found dead in his berth. Detective Poirot immediately steps up and quickly discovers that Ratchett is in fact an alias and that the dead man was responsible for the kidnapping of Daisy Armstrong. Encouraged by his close friend Bianchi (Martin Balsam), director of the Orient Express, who wants the murderer identified before the train reaches the next stop in Yugoslavia so that he can avoid embarrassment, Detective Poirot begins questioning the wealthy passengers.

Director Lumet’s take on Agatha Christie’s famous novel has an appropriate exotic flavor, but the film’s big stars quickly create the impression that they are having a rather difficult time coexisting in front of the camera. One reason is the fact that there are so many of them that managing their time in a way that allows the viewer to remain interested in everything they do is virtually impossible. As a result, it often feels quite awkward to see the likes of Sean Connery and Jacqueline Bisset simply passing by or quietly observing the rest of the stars as they share important information with the Belgian detective. Another reason is the uneven characterizations. There are various sequences throughout the film where the humor is a lot more important than the suspense, but not all of the stars seem to agree. One of these stars is the great Ingrid Bergman, who won an Oscar for her performance, whose body language and facial expressions consistently demand a much more serious atmosphere.

Finney’s Poirot is a rather unusual character as well. At times, he has a commanding presence, but elsewhere he looks like an irritable old man who simply wants to be alone with his thoughts. Also, the man has a fake accent and frequently mumbles while he reveals to the viewer what his supposedly brilliant mind is telling him. He can be very entertaining at times, but it is not easy to fully embrace him as Christie’s famous character.

Arguably the most convincing characterizations belong to Lauren Bacall's Mrs. Hubbard, Anthony Perkins' McQueen (played with a very familiar intensity), and Vanessa Redgrave' Mary Debenham.

Murder on the Orient Express was lensed by the great cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, who won Oscar Awards for his contributions to Bob Fosse’s Cabaret and Roman Polanski’s Tess. The use of warm colors and soft lighting is most appropriate for the sense of nostalgia that permeates the film.

The excellent orchestral score was created by British composer Richard Rodney Bennett (John Schlesinger’s Billy Liar, Ken Russell’s Billion Dollar Brain).

Murder on the Orient Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

StudioCanal's new 4K Blu-ray release of Murder on the Orient Express does not have a Blu-ray copy of the film. If you need one, you will have to consider this release.

Please note that all screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downsampled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray.

StudioCanal have produced a couple of different Blu-ray releases of Murder on the Orient Express. The first is this release, which is the weakest. The second is this release, which was sourced from a recent remaster. This 4K Blu-ray release introduces a new 4K restoration, which can be viewed with an HDR grade.

I revisited the film yesterday. On my system, this 4K restoration looked practically identical to the one Paramount introduced in America via Kino Lorber with this combo pack release in 2024. However, StudioCanal present the film framed in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, while Kino Lorber/Paramount had it framed in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The discrepancy is meaningless to me. Also, Paramount and StudioCanal's logos appear together on this release.

If you have seen our review of Kino Lorber's combo pack, you already know that I like this 4K makeover a lot and consider it the most satisfying. For example, there are many areas of the film that previously appeared a tad too soft but are now rebalanced and appropriately sharp. Also, in darker areas, they reveal the best ranges of dark nuances. Color reproduction and balance are very good. Skin tones, darker supporting nuances, and some highlights look more convincing. Also, there are different areas where natural light is replicated a tad better. While revisiting the film in 4K, I did not notice any areas where something might have been tweaked, and now it does not look as it did on Kino Lorber's release. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. I would describe the HDR grade as very good. However, I feel that it makes some of the darkest areas in the film a bit too dark. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks spotless as well. My score is 4.75/5.00.

Murder on the Orient Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four standard audio tracks on this release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English: LPCM 2.0, French: LPCM 2.0, and French: LPCM 2.0. A descriptive audio track, presented as DTS 2.0, is included as well. Optional English SDH, French, and German subtitles are provided.

StudioCanal's previous Blu-ray release of Murder on the Orient Express had only a lossless 2.0 track. This release brings a lossless 5.1 track, which was included on Kino Lorber's recent combo pack release of the film as well. I think that the 5.1 track is very, very nice. It creates a lot of interesting and effective dynamic contrasts, so I would encourage you to give it a chance if you have previously seen the film only with the 2.0 track.

Murder on the Orient Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Jacqueline Bisset - in this exclusive new program, Jacqueline Bisset recalls what it was like to play her character in Murder on the Orient Express and initial encounter with Sidney Lumet, where she asked the late director why he had chosen her. Bisset also discusses the production process and her interactions with other cast members. In English, optional French and German subtitles. (17 min).

• Interview with Producer Richard Goodwin - in this archival program, producer Richard Goodwin recalls how he became involved with Murder on the Orient Express, and discusses his interactions with director Sidney Lumet and impressions of his working methods. There are also some very interesting comments about the payments that were promised to the various big stars who are seen in the film. In English, with optional French and German subtitles. (19 min).

• Agatha Christie: A Portrait - in this archival program, Mathew Prichard discusses the life and legacy of his famous grandmother, Agatha Christie. Additionally, Mr. Prichard addresses the legendary Belgian character Hercule Poirot and the period environment he is placed. In English, with optional French and German subtitles. (10 min).

• Making Murder on the Orient Express - this archival program takes a closer look at the production of Murder on the Orient Express. It features numerous clips from archival interviews with director Sidney Lumet and cast and crew members. It is broken into four episodes. In English, with optional French and German subtitles. (49 min).
  
  1. All Aboard!. (13 min).
  2. The Ride. (12 min).
  3. The Passengers. (10 min).
  4. The End of the Line. (14 min).

• Commentary - this recent audio commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. It initially appeared on Kino Lorber's combo pack release of Murder on the Orient Express.

• Stills Gallery - a collection of original behind-the-scenes production stills. (2 min).

• Trailer - a vintage U.S. trailer for Murder on the Orient Express. In English, with optional French and German subtiltes. (4 min).

Murder on the Orient Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

For collectors residing on the other side of the Atlantic, this is the release of Sidney Lumet's Murder on the Orient Express to own. It brings to the United Kingdom the recent, very good 4K restoration of the film that was completed at Paramount, with a great mix of exclusive new and archival bonus features. The release is also included in The Agatha Christie Collection, a lavish four-disc box set, which will be available for purchase next week as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.