The Murder On The Orient Express

THE MURDER ON THE
ORIENT EXPRESS
NOVEL VS MOVIE
ABOUT THE NOVEL
THE MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Is a detective novel by English writer Agatha Christie

featuring the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. It was first
published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club
on 1 January 1934. In the United States, it was published
on 28 February 1934
THE DIFFRENCE
Poirot's mustache is
different. As Hercule Poirot,
Kenneth Branagh's costume
designer chose a
mustache that is lush, huge
and grey. It's a far cry from the
definitely dyed and carefully
cultivated mustache that
Christie describes in her novels,
but it is, nonetheless,
impressive.
THE DIFFRENCE
The movie kicks off at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

There, we are treated to a cold open in which Hercule Poirot
amazingly and amusingly solves a crime. The book picks up in
Syria with Poirot having a labored conversation with a
Lieutenant after having already solved an issue.
THE DIFFRENCE
Poirot meets Mary Debenham and Doctor Abuthnot on

a boat leading to the Orient Express. Mary also recognizes the face
of the famous detective right away, whereas in the book she sees his
egg-shaped head and bundled-up costume and think he's the type of
person one shouldn't take seriously.
THE DIFFRENCE
Although there are 12 suspects in both the book and the movie,
the characters are quite a bit different in the movie. Colonel
Abuthnot is a doctor. The Swedish Greta Ohlsson is replaced
with Pilar Estravados, played by Penelope Cruz. The Italian car
salesman becomes Cuban Biniamino Marquez, played by Manuel
Garcia-Rulfo. Cyrus Hardman becomes a German named Gerhard
Hardman--for a time. Ratchett's butler is much older in
the movie than the 39-year-old valet described in the books.
THE DIFFRENCE
M. Bouc is definitely a different sort of character who enjoys
vice, including a prostitute, in the movie. He's also played by
Brit Tom Bateman. In the book, he's a Belgian, like Hercule Poirot
himself, and he's more buttoned up. He also doesn't need to
convince Poirot to take on the case, as he does in the movie.
THE DIFFRENCE
When Ratchett appeals to Poirot to take on the case, he tries
to get him on board by enticing him with dessert and small
talk. It is Hercule Poirot who interrupts him ands asks him to get
to his point. In the book, it is Ratchett who is the typical
American and notes Americans "come to the point quickly"
before trying to hire the famous detective. Ratchett also admits
to being a little unsavory in his dealings in the movie and even
points a gun at Poirot as a kind of threat.
THE DIFFRENCE
When Ratchett appeals to Poirot to take on the case, he tries
to get him on board by enticing him with dessert and small
talk. It is Hercule Poirot who interrupts him ands asks him to get
to his point. In the book, it is Ratchett who is the typical
American and notes Americans "come to the point quickly"
before trying to hire the famous detective. Ratchett also admits
to being a little unsavory in his dealings in the movie and even
points a gun at Poirot as a kind of threat.
THE DIFFRENCE
Poirot actually discovers the body of Ratchett in the movie.
This is possible because of the compartment he is in
(he doesn't get moved like in the book). He also breaks
down the door, adding some excitement. In the book, the body
is discovered and M. Bouc does not want to alarm the
passengers, asking Poirot to attend to the case in a discreet way.
THE DIFFRENCE
A lot of the clues are condensed, changed and shuffled
around in the movie. Countess Adrenyi is an addict.
Hercule Poirot doesn't trap Hildegarde Schmidt into admitting
she's a good cook. The watch is on the counter, broken, and
not in the dead man's pocket. The burnt paper reveals the
Armstrong case through a clever code involving shifting letters.
THE DIFFRENCE
Hercule Poirot is a bit of an action star. He knocks someone out
with his cane early on, he chases Hecter McQueen off the train
at one point and he faces a gun late in the movie, using his cane
again in a nifty way. Hercule Poirot is not much of a man of
action in the books. He generally uses words as weapons, which
he still does do in the movie, as well.
THE DIFFRENCE
Mrs. Hubbard gets stabbed with the murder weapon at one
point. The wound is non-fatal, but the moment is very different
from when the knife is found in Mrs. Hubbard's spongebag in
the books. In the movie, the set of spongebag-related clues are
omitted and Arbuthnot stabs Mrs. Hubbard, instead, to throw
Poirot off the scent.
THE DIFFRENCE
Hercule Poirot is actually shot. Doctor Arbuthnot shoots him in
a way that would not kill him, proving that he is an expert
marksman. Since he also doubles as the doctor in the movie,
this helps to explain how he would have been connected to
Colonel Armstrong, whose daughter Daisy was kidnapped in
the Cassetti affair. It's exciting stuff, too, although different from
the book. Poirot's limbs remain intact in Christie's novel.
THE DIFFRENCE
Poirot has a much tougher time with the Ratchett murder in
the movie than he does in the book. His moral convictions
lead to him leaving an empty gun on the table when he calls
out Mrs. Hubbard. She then tries to shoot herself with the gun
only to find it empty. After that, Poirot lets everyone go. In the
book, M.Bouc makes the final decision about which version of
the murder to tell the police and the doctor.

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THE MURDER ON THE

Is a detective novel by English writer Agatha Christie

The movie kicks off at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

Poirot meets Mary Debenham and Doctor Abuthnot on

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